Obion County, Tennessee Building Permit Guide

Outside its towns, Obion County has no building code, yet the county still asks owners to take out a building permit from the Assessor of Property at the courthouse in Union City, (731) 507-0999 ext. 4, so new buildings, remodels and demolitions reach the tax records. Union City, South Fulton and Obion run their own codes, Kenton and Trimble use the State Fire Marshal’s residential permit, and every electrical job in the county is permitted by the state.

What needs a permit in Obion County?

The Assessor’s permit is a record-keeping permit: staff do a field check to confirm each new building, remodel or demolition, but there is no plan review against a building code. Detached garages, sheds and barns not used for living need no state residential permit in Kenton or Trimble.

Who issues permits in each part of Obion County?

The Assessor’s office is on the first floor of the Obion County Courthouse and is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The county’s own FAQ sends code complaints inside a town to that town, because each one has its own ordinances. Kenton and Trimble straddle county lines; only small parts of Trimble lie in Obion County.

Union City’s Planning & Codes Department, led by Director John Davidson, handles zoning, stormwater, plan review, building permits and rental inspections inside city limits, and its published guidance refers to the 2018 International Residential Code as amended.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work

Electrical: no Obion County town appears on the state’s list of places with their own electrical inspections, so every electrical permit in the county is a state permit. Buy it online in CORE or from Troy Hardware in Troy, the state’s issuing agent in the county, which does not sell permits by phone. To book the state electrical inspection, use CORE or call 615-741-7170 with the permit number.

Plumbing and HVAC: the county issues no plumbing or mechanical permit. Under a state residential permit in Kenton or Trimble, these systems are inspected at rough-in and final, and new houses pay a $100 plumbing and HVAC inspection fee. Inside Union City, South Fulton and Obion, ask the town’s codes office.

Septic systems: sites without sewer need a subsurface sewage disposal permit from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, whose Jackson field office serves Obion County (septic line 731-441-5593; main office 1625 Hollywood Drive, Jackson, (731) 512-1300).

Permit fees in Obion County

County Assessor’s permit: free for now. A notice from the Assessor’s office, published on Union City’s website, says there is currently no cost for permits issued through the county, though that could change.

State residential permit (Kenton, Trimble, or by choice in an opt-out area): the fee is set by the estimated construction cost, which may not be put below $60.57 per heated square foot.

Worked example: a 2,200 heated sq ft house in Kenton cannot be valued below $133,254, which puts it in the $400 band; with the $100 plumbing and HVAC inspection the state charges $500.

Inspections and certificates

Rural county: the Assessor’s staff field-check permitted work to record it for property tax; this is not a code inspection. An owner or builder who wants one can buy a state building permit; the State Fire Marshal’s Office will then inspect the new home or addition and, if it meets the state standards, release a certificate of occupancy, which some lenders require (questions: 615-741-7170).

Kenton and Trimble: state-contracted inspectors check the footing or foundation before concrete, the framing and rough-ins, and the finished house. Request each one in CORE at core.tn.gov or by email to SFMO.permits-licensing@tn.gov with the full permit number and the date the work will be ready. The first failed inspection gets one free re-inspection; later ones cost extra.

Local details for Obion County

Flood zones: the Assessor’s office says all but one of the county’s cities contain mapped flood zones. Property in a FEMA flood zone gets a special county permit, and the owner is then referred to the County Emergency Management Agency director for the next steps. The office also notes that mortgage companies now routinely check whether permits are on file.

Storm and flood repairs: the Assessor specifically asks owners to take out permits for repairs after storm or flood damage, as well as for remodels and room additions, so the property record stays accurate.

Owner-builders in the state program: in Kenton and Trimble a homeowner may build a house to live in, not to sell or lease, if no homeowner permit was issued to them in the previous 24 months.

Manufactured homes: setting one needs no state residential permit, but a deck, patio or stoop that serves as its exit does. The Assessor’s office also registers mobile homes so their location is known for assessment.

County offices: the County Mayor’s office and main county line are at 316 South 3rd Street, Union City, (731) 885-9611.

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

Official Obion County permitting resources

County, city and state pages behind this guide:

• Tennessee state residential-permit instructions
• Tennessee residential jurisdictions and inspectors
• County FAQ distinguishing county permits from municipal codes
• Obion County Assessor of Property
• Union City Planning & Codes Department
• Union City Building Codes page (Assessor's county permit notice)
• State residential permits and CORE
• State residential permit fee table
• State inspections in opt-out areas
• State electrical permit issuing agents
• TDEC Jackson field office (septic permits)

Obion County permit FAQs

Do I need a building permit in rural Obion County?

Yes. There is no building code outside the towns, but the county still requires a building permit from the Assessor of Property, (731) 507-0999 ext. 4, for new buildings, remodels, additions, storm repairs and demolitions.

Who issues building permits in Union City?

The City of Union City Planning & Codes Department at 408 S. Depot, (731) 885-0918, not the county Assessor.

Does Obion County inspect new houses?

No. The Assessor’s field check is for tax records, and the county permit itself is currently free. State inspections are available if you buy a state residential permit, and they are required in Kenton and Trimble.

Where do I buy an electrical permit in Obion County?

From the State Fire Marshal’s Office online through CORE, or in person at Troy Hardware in Troy, (731) 536-4709.

How much is a state permit for a new house in Kenton?

For a house valued between $100,001 and $150,000 the permit is $400, plus $100 for the plumbing and HVAC inspection. Each $50,000 of value above $250,000 adds $50.

Who handles septic permits in Obion County?

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Jackson field office; its septic line is 731-441-5593.

Simplify Obion 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 Obion County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.