Building permits in Nashville — Tennessee’s capital and largest city — are issued by the Metro Department of Codes and Building Safety, which handles permitting for the consolidated Nashville–Davidson County Metro government outside the satellite cities. Nashville adopted the 2024 International Codes (IBC, IRC, IFC, IMC, IPC, IECC) effective July 16, 2025.
This Nashville building permit guide covers what requires a permit, how the Metro Codes process works, the ePermits and ePlans portals, fees, trade permits, and inspections — so your Nashville project starts clean.
Nashville and Davidson County share a consolidated Metro government. Metro Codes handles building and trade permits, including electrical, across Davidson County — there is no separate county permitting office. The exceptions are the satellite cities of Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Forest Hills, Goodlettsville, Oak Hill and Ridgetop, which sit outside Metro Codes’ building jurisdiction; confirm permits with the city there. The consolidation has been in effect since 1963. One exception runs the other way: for Davidson County addresses in Goodlettsville, Metro Codes still sells and inspects the plumbing, gas/mechanical and electrical permits after the City issues the building permit.
What requires a building permit in Nashville?
Under the 2024 International Codes as adopted by Metro Nashville (BL2025-898, effective July 16, 2025), a permit is required before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing the occupancy of most structures and systems. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New residential and commercial construction, additions
- Structural and load-bearing alterations
- Reroofing, windows, doors, and exterior changes
- Electrical service changes and most wiring work
- HVAC installations and changeouts
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Decks, porches, pools, garages, carports and storage buildings of 100 sq ft or more
- Change of occupancy or use
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and cosmetic work
- Storage buildings under 100 sq ft
- Retaining walls ≤ 4 ft (not supporting a surcharge)
- Fences (zoning height and setback rules still apply) and roof repairs up to 33% of the roof area
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Get the permit issued before starting work. Building without one exposes the owner to penalties and stop-work orders. Note that exemption from a building permit does not exempt a project from zoning requirements — confirm edge cases with the building department.
Who handles permitting in Nashville?
Permitting, plan review, and inspections run through the Metro Department of Codes and Building Safety. The department operates both the ePermits system (for permit applications, payments, and inspection scheduling) and the newer ePlans system (GeoCivix, launched September 8, 2025) for electronic plan submission and concurrent review, starting with Codes and the Metro Fire Marshal, with other departments to follow.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Metro Codes & Building Safety — Metro Office Building, 800 President Ronald Reagan Way, 1st Floor, Nashville, TN 37210 (Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm) |
| Phone | 615-862-6500 |
| Online portals | ePermits (applications, payments, inspections) + ePlans (GeoCivix electronic plan review) |
| Covers | Nashville–Davidson County (consolidated Metro), except the satellite cities of Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Forest Hills, Goodlettsville, Oak Hill and Ridgetop |
| Code cycle | 2024 I-Codes (IBC, IRC, IMC, IPC, IFC, IECC) — effective July 16, 2025 |
| Inspections | ePermits (registered contractors) or by phone, 7:30am to 4:00pm: building 615-862-6550, electrical 615-862-6560, plumbing and gas/mechanical 615-862-6570 |
Two online systems — ePermits for applications, ePlans for plan review. Registered contractors apply for residential permits in ePermits; other applications, and all commercial applications, go to the Zoning Help Desk (zoninghelpdesk@nashville.gov). Commercial plans are then uploaded to ePlans (GeoCivix) once a temporary permit application number is issued. Both are reached through nashville.gov/codes.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Nashville building permit cost
Nashville building permit fees are valuation-based. Permits for one- and two-family homes and townhouses are calculated at $5.00 per $1,000 of total valuation. Commercial and other permits use a sliding valuation scale. Every building permit also carries a $25 zoning examination fee and a Codes Tech Fee of 10% of the valuation fee. Commercial plans draw a plans examination fee of half the permit fee up to $275,000 of valuation; one- and two-family homes and townhouses are exempt from it. Separate trade permits carry their own fees.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Residential building permit | $5.00 per $1,000 of project valuation |
| Commercial building permit | Sliding valuation scale: $40.39 for the first $2,000, then $6.92 down to $2.79 per additional $1,000 |
| Plan review fee | Half the building permit fee up to $275,000 of valuation, tiered above; not charged on one- and two-family homes or townhouses |
| Trade permits (E / P / M / Gas) | Separate fee per trade |
| Codes Tech Fee | 10% of the building valuation fee, plus a $25 zoning examination fee |
| Work-without-permit | Penalties and stop-work orders; electrical permit fees are tripled when work starts before the permit |
Want a precise number for a specific Nashville project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
Nashville trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical (HVAC), and gas permits are filed separately through Metro Codes. Each requires a Tennessee-licensed trade contractor.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Electrical permits
Required for service upgrades, panel work, solar PV, and most wiring — performed by a TN-licensed electrical contractor (CE classification).
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heaters, fixture relocations, and gas piping — performed by a TN-licensed plumber.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC installations, changeouts, ductwork, and refrigeration — performed by a TN-licensed mechanical contractor.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Reroofs, decks, pools, signs, and accessory structures are permitted separately; fences need no permit but must meet zoning height and setback rules. Demolition permits, grading permits, and right-of-way permits follow additional review tracks.
Verify your contractor's license. Tennessee requires a state contractor license issued by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (under the Department of Commerce & Insurance / TDCI) for projects valued at $25,000 or more. Separate trade licenses are required for electrical (CE), plumbing, and HVAC/mechanical work. Homeowners may pull their own permit for personal-use construction once every 24 months under TCA § 62-6-103 — but the project must still meet all code and inspection requirements. Verify licensure at tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractors.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →How to get a building permit in Nashville
Register in ePermits & confirm zoning
Register as a contractor in the ePermits system. Confirm zoning compliance — Nashville has ~240,000 parcels, each zoned for specific uses.
Submit permit application
Registered contractors apply for residential permits in ePermits. Other applicants, and all commercial projects, submit the application to the Zoning Help Desk (zoninghelpdesk@nashville.gov), and a zoning examiner is assigned.
Upload plans to ePlans
Submit sealed plans through ePlans (GeoCivix) for concurrent multi-department electronic review.
Plan review & corrections
Metro Codes and the other Metro departments review against the adopted 2024 I-Codes and local amendments. For single-family homes, construction plans are reviewed only above 5,000 square feet or three stories. Timing varies by scope and by department.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Once approved, fees are calculated and the permit is issued upon payment. Post the permit card on site.
Schedule inspections through CO
Schedule inspections via ePermits or by phone. Clear all checkpoints, then obtain the Use and Occupancy letter.
Inspections in Nashville
Schedule inspections through the ePermits portal (registered contractors) or by phone between 7:30am and 4:00pm. Nashville’s inspection division enforces Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Model Energy, and Gas/Mechanical Codes. Typical checkpoints include footing/foundation, rough-in MEP, framing, insulation, and final. Confirm permit expiry and extension rules with Metro Codes before work pauses.
Address correction notices before requesting a re-inspection; a final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy are required before legal occupancy or use.
Official Nashville permitting resources
- 🏛️ Metro Codes & Building Safety
- 📋 Construction & Permits — applications & forms
- 💻 ePlans electronic plan review
- 🪪 TN Board for Licensing Contractors
- 📘 TN State Fire Marshal — codes
- 🗺️ Building permit process overview
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
Which building codes does Nashville enforce?
The 2024 International Codes (IBC, IRC, IFC, IMC, IPC and IECC) with local amendments, adopted by ordinance BL2025-898 and in force since July 16, 2025.
When do I use ePermits and when do I use ePlans?
Registered contractors apply for residential permits in ePermits, which also handles payments and inspection requests. Commercial applications, and applications from anyone not registered, go to the Zoning Help Desk; once a temporary permit application number is issued, the commercial plans are uploaded to ePlans, the GeoCivix plan review system Metro Codes launched on September 8, 2025.
Does Metro Codes review plans for a single-family house?
Only for larger homes: construction plans are required for residences of more than 5,000 sq ft of floor area. Every residential permit still needs a site plan.
What does a commercial building permit cost in Nashville?
The valuation fee starts at $40.39 for the first $2,000 and adds $6.92 for each further $1,000 up to $50,000, stepping down to $2.79 per $1,000 above $500,000. Commercial plans also pay a plans examination fee of half the permit fee on valuations up to $275,000, and every permit carries the $25 zoning examination fee and a 10% Codes Tech Fee.
How do I book an inspection in Nashville?
Through ePermits, or by phone on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with the permit number ready: building 615-862-6550, electrical 615-862-6560, and plumbing or gas/mechanical 615-862-6570.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Simplify Nashville permitting with Alliance Permitting
Nashville's consolidated Metro government, concurrent ePlans review, and valuation-based fee structure reward applicants who assemble complete packages and navigate the ePermits + ePlans dual-portal system correctly. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Nashville — our permit expediting services in Tennessee pair AI-driven document review with experts who know the Metro Codes & Building Safety process, so your Nashville submissions move faster.
Trusted by leading builders and brands — including Dream Finders Homes, Tesla, Verizon, Hyatt, and Sunnova.
Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Nashville because we deliver:
- Local expertise — we know Metro Codes & Building Safety, the ePermits and ePlans portals, and the 2024 I-Code adoption nuances.
- Complete oversight — track every permit and inspection across all your jobs in one place.
- Complete submissions — AI pre-checks plus expert review catch issues before they become correction cycles.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance — including preparing private-provider documentation where that option is available. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
Ready to break ground in Nashville sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Nashville–Davidson County permits while you stay focused on building. Get a free, no-obligation quote today.
More Tennessee permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the Metro Department of Codes and Building Safety before filing. This is not legal advice.