Union County, Tennessee Building Permit Guide

Union County building permits are bought in person from the Assessor of Property at 901 Main Street, Suite 106, Maynardville (865-992-3211); the office says they are not sold online. A 1973 private act requires one before any new building goes up or before an alteration worth more than $1,000, and caps the fee at $225 for a home or mobile home setup. The City of Maynardville has its own building department and building inspector.

When Union County requires a permit

The county permit comes from Private Acts of 1973, Chapter 87, as amended in 2005. It applies to:

The Assessor records each permit for the property tax roll; the act says new value is not taxed until the work is finished or usable. Building without the permit is punishable by a fine of $25 to $50.

Who handles Union County permits?

The Assessor of Property sells the county building permit and gives out 911 addresses for new construction. Courthouse offices are open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The county’s published pages describe this sales permit only; they do not name a county building inspector or an inspection schedule.

The State Fire Marshal’s residential table lists Union County and all three of its towns as exempt from the state residential building program, so the state does not sell residential building permits here.

The 1973 act names Luttrell and Maynardville: the county permit still applies in a city unless that city requires and enforces its own building or zoning permits and sends copies to the Assessor.

Electrical, septic and other approvals

• Electrical: Union County does not appear on the State Fire Marshal’s list of jurisdictions that inspect their own wiring, and the state lists no permit-selling agent in the county. Electrical permits are therefore purchased from the state in its CORE system, and a contracted state deputy inspector checks the work. Without a CORE account, inspections can be requested by phone at 615-741-7170 using the permit number.
• Septic: TDEC’s Knoxville Environmental Field Office (865-594-6035) handles subsurface sewage for Union County, and the Assessor’s page links to the state’s online septic application. Maynardville’s municipal code points private sewage questions to the Union County Health Department.
• Mobile home parks: three or more mobile homes on one tract outside Maynardville must be in a planned park approved by the Union County Planning Commission. A park needs at least 2 acres, roads at least 20 feet wide and a health officer’s certificate on the plan, and the application goes in two copies at least 7 days before a regular meeting.
• Maynardville utilities and zoning: the city publishes a Developer’s Utility Agreement, a site plan form, a sign permit application, its zoning ordinance and its subdivision regulations. Zoning and codes enforcement questions go to the city’s codes and zoning officer at (865) 900-4072.

What a Union County permit costs

The county legislative body sets the Assessor’s permit fee; the current amount is not published online. The private act, as amended in 2005, sets the ceilings:

Maynardville sets its own permit fees by action of its Board of Commissioners; its application has lines for a building fee and a separate plan-checking fee. Electrical permit fees are paid to the state in CORE.

What the applications ask for

County permit: the act lists what the Assessor’s application must contain: whether the job is new construction or an alteration, the location or address, the owners, and the estimated cost of the finished building (for an alteration, the building’s value before and after), plus anything else the Assessor asks for.

Maynardville permit: the owner or the owner’s agent signs a two-part form covering construction, alterations, additions, demolition or moving a building. It asks for:

• Lot and block number, address, and whether the site is inside the fire limits
• Occupancy and type of construction as defined in the building code, height, number of stories, floor area and estimated cost
• Soil type, footing size and material, and foundation wall material and thickness
• Framing species and grade, a joist table (size, longest span and spacing for each floor and the ceiling), stud and post spacing, the longest beam or lintel, and exterior sheathing
• A plot plan showing the building, property lines and front, side and rear setbacks, with lot area, number of families and off-street parking
• Contractor and architect names

Inspections in Union County

In Maynardville, the permit form lists the inspections the city tracks: foundation, framing and final for the building, rough-in, sewer and final for plumbing, and electrical. The form states that all footing forms must be inspected before concrete is poured, and the building official signs off the approved permit.

For electrical work anywhere in the county, the state deputy inspector visits after the permit holder requests the inspection in CORE or by phone.

Maynardville’s municipal code adopts the 2018 International Building Code with local amendments (Ordinance O-2022-8).

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 Union County permitting resources

• Tennessee state residential-permit instructions
• Tennessee residential jurisdictions and inspectors
• Union County official government directory
• Union County Assessor of Property
• Union County private acts, including the building permit act (CTAS)
• City of Maynardville departments
• Maynardville forms and documents
• Tennessee state electrical permits (CORE)
• TDEC Knoxville Environmental Field Office

Union County permit FAQs

Where do I get a building permit in Union County, TN?

At the Assessor of Property’s office, 901 Main Street, Suite 106, Maynardville, in person. The office does not sell permits online.

How much is a Union County building permit?

The county commission sets the fee. State law caps it at $225 for residential work, including a mobile home setup, and $450 for commercial work.

Do I need a permit to remodel?

Under the county act, an alteration needs a permit when it is worth more than $1,000.

Does Maynardville issue its own permits?

Yes. The city has a Building Department with a building inspector, reachable at (865) 356-9520, and its own permit application.

Who issues electrical permits in Union County?

The State of Tennessee, through its CORE system, with inspections by a state deputy electrical inspector.

Who gives out 911 addresses for new houses?

The Assessor of Property’s office, which also sells the building permit.

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