The Tipton County Building Department, part of Planning and Development at 220 Highway 51 North in Covington, is the building authority for unincorporated Tipton County, on the northern edge of the Memphis metro. It administers zoning and routes electrical to the state.
The first question here is jurisdiction: Covington, Atoka, Munford and Brighton run their own permitting; the county’s inspectors also cover Gilt Edge and Garland; Mason is in the State Fire Marshal’s residential programme; and Burlison has opted out of the state residential codes. Much of the county’s US-51 growth is inside Atoka and Munford. Confirm the current adopted editions with the office, and route electrical to the state.
Scope: unincorporated Tipton County, Gilt Edge and Garland through the Building Department. Covington, Atoka, Munford and Brighton permit their own work; Mason uses state residential permits, and Burlison has opted out.
Eight municipalities, state electrical, verify-current editions. Tipton County’s Building Department permits the unincorporated area and inspects for Gilt Edge and Garland, while Covington, Atoka, Munford and Brighton run their own. Confirm the jurisdiction from the parcel, confirm the current adopted editions with the office, and note electrical is a state permit.
What requires a permit in Tipton County?
The Tipton County Building Department, part of Planning and Development at 220 Highway 51 North, Suite 3 in Covington, is the building authority for unincorporated Tipton County — a county on the northern edge of the Memphis metro, running from the US-51 corridor to the Mississippi River. It issues building permits and administers zoning for the unincorporated area, and its inspectors also cover Gilt Edge and Garland. The county seat, Covington, runs its own permitting.
On code editions, confirm the current adopted set with the department rather than assuming a fixed year, since the county administers building permits under the statewide minimum standards and its published materials point applicants to the office. The county reviews building plans and site plans and issues certificates of zoning compliance. Electrical is not a county permit — it runs through the State of Tennessee and its Deputy Electrical Inspectors. Tennessee does not have one permitting model, it has three, and which one applies decides who your building official actually is. A jurisdiction that has adopted codes meeting the state minimum and enforces them is an exempt jurisdiction: it runs its own plan review, permits and inspections, and the state stays out except for state buildings, schools and a handful of licensed occupancies. A jurisdiction that has not is non-exempt, and the State Fire Marshal's Office is the building official there, working through contracted deputy building inspectors who cover several counties each. And a jurisdiction that has passed a two-thirds resolution under T.C.A. § 68-120-101(b)(1)(B) is an opt-out or non-code jurisdiction, where one- and two-family dwellings sit outside the statewide standards altogether.
The eight-municipality map is the practical thing to resolve first. The county’s authority is the unincorporated remainder, plus Gilt Edge and Garland. On a parcel without public sewer the septic approval comes first. 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
- Manufactured and modular homes
- Decks, pools, and exterior structural work
- Plumbing, mechanical, and gas work
- Electrical work — a state permit through CORE
- New lots — under the county subdivision and zoning regulations
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, and cosmetic finishes
- Routine maintenance not altering structure or a regulated system
- Work inside Covington, Atoka, Munford or Brighton
- Minor work below the county's published thresholds
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Tipton County building department: who handles permitting
The Building Department sits within Planning and Development, so building permits and zoning compliance run through the same Covington office for the unincorporated county. Confirming the current adopted editions with the department is the reliable step, since the county administers the statewide minimum standards and its materials direct applicants to the office rather than pinning a single published year.
The eight-municipality landscape is what makes jurisdiction the first question in Tipton County. Covington, Atoka, Munford and Brighton run their own permitting; the county’s inspectors also cover Gilt Edge and Garland; Mason is in the State Fire Marshal’s residential programme; and Burlison has opted out of the state residential codes. A parcel in the US-51 corridor is often inside Atoka or Munford, so settle the jurisdiction from the parcel before assuming the county permits the work.
The growth pattern and geography shape the work. The eastern and central county along US-51 — Atoka, Munford, Brighton — is a Memphis bedroom-community growth belt with steady residential construction, while the western county runs to the Mississippi River through agricultural land. Electrical is a state permit through CORE across the unincorporated county, so budget for that separate state application.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Authority | Tipton County Building Department (Planning and Development) |
| Covers | Unincorporated Tipton County |
| Municipalities running their own | Covington, Atoka, Munford, Brighton (Mason: state programme; Burlison: opted out) |
| Office | 220 Highway 51 North, Suite 3, Covington, TN 38019 |
| Phone | 901-476-0215 (inspection requests 8:00 to 11:00am weekdays for same-day afternoon inspection; no re-inspections on Fridays) |
| Codes enforced | Verify current adopted editions with the office |
| Region | Northern edge of the Memphis metro |
| Electrical | A state permit through CORE |
| Zoning | County zoning compliance for the unincorporated area |
Eight municipalities, state electrical, verify-current editions. Tipton County’s Building Department permits the unincorporated area and inspects for Gilt Edge and Garland, while Covington, Atoka, Munford and Brighton run their own. Confirm the jurisdiction from the parcel, confirm the current adopted editions with the office, and note electrical is a state permit.
Confirm from the parcel whether the site is unincorporated Tipton County or inside one of the eight municipalities, because the rules change at each town line.
In 2025, building permits issued in unincorporated Tipton County authorized 50 new privately owned housing units, all of them single-family homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.
Tipton County permits: record types and what each covers
Tipton County runs residential and commercial building records, with electrical routed to the state. These are the records you are likely to file:
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →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 30 square feet or more | Structural and energy review; the 30 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 residential code but are installed under state installation rules, and local zoning still applies | 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 unincorporated county | Building and zoning-compliance review; state electrical | Fee by scope |
| Manufactured home | Placing a manufactured or modular home | Building review with a foundation and site plan; state electrical | Fee by scope |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →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 city or county is on the State Fire Marshal’s exempt list and inspects 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 | Fee by scope |
| Zoning compliance | Confirming a use against county zoning | Certificate of zoning compliance for the unincorporated parcel | 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 a TDEC septic construction permit before the system is installed, and some counties add their own
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
Rather not deal with the Tipton County building department?
Get a free quote →Records you will actually see in Tipton County
| Record | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Residential building permit | New homes, additions, alterations, and repairs |
| Commercial building permit | Commercial construction and tenant work |
| Manufactured / modular home | Placement of a manufactured or modular home |
| Accessory structure | Above the county threshold |
| Swimming pool | With barrier and bonding review |
| Plumbing / mechanical / gas | Trade permits under the adopted codes |
| State electrical permit | Through core.tn.gov, not the county |
| Zoning compliance | Certificate of zoning compliance |
Solar permits in Tipton County
A residential solar installation in unincorporated Tipton County is a county building permit for the structural attachment plus a state electrical permit for the wiring, since electrical here is a state record through CORE. The county reviews the structural attachment and confirms zoning compliance for a ground-mounted array. The local power company sets the meter release on an approved electrical inspection, so confirm the interconnection path early, and confirm the parcel is unincorporated rather than in one of the towns.
Roofing permits in Tipton County
A re-roof in unincorporated Tipton County is a county building permit reviewed against the county's adopted codes, which the office will confirm the current edition of. A like-for-like replacement is straightforward; adding load or altering the roof structure draws closer review. Confirm the parcel is unincorporated, since much of the county's growth is inside the US-51 corridor towns.
Tennessee solar jobs usually need a state electrical permit, unless the city or county runs its own electrical inspections, plus any local building review; roofing follows the adopted code and the manufacturer's instructions. Tennessee rules
Tipton County permit cost
Tipton County building permit fees are set by the Building Department against the submitted scope, with separate county plumbing, mechanical and gas permits. Because electrical is a state permit, that cost is a state fee through CORE rather than a county line item.
Confirm the current fee basis and the adopted code editions with the department before budgeting, and account for the TDEC septic approval on a parcel without public sewer, common in the more rural western county.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit | Set by the Building Department against the submitted scope |
| Plumbing / mechanical / gas | County trade permits |
| Electrical | State fee via CORE, not a county line item |
| Zoning compliance | Certificate of zoning compliance for the unincorporated area |
| Septic properties | TDEC septic permit required before the system is installed |
| Subdivision | Review under the county regulations for new lots |
| Confirm | Fee basis and current editions with the Building Department |
Want a precise number for a specific Tipton County project? Send us the scope and we will price the permit path before you file.
Tipton County trade permits
Electrical is a state permit; the county has eight municipalities. Four Tipton specifics decide whether your application moves:
Resolve which of the eight municipalities, or the county
Four towns run their own permitting, the county covers Gilt Edge and Garland, and Mason and Burlison differ. Settle jurisdiction from the parcel first.
Confirm the current code edition
The county administers the statewide minimum standards, so confirm the current adopted editions with the Building Department rather than assuming a fixed year.
Electrical is the state's
Electrical is a state permit through CORE, inspected by the state's Deputy Electrical Inspectors, rather than a county record. Budget for a separate state application alongside the county building permit.
Line up the septic approval in the rural county
On a parcel without public sewer, common in the western agricultural county, obtain the TDEC septic approval before the county can issue the building permit.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →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
Tipton County permit application: how to apply step by step
Here is how to get a building permit in Tipton County, from confirming the requirement through to close-out. Each step below corresponds to a real decision point where projects commonly stall.
Covington, Atoka, Munford and Brighton permit their own work, Mason uses state residential permits and Burlison has opted out; the county covers the unincorporated area, Gilt Edge and Garland. Settle jurisdiction from the parcel.
Confirm the adopted editions with the Building Department rather than relying on a fixed year, and design to the confirmed set.
On a parcel without public sewer, obtain the TDEC septic approval, prepare a site plan, and confirm zoning compliance for the unincorporated parcel.
Apply with the Building Department for the building permit and the county plumbing, mechanical and gas permits, and apply separately to the state through CORE for electrical.
On a project that divides land, clear the county subdivision and zoning regulations before proceeding.
Book county 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 Tipton County
County inspections are scheduled against the issued permit and reviewed against the county's adopted codes, with typical checkpoints running footing and foundation, framing, trade rough-ins, insulation and final. County plumbing, mechanical and gas inspections run alongside the building inspections.
Electrical inspections run on the state's track through CORE, because electrical is a state permit here. Keep the county building track and the state electrical track separate so a hold on one is not mistaken for a hold on the other.
Because so much of the county's growth is inside the US-51 towns, confirm the parcel is unincorporated before expecting a county inspection. On an existing building, confirm what was previously permitted against what is standing before a change of occupancy.
Confirm the parcel is unincorporated before scheduling, since the growth corridor runs through several towns. The state electrical final is separate from the county final — clear both before a certificate of occupancy.
Tipton County permit search and official resources
Tipton County publishes its Building Department and Planning information online, with the Covington, state and TDEC resources that sit alongside it.
- Tipton County Planning and Development
- City of Covington Code Compliance
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors
- State electrical permits (CORE)
- State Fire Marshal codes enforcement
- TDEC subsurface sewage disposal
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in Tipton County, TN?
The Tipton County Building Department, part of Planning and Development at 220 Highway 51 North, Suite 3 in Covington, for unincorporated Tipton County, Gilt Edge and Garland. Covington, Atoka, Munford and Brighton run their own permitting. The building inspectors’ line is 901-476-0215; call between 8:00 and 11:00am on a weekday for a same-day afternoon inspection.
Which building code does Tipton County enforce?
The county administers the statewide minimum construction standards, but its published materials direct applicants to the office rather than pinning a single edition, so confirm the current adopted editions with the Building Department before you design.
Does Tipton County issue electrical permits?
No. Electrical is a state permit through the state's CORE system, inspected by the state's Deputy Electrical Inspectors, rather than a county record. Budget for a separate state application alongside the county building permit.
How many municipalities are in Tipton County?
Eight — Covington (the seat), Atoka, Munford, Brighton, Mason, Burlison, Garland and Gilt Edge. Covington, Atoka, Munford and Brighton run their own permitting; the county inspects for Gilt Edge and Garland; Mason is in the State Fire Marshal’s residential programme; and Burlison has opted out of the state residential codes.
Is my project in Tipton County or one of the towns?
It depends on the parcel. Much of the county's growth is inside the US-51 corridor towns like Atoka, Munford and Brighton, so a growing-area parcel is often inside a town. Confirm the parcel is unincorporated before filing with the county.
Do I need a contractor licence in Tipton County?
A Tennessee contractor licence is required to bid or perform work valued at $25,000 or more, including labour and materials. The same threshold reaches electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC and roofing subcontractors on their own portion; masonry subcontractors are licensed at $100,000.
Do I need a Home Improvement licence in Tipton County?
No. Tipton is not one of the nine Tennessee counties that require the Home Improvement licence. Below the $25,000 contractor threshold there is no separate state home improvement credential here, though local registration and trade licences still apply.
Do I need a septic approval before a building permit in Tipton County?
On a parcel without public sewer, yes, which is common in the rural western county. The state's TDEC subsurface sewage disposal program issues the septic permit, and it must be in hand before the county can issue the building permit.
Does Covington use the same office as Tipton County?
No. Covington runs its own Code Compliance department, as do Atoka, Munford and Brighton. Tipton County issues permits for the unincorporated area and inspects for Gilt Edge and Garland, so confirm the parcel before filing with the county Building Department.
Does Tipton 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.
Does Tipton County require a zoning-compliance step?
Yes. The county administers zoning for the unincorporated area and issues certificates of zoning compliance alongside the building permit. Confirm the parcel's zoning and setbacks with the department before siting the structure.
What inspections does Tipton County require?
Typical checkpoints run footing and foundation, framing, trade rough-ins, insulation and final, scheduled against the issued permit. Electrical is inspected separately by the state through CORE.
Simplify Tipton County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Tipton County's eight-municipality map, its verify-current editions, its state electrical route and its Memphis-exurb growth reward applicants who resolve the jurisdiction first, confirm the code edition with the office, and line up the state electrical permit.
Trusted by leading builders, developers, and national contractors — 21+ years of filing in the jurisdictions we write about.
Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Tipton County because the work is done by people who have stood at the counter:
- Right authority — the county, one of the towns with its own office, or the state programme in Mason, resolved from the parcel.
- Current editions confirmed — the adopted set verified with the Building Department rather than assumed.
- State electrical planned — the separate CORE permit lined up alongside the county building record.
- Complete oversight — every Tipton building record, state permit 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.
Ready to break ground in Tipton County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Tipton County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Tennessee permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Tipton County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.