2023 is slated to be a big year for remodeling and renovation. In Nashville alone, 2022 was a record-setting year for home expansion, and there are no signs of this pace slowing down. If you have plans to update, upgrade, or expand on your home, it’s vital that you read up on Tennessee’s laws governing permits for residential construction. Laws do vary by county, but robust building codes are in effect throughout the entire state.

Today we’ll be discussing the general rules that apply in Middle Tennessee.


What are Building Permits?

A building permit is a written authorization from your state, city, or county granting you permission to proceed with construction. They are intended to enforce building codes and zoning laws and can be obtained by request. Usually, an inspector will come examine your property before a permit is issued, then will return upon completion to make sure construction was completed properly.

Home additions over 30 square feet require a permit. However, newer building code requirements will only apply to your addition; they will not be retroactively required throughout the remainder of an older home. If you are building a detached shed, barn, or garage that will not be used as a living space, you do not have to apply for a permit.

Sprinkler requirements vary by region but are generally not required in single-family homes under 5,000 square feet, duplexes, or townhouses. Townhouses specifically require the construction of 2-hour firewalls between units.

Modular homes and manufactured home installation do not require a permit, but the surrounding decks and patios will require a permit and usually incurs an additional fee.

Unfinished garages and basements do not require slab inspection fees.

The following projects almost always require a permit:

• Removal of a load-bearing wall

• Installing new electrical wiring or circuitry

• Altering your home’s roof line

• Changing your home’s layout

• Adding exterior doors and windows

• Installing a new fireplace and chimney or adding an additional fireplace

• Building fences higher than six feet (though this height varies regionally)

• Garage conversions

• Demolition that will impact your neighbors through use of a dumpster and heavy machinery

• Working with your sewer line

• HVAC installation

• Installing an additional water heater

• Installing any type of pool, whether in- or above-ground

Situations where you may need a permit, depending on your location:

• Demolition of a non-load-bearing wall

• Plumbing work that involves changing the location of a sink, bathtub, or toilet, or changing your home’s drain lines

• Window or door replacement

• Arbor labor, especially removal of a tree

• The addition of a retaining wall

You will not usually be required to acquire a permit to:

• Add new roofing materials

• Repaint your home’s interior or exterior

• Install new siding, stucco, or shingles

• Replace your flooring

• Replace your countertops

• Replace your cabinetry

• Replace a plumbing fixture without moving drain lines

• Do minor electrical work

• Park a dumpster on your own property

• Build low decks

• Resurface your existing deck or patio


What Will the Permit Process Look Like?

If you have read through our guide and determined that your project will likely require a permit, use your local municipality’s website to learn more about the permit process. Because permit requirements vary by location, it’s best to inquire directly with your local government regarding your project.

However, if you have hired a properly licensed contractor (always do so!), your contractor will know whether your project will require a permit and will already know how to obtain one. Part of your process of hiring a contractor could include asking about these rules, and whether or not your contractor will apply for the permit, then work with the inspector before and after the project. If not, you will need to do this legwork yourself.

We never recommend that homeowners skip out on proper permitting. Your renovations could be halted midway if you fail to obtain a permit, and you will have plenty of hoops to jump through if you attempt to sell a home on which illegal expansions or renovations have been completed.

Remember, in order to have your home appraised and inspected later on, you will be required to demonstrate that you have complied with permit requirements at each stage.

Depending on your region, you can apply for a permit online or in person at your local government’s office. If you have planned a small, straightforward project, you may be able to obtain your permit immediately. Larger, more complicated projects will require time to allow for an inspection of both your home and your plans.

Depending on your intended renovation or expansion, you may be required to comply with inspections of your work at multiple stages throughout construction. Once completed, a final inspection will be completed, after which you’ll be granted the official permit.


The Takeaway

With proper planning, the permitting process can easily be adhered to. However, any failure to follow along with the building code law in your region will pose real problems and frustration for you down the line, even if you are able to complete work without being caught. Whether or not you hire a professional to complete work on your home, please remember that you alone are responsible for following permit law. Even when a professional says they will handle the application and approval process, it would be wise to double-check before, during, and after to ensure they have done so correctly.

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