City Building Permits
Unionville, TN - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Unionville, Tennessee. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unionville is an unincorporated community / CDP, so Bedford County is the relevant local permit authority for local building and zoning review.
- Department
- Bedford County Building & Codes and Zoning
- Address
- 1 Public Square, Suite 301, Shelbyville, TN 37160
- Phone
- 931-685-1336
- Website
- https://www.bedfordcountytn.gov/
Online Permit Portal
Platform: SmartGov Community • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Confirm jurisdiction and project type.
- Gather the county-required tax card, tax map, building plans, and any other supporting documents.
- Submit the permit application in the county office or through the SmartGov portal.
- County staff reviews zoning and code compliance.
- Pay fees and obtain the issued permit before starting work.
Typical processing time: Not clearly stated on the portal landing page
General Requirements
The county application covers new construction, additions, remodels, demolition, removal, change of use, mobile homes, pools, porches, garages, carports, storage buildings, and other regulated work
Required Documents
- Tax card and tax map; site sketch on tax map; building plans; invoice for certain prefab items; septic permit when plumbing is present; contractor license and proof of workers compensation when using a contractor; separate electric permit for pool permits
- Permit validity
- Not clearly stated in the application form reviewed
- Building code
- The application says the applicant must abide by the adopted building code, but the specific code edition was not isolated in the sourced pages reviewed
- Owner-builder
- The application asks whether the applicant is a homeowner and whether the homeowner will directly supervise the work
- Contractor requirements
- The county application requires a TN license and proof of workers compensation coverage when a contractor is used; the form also references business or handyman licensing for some project values
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Not publicly extracted
- Plan check fee
- Not clearly published
- Permit fee formula
- The county form indicates fees are calculated, and the zoning resolution references board-set zoning fees and commercial construction valuation-based permit fees in some cases
- Reinspection fee
- Not clearly published
- Payment note
- The portal says to check spam for emails from the office; payment mechanics were not clearly published on the public landing page
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Bedford County Building & Codes and Zoning to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Portal and office contact; no separate public inspection phone tree was identified (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Not clearly published on the portal landing page
- Time windows
- Not clearly published on the portal landing page
Typical inspection sequence: Application, zoning review, possible compliance inspection, fee payment, permit issuance, then separate trade permits as needed
Not clearly published
Additional Resources
- Building code: The application says the applicant must abide by the adopted building code, but the specific code edition was not isolated in the sourced pages reviewed
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- License lookup guide: Tennessee Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Tennessee Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Tennessee hub: Tennessee Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Bedford County Building & Codes and Zoning before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unionville Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Unionville, TN?
- The county application covers new construction, additions, remodels, demolition, removal, change of use, mobile homes, pools, porches, garages, carports, storage buildings, and other regulated work
- How much does a building permit cost in Unionville, TN?
- The minimum permit fee is Not publicly extracted. Fees are calculated as: The county form indicates fees are calculated, and the zoning resolution references board-set zoning fees and commercial construction valuation-based permit fees in some cases. Plan check fee: Not clearly published.
- How do I apply for a building permit in Unionville, TN?
- 1. Confirm jurisdiction and project type. 2. Gather the county-required tax card, tax map, building plans, and any other supporting documents. 3. Submit the permit application in the county office or through the SmartGov portal. 4. County staff reviews zoning and code compliance. 5. Pay fees and obtain the issued permit before starting work.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in Unionville, TN?
- Typical processing time is Not clearly stated on the portal landing page.
- What work is exempt from building permits in Unionville, TN?
- The following work is generally exempt: Agricultural structures on agricultural land are described in the zoning resolution as exempt from zoning regulations except for obtaining a building permit and meeting building standards; Other exempt-work details were not clearly published in the county's public-facing materials reviewed.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Unionville, TN?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Portal and office contact; no separate public inspection phone tree was identified.
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