In Macon County, the county’s Codes Enforcement Office issues building permits, enforces the building codes and inspects new construction; applications and inspection requests go through its online iWorQ portal or to codes@macontn.org. A new house is charged $0.40 per square foot plus a $2.50 per square foot impact fee on heated living space and a refundable $1,000 Certificate of Occupancy deposit. Electrical and septic permits come from the State.
What needs a permit in Macon County?
The county’s fee schedule (December 5, 2022) shows which projects are permitted:
County permit
- New houses, mobile homes and modular homes
- Detached garages
- Other accessory structures over 200 sq ft
- Porches and decks
- Swimming pools more than 24 inches deep
- Structural remodels (walls, floors or roof structure)
- Plumbing and mechanical work on new construction
- Industrial and commercial buildings
No county remodel permit
- Replacing wall, floor or roof coverings
- New cabinets, countertops or other non-structural items
- Accessory structures of 200 sq ft or less (the schedule lists no fee for them)
Every new structure also needs a site plan, which may be hand drawn, and its location must be approved before construction starts. Porches, decks, AC units, eaves and overhangs all have to stay inside the zoning setbacks.
Who issues building permits in Macon County?
The Codes Enforcement Office lists its duties as issuing all building permits for the county, enforcing the building codes and inspecting all new construction, and enforcing the zoning code, subdivision regulations and property maintenance private acts. Its two Codes and Zoning Officers are reached at 615-666-2870 or codes@macontn.org. The office is open from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekdays, but staff are in the office only until 9:30 a.m. and inspect in the field from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Place | Building permits |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated county | Macon County Codes Enforcement Office (exempt from the state residential program) |
| Lafayette | The City’s website sends all building permit requests to the Macon County Codes Enforcement Office (615-666-2870); it also lists a Lafayette building codes inspector at 615-666-2190 and a City residential code ordinance |
| Red Boiling Springs | State Fire Marshal residential program: a state residential building permit is required inside city limits |
In Red Boiling Springs the state residential permit starts at $350 for a home costing $5,001 to $100,000, and it is bought and its inspections requested through the State’s CORE system.
Macon County permit and impact fees
| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New house, mobile home or modular home | $0.40 per sq ft |
| Residential impact fees (heated living space) | $1.00 per sq ft for schools + $1.50 per sq ft general = $2.50 |
| Certificate of Occupancy deposit | $1,000, refunded once the CO is issued |
| Detached garage | $0.25 per sq ft |
| Other accessory structure over 200 sq ft | $0.25 per sq ft |
| Porch or deck | $50 |
| Pool deeper than 24 inches | $150 |
| Plumbing / mechanical (new construction only) | $100 each |
| Structural remodel | $100 |
| Industrial or commercial | $0.50 per sq ft, plus a $0.50 per sq ft impact fee |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →The building permit, the impact fee (shown on a certificate of compliance) and the $1,000 deposit are all paid when you apply. The deposit, listed under the schedule’s heading for occupying a structure without a Certificate of Occupancy, is refunded once the CO is issued.
Building without a permit adds a fine to the cost of the permit itself:
| Built without a permit | Fine on top of the permit |
|---|---|
| New house, mobile or modular home | $0.80 per sq ft |
| Detached garage or accessory structure | $0.50 per sq ft |
| Pool, porch, deck or remodel | $100 |
| Industrial or commercial | $1.00 per sq ft |
So a house built without a permit pays $0.80 per sq ft in fines plus the $0.40 per sq ft permit.
Documents for a building permit
The county’s requirements list (updated January 17, 2025) splits the paperwork between contractor and owner:
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Contractor
- Current contractor’s licence
- Current proof of workers’ compensation insurance
- $1 million of liability insurance
- Current business licence
- Floor or building plans
- Site plan
Property owner
- E-911 address (615-666-7070)
- Completed TDEC septic permit
- Recorded warranty deed
- Recorded plat, if the lot is in a platted subdivision
- Site plan
- Floor or building plans
The site plan shows the lot’s size and dimensions, the lot width at the building setback line, the structure’s distance from each property line (distances over 100 feet can simply be noted) and any existing buildings. Owners acting as their own contractor sign a homeowner’s affidavit accepting responsibility for subcontractors, licensing and insurance.
Septic, electrical and commercial review
- Septic: handled by the State Division of Water Resources; apply online through TDEC or call its Cookeville office at 931-520-6688.
- Electrical: permits and inspections are the State’s. After the building permit is issued, the county’s list sends owners to Tri-County Electric for the electrical permit.
- Plumbing and mechanical: permitted by the county on new construction, at $100 each.
- Commercial plans: no Macon County jurisdiction has the State Fire Marshal’s commercial exemption, so the larger occupancies on the state’s list, apartment buildings and 300-person assembly spaces among them, need State Fire Marshal plan approval.
Rather not deal with the Macon County building department?
Get a free quote →Booking county inspections
Inspections must be scheduled at least 24 hours ahead, by email to codes@macontn.org or, for contractors, through the iWorQ permit portal. Inspectors are in the field from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekdays, so calls and visits to the office are best made before 9:30 a.m.
Codes and planning in Macon County
Houses are built to the 2018 International Residential Code with Appendices M and Q, adopted by Resolution 12-25/22, which deletes the residential sprinkler requirement (Section R313). Other buildings follow the 2021 International Building Code under Resolution 7-6/25, without its Chapter 11 accessibility provisions or the Section 423 storm shelter requirement.
The office also staffs the Macon County Planning Commission, which meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. at the Welcome Center in Lafayette, and the Board of Zoning Appeals. Zoning questions go to codes@macontn.org with the map and parcel number.
Tennessee statewide rules
Tennessee licenses contractors through the Board for Licensing Contractors for jobs of $25,000 or more; a Home Improvement licence applies below that only in the nine counties that opted in. Tennessee rules
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Official Macon County permitting resources
- Towns needing a state residential permit
- SFMO residential jurisdiction list
- Macon County Building Codes Enforcement
- Macon County iWorQ permit portal
- Macon County building permit and impact fees (PDF)
- Requirements to get a building permit (PDF)
- Site plan requirements (PDF)
- Macon County Planning Commission and BZA
- City of Lafayette permits page
- TDEC Cookeville Environmental Field Office
Macon County permit FAQs
How much does a building permit cost for a new home in Macon County?
$0.40 per square foot, plus impact fees of $2.50 per square foot of heated living space and a $1,000 Certificate of Occupancy deposit that is refunded once the CO is issued.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Do I need a permit for a shed?
The county fee schedule charges accessory structures only when they are over 200 sq ft, at $0.25 per sq ft.
Who issues building permits in Lafayette?
The City of Lafayette directs building permit requests to the Macon County Codes Enforcement Office at 615-666-2870.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Email codes@macontn.org or use the iWorQ portal at least 24 hours in advance.
Who handles electrical and septic permits?
The State: electrical through the state program (the county points owners to Tri-County Electric) and septic through TDEC’s Division of Water Resources, 931-520-6688.
Can I be my own contractor?
Yes, by signing a homeowner’s affidavit that makes you responsible for subcontractors, licensing and insurance.
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More Tennessee permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Macon County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.