The Madison County Building Department, at 100 E Main Street in Jackson, is an exempt-status building authority for unincorporated Madison County plus the cities of Three Way and Medon. It excludes the City of Jackson, which runs its own department, and enforces the codes listed in the Madison County Construction Guide, 2025 Edition.
As an exempt jurisdiction, Madison County is its own building official — it adopts codes, reviews plans, issues permits and inspects. Electrical is a state permit with inspection routing set by your utility; plumbing and gas are county permits, with a forty-pound pressure test for a gas reconnection; existing buildings fall under the county Fire Department; and the City of Jackson trade licence is accepted alongside the state one.
Scope: unincorporated Madison County plus Three Way and Medon through the Building Department. The City of Jackson and federal buildings are excluded.
An exempt county that covers Three Way and Medon, but not Jackson. Madison County was granted exempt status by the State Fire Marshal, so it runs its own plan review, permits and inspections. Electrical is a state permit routed by utility; plumbing and gas are county permits; and the City of Jackson trade licence is accepted alongside the state credential. Confirm the parcel is in the county's jurisdiction, not inside Jackson, before you file.
What requires a permit in Madison County?
The Madison County Building Department, at 100 E Main Street, Suite 100 in Jackson, is the building authority for unincorporated Madison County in West Tennessee, and its jurisdiction reaches the City of Three Way and the City of Medon as well. It excludes the City of Jackson, which runs its own Building and Housing Codes department, and federally owned buildings. Confirm the parcel is in the county's jurisdiction rather than inside Jackson before you file.
Madison County is an exempt jurisdiction: it was granted exempt status by the State of Tennessee Fire Marshal's Office, which means the county adopts and enforces its own construction codes and runs its own plan review, permits and inspections rather than relying on the state building official. Its adopted codes are set out in the Madison County Construction Guide, 2025 Edition, approved on 19 May 2025 and adopted in accordance with T.C.A. § 68-120-101. Exemption is not all-or-nothing, and this is where builders get caught. A local government may certify to the State Fire Marshal that it adopts and enforces codes for all buildings, for all buildings other than one- and two-family dwellings, or for one- and two-family dwellings only. The state enforces whatever the locality has not taken on. That means one address can sit under two different building officials depending on what you are building on it — the city for a retail shell, the state for the house next door. Ask which of the three certifications your jurisdiction filed, not simply whether it has a codes department.
The trades divide between the county and the state in a specific way. Electrical permits are issued by the State of Tennessee or an authorised permit agent, with inspections by state Deputy Electrical Inspectors and the inspection routing determined by your utility provider. Separate plumbing and gas permits are issued by the Madison County Building Department, and a gas reconnection requires a forty-pound pressure test by a county inspector. A county Health Department septic letter is required before permits can issue. No political subdivision of Tennessee may adopt or enforce standards of fire prevention, fire protection or building construction that are less stringent than the state minimum. Local amendments can add to the code; they cannot subtract from it.
Permit required
- New residential and commercial construction, and additions
- Structural alterations, repairs, and changes of occupancy
- Accessory structures above the county threshold
- Plumbing and gas work — county permits
- Mechanical and HVAC work
- Electrical work — a state permit, routed by utility
- State-owned buildings — county review except electrical
- Manufactured, modular, and tiny homes under the state program
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, and cosmetic finishes
- Routine maintenance not altering structure or a regulated system
- Work inside the City of Jackson, or on federal buildings
- Some legitimate agricultural operations
Madison County building department: who handles permitting
The exempt status is the structural fact that shapes everything here. Because the State Fire Marshal granted Madison County exempt status, the county is its own building official — it adopts codes, reviews plans, issues permits and inspects. Its adopted set lives in the Madison County Construction Guide, 2025 Edition, and the guide itself notes that the adopted codes prevail over the guide where they conflict, so treat the guide as the map and the adopted codes as the territory.
The jurisdictional lines are specific and worth confirming. The county Building Department has jurisdiction over construction throughout Madison County, including Three Way and Medon, but excluding the City of Jackson and federal buildings. It requires plans review, permits and inspections on state-owned buildings — with the exception of electrical permits and inspections — and existing buildings and occupancies fall under the Madison County Fire Department, while additions and changes of occupancy to existing buildings run through the Building Department.
The trades and their credentials divide clearly. Electrical is a state permit routed by utility — the county page lists the West Tennessee electric cooperatives and the Jackson Energy Authority as the routing contacts — while plumbing and gas permits are county-issued, with a forty-pound pressure test required before a gas reconnection. For contractor credentials, a state contractor licence is required at the twenty-five thousand dollar threshold, and the county notes that the City of Jackson trade licence for plumbing, gas and mechanical work is accepted alongside the state credential.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Authority | Madison County Building Department (exempt jurisdiction) |
| Covers | Unincorporated Madison County, plus Three Way and Medon |
| Excludes | City of Jackson (its own department) and federal buildings |
| Office | 100 E Main Street, Suite 100, Jackson, TN 38301 |
| Phone | (731) 423-6014 |
| Adopted codes | Madison County Construction Guide, 2025 Edition (approved 19 May 2025) |
| Electrical | State permit; inspection routing determined by the utility provider |
| Plumbing / gas | County permits; gas reconnection needs a 40-pound pressure test |
| Existing buildings | Under the Madison County Fire Department |
An exempt county that covers Three Way and Medon, not Jackson. Madison County is its own building official under exempt status, with its adopted codes in the 2025 Construction Guide. Electrical is a state permit routed by utility; plumbing and gas are county permits; and the City of Jackson trade licence is accepted alongside the state credential.
Confirm from the parcel whether the site is in the county's jurisdiction — unincorporated Madison County, Three Way or Medon — or inside the City of Jackson, which runs its own Building and Housing Codes department. Federal buildings sit under the state, and the county's jurisdiction excludes the City of Jackson.
Madison County permits: record types and what each covers
Madison County runs residential and commercial building records, with county plumbing and gas permits and state electrical. These are the records you are likely to file:
Residential permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | New dwellings, additions, and accessory structures above the local size threshold | Plan review against the adopted residential code, plus zoning; the state floor is the 2018 IRC with Appendix Q | Valuation-based |
| Addition | Added interior space, including additions of thirty square feet or more | Structural and energy review; the thirty square foot interior trigger is smaller than most applicants expect | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural changes, layout changes, or added plumbing, mechanical, or electrical | Plan review scaled to scope; renovations of existing one- and two-family dwellings sit outside the state minimum standards | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Roof covering replacement, recover, and structural deck repair | Deck and dry-in inspection; plan review rarely required | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Rooftop or ground-mount arrays, with or without battery storage | Structural review of the attachment locally, with the electrical scope usually permitted and inspected by the state | Flat or system-size based |
| Battery energy storage | Wall or floor-mounted storage added to a dwelling | Electrical review plus fire separation and location check | Flat or per-permit minimum |
| Electrical | Service changes, panel upgrades, new circuits, EV chargers, and rewiring | In most of Tennessee a state record bought through CORE and inspected by a contracted Deputy Electrical Inspector, not a local one | Per-permit or per-device |
| Plumbing | New piping, repipes, fixtures, gas piping, and water heater replacement | Trade review; performed by a licensed plumber or a Limited Licensed Plumber below the contractor threshold | Per-permit minimum or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Changeouts, new ductwork, and refrigeration | Trade review; the contractor licence attaches once the trade portion reaches the statutory threshold | Per-permit minimum or per-unit |
| Deck and porch | New decks, screened porches, and structural rebuilds | Structural review of footings, ledger attachment, and guards | Valuation or flat |
| Swimming pool | In-ground and above-ground pools | Barrier, bonding, and electrical review; the bonding scope generally follows the state electrical record | Valuation or flat |
| Manufactured home set-up | Placing or re-siting a manufactured home | Zoning, floodplain, and anchoring review; manufactured homes sit outside the state minimum building standards but not outside local zoning | Flat or per-unit |
| Demolition | Full or partial demolition of a dwelling or accessory structure | Utility disconnect confirmation and site restoration check | Flat |
| New single-family dwelling | Building a new home in the county's jurisdiction | County building review to the 2025 Construction Guide; state electrical | Fee by scope |
| Change of occupancy | Changing the use of an existing building | Building Department review; existing occupancy under the Fire Department | Fee by scope |
Commercial permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New commercial construction | Ground-up commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings | Concurrent review against the adopted building code, fire, and zoning; the state floor is the 2021 IBC with Tennessee amendments | Valuation-based |
| Tenant improvement / upfit | Interior fit-out of an existing tenant space | Building, trade, and life-safety review; accessibility attaches on change of use | Valuation-based |
| Change of occupancy | Converting a building or space to a different use group | Occupancy classification, egress, and accessibility review | Valuation or flat |
| Commercial electrical | Service, distribution, and branch circuit work | State record in most jurisdictions unless the municipality is one of the roughly thirty-five authorised to inspect its own electrical | Per-permit or valuation |
| Commercial plumbing | Process piping, fixtures, backflow, and grease waste | Trade review; backflow and grease interceptor sign-off where applicable | Per-fixture or valuation |
| Commercial mechanical | Rooftop units, kitchen exhaust and hood systems, and refrigeration | Trade review; hood and suppression systems draw fire review alongside mechanical | Per-unit or valuation |
| Commercial reroof | Roof covering replacement on a commercial structure | Deck, dry-in, and attachment inspection | Valuation or squares |
| Signage | Wall, ground, and illuminated signs | Zoning review for size and placement, plus electrical where illuminated | Flat or per-sign |
| Land disturbance | Clearing, grading, and stormwater-triggering site work | Erosion and sediment control review, separate from the building permit | Acreage-based |
| Commercial demolition | Full or partial demolition of a commercial structure | Utility disconnect, asbestos notification, and site restoration | Flat or valuation |
| State Fire Marshal plans review | Occupancies requiring State Fire Marshal approval, including schools and certain licensed facilities | Filed with the state through the plans submittal portal, in addition to and not instead of the local record | State fee schedule |
| Commercial new construction | A new commercial building in the county | Full building review; electrical to the state by utility | Fee by scope |
| County gas permit | Gas piping or a gas reconnection | County review; reconnection needs a forty-pound pressure test | Fee by scope |
Residential
- Single-discipline review in most cases
- The electrical record is usually a separate state permit, not a line on the building permit
- Contractor licence attaches at the statutory threshold; a Home Improvement licence may apply below it in nine counties only
- Septic properties need TDEC approval before ground is broken
Commercial — multi-discipline
- Concurrent review across building, trades, fire, and zoning
- Signed and sealed plans across every affected discipline
- The licensee's monetary limit caps the job value, separately from the permit
- Accessibility and life-safety review attach to any change of occupancy
Records you will actually see in Madison County
| Record | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Residential building permit | New homes, additions, alterations, and repairs |
| Commercial building permit | Commercial construction and tenant work |
| Accessory structure | Above the county threshold |
| County plumbing permit | New piping, repipes, and fixtures |
| County gas permit | Gas piping, appliances, and reconnection |
| Mechanical permit | HVAC changeouts and ductwork |
| State electrical permit | Through the state or a permit agent, routed by utility |
| Change of occupancy | For existing buildings, through the Building Department |
Solar permits in Madison County
Solar is reviewed on two tracks at once in Tennessee, and in most of the state those two tracks belong to two different governments. The structural side — attachment detail, rail spacing, and whether the existing framing carries the added dead load — is a local building review. The electrical side — conductors, overcurrent protection, rapid shutdown, labelling, and the service or supply-side connection — usually runs on a state electrical record instead, against the National Electrical Code edition the state programme enforces.
A residential solar installation in the Madison County Building Department's jurisdiction is a county building permit for the structural attachment plus a state electrical permit for the wiring, since electrical is a state permit with inspection routing determined by your utility provider. The county issues plumbing and gas permits, but electrical stays with the state. Confirm your utility to know the electrical inspection routing, and coordinate interconnection with the utility, which sets the meter release on an approved electrical inspection.
That split is the most common cause of a stalled Tennessee solar job. An installer who files the building record locally and assumes the electrical inspection comes with it will sit waiting for an inspector who was never booked. Confirm at the outset whether your jurisdiction is one of the roughly thirty-five municipalities authorised to run its own electrical inspections, or whether the electrical permit has to be bought from the state.
Interconnection runs on a third clock. Tennessee is served by the Tennessee Valley Authority through local power companies — municipal electric systems and rural electric cooperatives — and each sets its own application, meter and witness-test sequence. Permission to operate is not something the building department controls, so plan for the tracks to finish at different times.
Roofing permits in Madison County
A roof covering replacement needs a permit in most Tennessee jurisdictions that enforce their own codes. The permit is usually quick, but it is not optional, and the inspection that matters happens before the covering goes on rather than after.
Tennessee has no statewide product-approval database, so there is no approval number to search for or cite on the application. The assembly has to comply with the adopted code and the manufacturer's listed installation instructions, and that pairing is what the inspector checks — which makes the manufacturer's instructions a document worth having on site.
A re-roof in the Madison County Building Department's jurisdiction is a county building permit reviewed against the codes in the 2025 Construction Guide. A like-for-like replacement is straightforward; adding load or altering the roof structure draws closer review. On an existing building, remember that the existing occupancy falls under the county Fire Department while the Building Department handles the construction work, so confirm which office covers each part.
Sequencing is where reroofs go wrong. The deck and dry-in condition has to be visible when the inspector arrives, so covering it first means opening it back up. Where a previous layer has been torn off, expect attention to deck fastening and to any sheathing replaced along the eaves. Note also that a roofing subcontractor is licensed on the value of the roofing portion alone once that portion reaches the statutory threshold.
Madison County permit cost
Madison County building permit and plan-review fees are set by the Building Department against the scope of the project. Because electrical is a state permit, that cost is a state fee, while plumbing and gas permits are county fees. The county notes that the City of Jackson trade licence is accepted alongside the state credential, which can matter for a contractor working both sides of the county-city line.
Confirm the current fees with the department before budgeting, and account for the county Health Department septic letter, which is a prerequisite to issuance on a parcel without public sewer.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit | Set by the Building Department against the project scope |
| Electrical | State permit fee; inspection routing set by the utility |
| Plumbing / gas | County permit fees; gas reconnection needs a 40-pound pressure test |
| Trade licence | City of Jackson trade licence accepted alongside the state credential |
| Septic properties | County Health Department letter required before permits issue |
| Existing buildings | Under the Madison County Fire Department |
| Confirm | Current fees with the Building Department before budgeting |
Want a precise number for a specific Madison County project? Send us the scope and we will price the permit path before you file.
Madison County trade permits
Electrical is a state permit routed by utility; plumbing and gas are county permits. Four Madison specifics decide whether your application moves:
Electrical is a state permit, routed by utility
Electrical permits are issued by the State of Tennessee or an authorised permit agent, with inspections by state Deputy Electrical Inspectors and the routing determined by your utility provider. The county page lists the West Tennessee cooperatives and Jackson Energy Authority as routing contacts.
Plumbing and gas permits are county-issued
Separate plumbing and gas permits are issued by the Madison County Building Department. A gas reconnection requires a forty-pound pressure test by a county inspector, with all leaks or code violations corrected before service resumes.
The City of Jackson trade licence is accepted
For plumbing, gas and mechanical work, the county accepts the City of Jackson trade licence alongside the state credential. A contractor working both sides of the county-city line can rely on that recognition.
Existing buildings run through the Fire Department
Existing buildings and occupancies fall under the Madison County Fire Department, while additions and changes of occupancy to existing buildings run through the Building Department. Confirm which office reviews an existing-building project.
Madison County permit application: how to apply step by step
Here is how to get a building permit in Madison County, from confirming the requirement through to close-out. Each step below corresponds to a real decision point where projects commonly stall.
The county covers unincorporated Madison County plus Three Way and Medon, but not the City of Jackson or federal buildings. Settle jurisdiction from the parcel before you start.
Design to the adopted codes set out in the Madison County Construction Guide, 2025 Edition, remembering that the adopted codes prevail over the guide where they conflict. Confirm the current editions with the department.
On a parcel without public sewer, obtain the county Health Department septic letter, which is required before the county can issue permits.
Apply with the Building Department for the building permit, and for the county plumbing and gas permits. Apply separately for the state electrical permit through the state or a permit agent, with routing set by your utility.
For a change of occupancy or addition to an existing building, work through the Building Department; existing occupancies fall under the Fire Department. State-owned buildings need county plans review, permits and inspections except for electrical.
Book county building, plumbing and gas inspections, run the state electrical inspection on its own track, and carry the project through to the certificate of occupancy before legal use.
Inspections in Madison County
County inspections are scheduled against the issued permit and reviewed against the codes in the 2025 Construction Guide, with typical checkpoints running footing and foundation, framing, trade rough-ins, insulation and final. Plumbing and gas inspections are performed by county inspectors, and a gas reconnection requires a forty-pound pressure test with all deficiencies corrected before service resumes.
Electrical inspections run on the state's track, performed by state Deputy Electrical Inspectors with the routing determined by the utility provider. Keep the county building, plumbing and gas inspections separate from the state electrical inspection so a hold on one is not mistaken for a hold on another.
Existing buildings sit under the Madison County Fire Department, so on a change of occupancy confirm what was previously permitted against what is standing through the Building Department, and expect the Fire Department's involvement on the existing occupancy. On a state-owned building the county reviews and inspects everything except electrical.
Plumbing and gas inspections are the county's, and a gas reconnection needs a forty-pound pressure test with deficiencies corrected first. The state electrical inspection runs on its own track, routed by utility — clear all before a certificate of occupancy.
Madison County permit search and official resources
Madison County publishes its Building Department information, construction guide and permit details online, with the state and City of Jackson resources that sit alongside them.
- Madison County Building Department
- Madison County Electrical Permits (state, routed by utility)
- Madison County required permits and inspections
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors
- State Fire Marshal codes enforcement
- TDEC subsurface sewage disposal
Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in Madison County, TN?
The Madison County Building Department, at 100 E Main Street, Suite 100 in Jackson, for unincorporated Madison County plus the cities of Three Way and Medon. The City of Jackson runs its own Building and Housing Codes department, and federal buildings sit under the state. The office line is (731) 423-6014.
What does it mean that Madison County is an exempt jurisdiction?
It means the State Fire Marshal's Office granted the county exempt status, so the county adopts and enforces its own construction codes and runs its own plan review, permits and inspections rather than relying on the state as building official. Its adopted codes are listed in the Madison County Construction Guide.
Does Madison County cover the City of Jackson?
No. The county Building Department's jurisdiction covers unincorporated Madison County and the cities of Three Way and Medon, but excludes the City of Jackson, which runs its own Building and Housing Codes department. Confirm the parcel before you file.
Which codes does Madison County enforce?
The adopted codes set out in the Madison County Construction Guide, 2025 Edition, approved on 19 May 2025 and adopted under T.C.A. section 68-120-101. The guide notes that the adopted codes prevail over the guide where they conflict, so confirm the current editions with the department.
Does Madison County issue electrical permits?
No. Electrical permits are issued by the State of Tennessee or an authorised permit agent, with inspections by state Deputy Electrical Inspectors and the inspection routing determined by your utility provider. Plumbing and gas permits, by contrast, are county-issued.
Who issues plumbing and gas permits in Madison County?
The Madison County Building Department issues separate plumbing and gas permits. A gas reconnection requires a forty-pound pressure test by a county inspector, and all leaks or code violations must be corrected before service can resume.
Is a City of Jackson trade licence accepted in Madison County?
Yes. For plumbing, gas and mechanical work, the county accepts the City of Jackson trade licence alongside the state credential, which helps a contractor working both sides of the county-city line.
Do I need a contractor licence in Madison County?
A Tennessee contractor licence is required to bid or perform work valued at twenty-five thousand dollars or more, including labour and materials. Mechanical work does not require additional licensing under that threshold, but an HVAC project at or above it needs the state contractor licence.
Do I need a Home Improvement licence in Madison County?
No. Madison is not one of the nine Tennessee counties that require the Home Improvement licence. Below the twenty-five thousand dollar contractor threshold there is no separate state home improvement credential here, though local registration and trade licences still apply.
Who handles existing buildings in Madison County?
Existing buildings and occupancies fall under the Madison County Fire Department, while additions and changes of occupancy to existing buildings run through the Building Department. Confirm which office reviews an existing-building project before you file.
Do I need a septic approval before a building permit in Madison County?
On a parcel without public sewer, yes. A county Health Department septic letter is required before the county can issue permits. The system is sized to bedroom count, so adding bedrooms needs its own approval.
Does Madison County check my HOA covenants?
No. Deed restrictions, covenants and subdivision regulations are private matters between the owner and the subdivision. A permit that clears the county can still breach a covenant, and the county will not have checked.
Simplify Madison County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Madison County's exempt status, its Three-Way-and-Medon service area, its state-electrical-routed-by-utility model and its county plumbing and gas permits reward applicants who confirm the jurisdiction, design to the 2025 Construction Guide, and route each trade to the right authority.
Trusted by leading builders, developers, and national contractors — 21 years of filing in the jurisdictions we write about.
Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Madison County because the work is done by people who have stood at the counter:
- Right jurisdiction — unincorporated county, Three Way or Medon resolved from the parcel, with the City of Jackson excluded.
- Codes confirmed — the adopted set from the 2025 Construction Guide verified with the department, adopted codes prevailing over the guide.
- Trades routed — electrical to the state by utility, plumbing and gas to the county, with the City of Jackson trade licence recognised.
- Complete oversight — every Madison building, plumbing, gas and state electrical record and inspection tracked across your jobs in one place.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and expediting service in Tennessee. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice, and we are not the permitting authority.
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More Tennessee permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Madison County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.