White House, Tennessee Building Permit Guide

Inside White House city limits, on both the Robertson and Sumner County sides, building permits come from the City’s Planning & Codes Department and are applied for, corrected and paid for online in EnerGov Citizen Self Service. A new house of up to 2,500 sq ft costs $900 under the fee schedule adopted in June 2025, plus $150 for plumbing and $100 for mechanical. Electrical permits come from the State of Tennessee.

What work requires a White House permit?

The City’s fee schedule shows the work it permits. Fences and land disturbance are permitted separately by the Stormwater Division.

Who administers permits in White House?

The Building Department reviews permit requests and inspects work under the City’s adopted codes, while the Planning side handles zoning, subdivisions and site plans. The State Fire Marshal lists White House as exempt from the state residential program in both counties, so the City’s permit covers homes on either side of the county line. Land outside the city limits is permitted by Robertson County or Sumner County, depending on the side.

Applying in EnerGov Citizen Self Service

All building permit applications, planning applications and inspection requests go through the City’s EnerGov Citizen Self Service (CSS) portal. In CSS you open the application, upload plans, see and answer the Planning Department’s corrections on the same file, and pay by credit card.

Fence permits work differently: download the fence application, attach a site plan and file it with the Stormwater Division at 725 Industrial Dr. A fence that will sit in a public utility and drainage easement also needs the City’s general release of liability form. Cutting a city-maintained road needs a road cut permit on its own fillable form; Public Services inspects the cut and the repair once it is done.

White House permit fees

Resolution 25-09, adopted on June 24, 2025, replaced the City’s permit and development fee schedule. The new residential fees:

A 2,400 sq ft house therefore pays $900 for the building permit, $150 for plumbing and $100 for mechanical, $1,150 before the state electrical permit. Commercial new construction and additions run from $750 (1,000 sq ft and under, no plan review) to $31,250 (200,000 sq ft and larger), and commercial plumbing and mechanical permits cost $400 each up to 10,000 sq ft and $750 each above that. A fence costs $25 for review and inspection.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire permits

• Plumbing and mechanical: issued by the City with separate fees for new houses, minor work and commercial buildings.
• Electrical: White House is not on the State Fire Marshal’s list of cities that run their own electrical inspections, so electrical permits are bought from the state in CORE and inspected by a state deputy inspector.
• Fire protection: fire alarm, sprinkler and suppression system permits are $200 each, fire plan review is $300, and repeat inspections beyond two of the same type are $100.

Plans, site plans and review

Plans are uploaded into CSS, and any corrections Planning requires are returned on the same record for you to resubmit. Multi-unit residential projects pay plan review per unit, and larger commercial buildings are priced with plan review included.

Development projects are reviewed by City staff or the Planning Commission: a staff site plan review costs $550, a Planning Commission site plan or construction plan review $750, and a sketch plat $300. The Planning Commission application is in CSS, and the City publishes its 2026 Planning Commission calendar, Unified Development Ordinance, zoning map and commercial design standards.

How to apply in White House: 6 steps

White House building inspections

The Building Department inspects permitted work, and inspections are requested through CSS. A third inspection of the same type triggers a $100 re-inspection fee, on residential, commercial and fire permits alike. Fences need an inspection before and after installation. On land disturbance permits, the erosion and sediment controls must be in place before the permit is issued and must be checked at least twice a week, 72 hours apart, by a qualified inspector, with records kept with the stormwater plan; the City can stop work and fine $50 to $5,000 per violation per day.

A certificate of occupancy requested without a building permit costs $50.

Local considerations for White House

Sumner County Adequate Facilities Tax: for new building in the Sumner County part of the city, a 1999 private act requires the City to see a certificate from the county building inspector that the full tax is paid before it issues the permit. The county’s 2024 memo puts the tax at 70 cents per sq ft for new residential development and 40 cents per sq ft for industrial development. Additions to an existing single-family home, public buildings, places of worship, agricultural outbuildings and replacements of buildings destroyed by fire or disaster are exempt.

Sewer: the City serves gravity, low-pressure (grinder pump) and vacuum sewer connections inside the city limits only; a parcel outside must annex to connect. Grinder tanks and vacuum valve pits may not be covered by a deck or buried, and the Wastewater Department asks builders to call early in planning.

Fences and HOAs: before applying for a fence permit, check your neighborhood’s restrictive covenants or get HOA approval. Fences cannot block or divert natural drainage.

Codes: since January 1, 2025 the City has enforced the 2021 International Residential, Building, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical, Property Maintenance, Swimming Pool and Spa, and Existing Building Codes.

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 White House permit resources

• Tennessee residential jurisdiction list
• Municipal applications and instructions
• City of White House Planning and Codes / Building and Codes
• White House EnerGov Citizen Self Service portal
• White House Resolution 25-09 fee schedule
• White House fence and land disturbance permits
• White House road cut permits
• White House Unified Development Ordinance
• Sumner County Adequate Facilities Tax information
• Tennessee state electrical permits (CORE)

White House building permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in White House?

The City’s Planning & Codes Department, through EnerGov Citizen Self Service, for land inside the city on both the Robertson and Sumner County sides.

How much is a building permit for a new house in White House?

$900 up to 2,500 sq ft, $1,050 above that and $1,400 from 5,000 sq ft, plus $150 for plumbing and $100 for mechanical permits.

Do I need a permit for a fence in White House?

Yes. Fence permits have been required since August 2020; file with the Stormwater Division with a site plan and a $25 fee.

Does White House issue electrical permits?

No. Electrical permits are bought from the State of Tennessee in CORE.

Which building code does White House use?

The 2021 International Codes, enforced since January 1, 2025.

Do I pay the Sumner County Adequate Facilities Tax in White House?

For new building on the Sumner County side, yes: the City needs the county’s certificate that the tax is paid before it issues the permit.

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