Marshall County, Tennessee Building Permit Guide

Outside its towns, Marshall County issues building permits through its Building Codes and Zoning office at 206 Legion Avenue, Suite A, Lewisburg (931-359-0567), with applications and inspection requests filed in the county’s iWorQ portal. A structure of 200 sq ft or more needs a permit, and new homes also pay an adequate facilities tax of $1.00 per square foot. Electrical permits come from the State of Tennessee.

Who issues building permits in Marshall County?

The Building Codes and Zoning office handles building permits, flood development permits, zoning and planning requests for unincorporated Marshall County. Matt Middleton is the Building Official and Codes Official, and Chad McReynolds is the Planning and Zoning Official. Applications, inspection requests and call-back requests all go through the county’s online portals, and the county also publishes an interactive zoning map for checking a parcel. For setback questions, the county lists a zoning line at 931-359-8839.

The State Fire Marshal lists the county and all four towns as exempt from the state residential building program, meaning each enforces a residential code of its own. Who permits in each town:

• Lewisburg: the city’s Planning and Codes Department at 505 N. Ellington Pkwy. (931-359-4013) reviews construction documents and site plans and inspects site work for development inside the city.
• Chapel Hill: the town has its own Planning and Community Development department and a Planning and Codes Coordinator; Town Hall is at 4650 Nashville Highway (931-364-7632).
• Cornersville: the town hires an outside firm for building inspections and has no full-time inspector, but before any building permit is issued you need a zoning compliance letter from the Town, which costs $500 for a new house or other main building and $50 for other projects (Resolution 20-264). Town Hall is at 118 South Main Street (931-293-4482).
• Petersburg (Marshall County part): the town’s municipal code has the Town issue building permits under the 2012 International Building and Residential Codes, enforced by a building official the Board of Mayor and Aldermen appoints; a permit lapses if work does not start within six months. Town Hall: 931-659-9826.

What needs a county building permit?

Farm buildings claimed under the state agricultural exemption still go through the office: bring a current Schedule F and the county issues a no-charge permit with no follow-up inspections. That exemption does not cover post-frame buildings used for living space or for public assembly.

Marshall County permit fees

Building permit fees are set by the County Commission, which still uses the 1990 ICC building permit fee schedule; the fee is based on the submitted plans, or on the application details where no plans are filed. Fees must be paid before review, approval or inspections, and once a permit is approved the office asks for payment in full before you schedule an inspection.

The tax was imposed by the County Commission on July 2, 2001 under a 2001 private act. The 2025 policy statement applies it to gross square footage, while the county’s Building Permit Guide describes the residential rate as $1.00 per square foot of conditioned space.

Electrical, plumbing, gas, septic and floodplain

• Plumbing, mechanical and gas: inspected by the county under the building permit. Plans must show plumbing fixture and gas appliance locations, and the BTU ratings and appliance manuals have to reach the office by the rough-in gas inspection.
• Electrical: no Marshall County jurisdiction runs its own electrical inspections, so the permit is bought from the State of Tennessee and inspected by a state deputy inspector. Lewisburg Electric System (931-359-2544) is a local issuing agent. The county will not call a building final until the electrical final has passed.
• Septic: the application needs a valid septic permit and proof of an adequate water source. Septic permits come from TDEC’s Columbia Environmental Field Office (931-380-3371).
• Floodplain: the county is in the National Flood Insurance Program and regulates all development in the floodplain under its Zoning Resolution. Floodplain Development Permit applications are emailed to the county’s floodplain contact listed on the portal, with an elevation certificate, floodproofing certificate or no-rise certificate where needed.
• Driveways: the Marshall County Highway Department must approve the driveway or road connection before a certificate of occupancy.

What to submit with the application

The application must give the accurate square footage, the property owner and address, and a valid contractor licence (a homeowner may be exempt). Plans should be digital and legible and include:

• Front, side and rear elevations
• Footing and foundation details with layout and size
• A dimensioned and labeled floor plan
• Roof and wall details
• Window sizes, with egress and tempered glass locations
• Plumbing fixture and gas appliance locations
• Energy compliance details
• Engineer or architect plans where the law requires them

In a flood area, consult the Building Official first and add a certified site plan with contours and flood boundaries, a pre-construction elevation certificate, and floodproofing details for non-residential buildings. If the county denies a permit, the Building Inspector gives the reason in writing. Approval of a building permit does not waive zoning rules.

Marshall County inspections

Request inspections through the iWorQ portal with 24 hours’ notice. Prescheduled and portal requests take precedence over last-minute call-ins. For new construction the county lists these inspections:

• Footing, or slab plumbing: footing dry and clean with at least 2 runs of #4 rebar on chairs; slab plumbing on a 10-foot water head test
• Slab: turndowns, rebar, perimeter insulation, gravel and vapor barrier in place
• Foundation: blocks, anchors, coating and drains complete, with sill plate, termite barrier and sill gasket installed
• Framing: roof and wall sheathing on, windows and doors in, house wrap taped
• Plumbing rough-in, with shield plates and pressure tests
• Mechanical rough-in, including gas lines and exhaust
• Insulation, after framing, plumbing and mechanical have passed
• Final, after the electrical final, final grade and life-safety items are complete

Framing, plumbing and mechanical rough-ins can be done at the same visit. A post-frame building gets a post-hole inspection (holes at least 36 inches deep), and walls 14 feet or taller need a stamped wall detail from a Tennessee engineer. A building cannot be occupied until it passes final inspection and the county issues a certificate of occupancy. Work must start within 6 months of the permit, and the permit becomes invalid if work stops for more than 1 year.

Marshall County rules worth knowing

• Codes: the county moved to the 2024 International Residential, Building, Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes on July 1, 2025, with NFPA 101 (2024) and the 2018 energy code as amended by the state.
• Sprinklers: townhomes of 3 or more attached units, and two-story duplexes, need a full fire suppression system and at least a 1-hour firewall.
• Footings: at least 2 runs of #4 rebar throughout footings and turndowns, and 3 runs over rock.
• 911 address: the house number must be visible from the road in letters at least 4 inches tall, or posted at the drive.
• Planning: subdivisions go to the Planning Commission and variances to the Board of Zoning Appeals, both applied for in the same portal.

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

Marshall County official permitting resources

• State Fire Marshal’s Office
• Tennessee Residential Jurisdictions & Inspectors
• Marshall County Building Codes and Zoning
• Marshall County iWorQ permit and inspection portal
• Marshall County Building Permit Guide (PDF)
• Marshall County Building Codes Policy Statement 2025 (PDF)
• Marshall County building permit FAQ
• Tennessee state electrical permits
• City of Lewisburg Planning and Codes
• TDEC Columbia Environmental Field Office (septic)

Marshall County permit FAQs

Do I need a permit for a shed in Marshall County, TN?

Yes if it is 200 sq ft or larger: the county’s Building Permit Guide applies that threshold to accessory buildings as well as houses. Post-frame buildings over 200 sq ft also need a permit, although a farm building with a Schedule F gets one at no charge.

How much does a building permit cost in Marshall County?

The permit fee follows the 1990 ICC fee schedule the County Commission uses, based on your plans. New homes also pay the adequate facilities tax of $1.00 per square foot, and non-residential buildings $0.60.

Where do I apply?

Online through the county’s iWorQ portal, or in writing or in person at 206 Legion Avenue, Suite A, Lewisburg (931-359-0567).

Who issues electrical permits?

The State of Tennessee, for every part of the county. Lewisburg Electric System is a local issuing agent.

Does the county permit work inside Lewisburg?

No. Lewisburg has its own Planning and Codes Department, and the state lists Chapel Hill, Cornersville and Petersburg as running their own residential codes too.

What happens if I start building before I have a permit?

The county charges double the normal permit fee.

Simplify Marshall County permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Tennessee. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Marshall County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.