Polk County requires a $25 county building permit for construction outside its three towns, issued in person only by the Assessor of Property at the courthouse in Benton. Benton, Copperhill and Ducktown handle permits through their own city halls, and in Benton and Copperhill a new home also needs a state residential permit. Electrical permits are state permits, sold locally by the Assessor’s office and by the City of Ducktown.
What needs a permit in Polk County?
Unincorporated Polk County
- County building permit ($25) for construction
- County mobile home or RV permit
- State electrical permit, after the site has an E-911 address
- TDEC septic permit where there is no sewer
- Floodplain development permit in a flood hazard area
Benton, Copperhill, Ducktown
- Permits from the town’s city hall for work inside city limits
- Benton and Copperhill: state residential permit for a new one- or two-family home or townhouse, or an addition over 30 sq ft
- State electrical permit in all three towns
The county does not insist on plans: blueprints for a new house are welcome but not required. Under the state program, sheds, barns and detached garages not used for living need no state residential permit.
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Get a free quote →Who issues permits in each part of Polk County?
| Location | Permit office |
|---|---|
| Outside the towns | Assessor of Property, Polk County Courthouse, 6239 Highway 411, Room 209, Benton, (423) 338-4505; in person only, Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Eastern |
| City of Benton | Benton City Hall, 6496 Highway 411, (423) 338-5733; homes also need a state residential permit |
| City of Copperhill | Copperhill City Hall, 160 Main Street, (423) 496-5141; homes also need a state residential permit |
| City of Ducktown | Ducktown City Hall, 340 Main Street, (423) 496-3546; the city enforces its own codes (exempt from the state program) |
| Electrical, whole county | State Fire Marshal’s Office; local issuing agents are the Assessor of Property and the City of Ducktown |
| Septic | TDEC Division of Water Resources, Chattanooga field office, (423) 634-5745 |
| Addresses | Polk County 911, (423) 338-1090 |
The State Fire Marshal’s list, current to August 21, 2026, records unincorporated Polk County as having opted out of the state residential building program, Benton and Copperhill as taking part in it, and Ducktown as exempt.
Electrical, plumbing and septic
Electrical: no part of Polk County is on the state’s exempt list, so electrical work everywhere needs a state permit. Besides buying online in CORE, you can get one from the Assessor of Property in Benton (423-338-4505) or the City of Ducktown (423-496-3546); both take permit orders by phone. A new electrical meter cannot be set until the property has an E-911 address from Polk County 911.
Plumbing and mechanical: the county issues no separate plumbing or HVAC permit. In Benton and Copperhill, a state residential permit for a new house includes rough-in and final checks of plumbing and mechanical systems, at $100 for that inspection.
Septic: TDEC’s Division of Water Resources issues septic permits; apply online through its Septic Service Request application, and past septic records can be searched online. The Chattanooga field office at 1301 Riverfront Parkway serves Polk County.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →What permits cost in Polk County
County building permit: a flat $25, paid when you apply in person at the Assessor’s office. The same office issues mobile home and RV permits.
State residential permit in Benton and Copperhill: based on construction cost, never less than $60.57 per heated square foot.
| Construction cost | Fee |
|---|---|
| $5,000 or less | $100 |
| $5,001 to $100,000 | $350 |
| $100,001 to $150,000 | $400 |
| Up to $200,000 | $450 |
| $200,001 to $250,000 | $500 |
| Each further $50,000 or part | $50 |
| Plumbing and HVAC inspection, new homes | $100 |
| Slab cast apart from its footings | $100 |
For a 1,500 heated sq ft house in Copperhill, the minimum value is $90,855, so the permit is $350, or $450 with the plumbing and HVAC inspection.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Inspections in Polk County
County permits: the $25 permit comes from the Assessor’s office, and the county publishes no building inspection program. Because the county has opted out of the state program, an owner or contractor can still buy a state residential permit to have a new house or addition inspected by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, which issues a certificate of occupancy when the house meets the state standards (615-741-7170).
Benton and Copperhill homes: state inspectors check the foundation before the pour, the framing and rough-ins, and the completed house. Schedule them in CORE; one failed inspection can be repeated free, and further re-inspections are charged.
Floodplain: the county’s flood resolution names the Building Official or Inspector, or the County Executive in that person’s absence, as the administrator who issues development permits in flood hazard areas.
Local details for Polk County
Flood elevations: under the county flood resolution, a new or substantially improved home in a mapped flood zone with a base flood elevation must have its lowest floor at least 2 feet above that elevation; where no elevation has been set, at least 3 feet above the highest adjacent grade. The flood maps adopted are dated May 18, 2009.
Subdivisions and road access: the Polk County Regional Planning Commission, staffed by the Southeast Tennessee Development District, meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Eastern. Its December 2024 subdivision regulations bar building permits on a subdivision lot until the road serving it has been accepted as a public or private road under those regulations.
Rather not deal with the Polk County building department?
Get a free quote →Mobile homes: a single mobile home on its own lot must meet the standards for conventional houses and the subdivision regulations. Two or more mobile homes make a mobile home park, which needs a site plan approved by the Planning Commission; send three copies to the planning staff at least 15 days before the meeting.
Highway entrances: the planning page points to TDOT for driveway entrances onto state highways.
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 Polk County government resources
County, regional and state pages used here:
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →- Tennessee state residential permit instructions
- Tennessee residential jurisdictions and inspectors
- Polk County government information
- Polk County Property Assessor
- Polk County Planning Commission (SETD)
- Polk County subdivision regulations (December 2024)
- Polk County flood damage prevention resolution
- Polk County mobile home park regulations
- State residential permit fees
- State electrical permit issuing agents
- TDEC Chattanooga field office
Polk County permit FAQs
How much is a building permit in Polk County, TN?
$25 for construction outside the towns, issued in person by the Assessor of Property at 6239 Highway 411, Room 209, Benton.
Can I apply for a Polk County building permit online?
No. The county says building, mobile home and RV permits are issued in person only.
Do I need plans for a new house in the county?
Blueprints are appreciated but not required for a county permit.
Who issues permits inside Benton, Copperhill or Ducktown?
Each town’s city hall. In Benton and Copperhill a new home also needs a state residential permit; Ducktown enforces its own codes.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Where can I buy an electrical permit in Polk County?
Online through the state’s CORE system, or from the Assessor of Property (423-338-4505) or the City of Ducktown (423-496-3546).
How high must a house be built in a Polk County flood zone?
The lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the base flood elevation, or 3 feet above the highest adjacent grade where no base flood elevation exists.
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More Tennessee permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Polk County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.