County Building Permits
Carter County, TN - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Carter County, Tennessee. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
This is the primary public permit authority for unincorporated Carter County. The county office states it administers residential building permit review and approval, commercial and industrial site plan review, zoning, subdivision, floodplain review, and related programs.
- Department
- Carter County Planning and Zoning
- Address
- 300 N. Main St., Elizabethton, TN 37643
- Phone
- (423) 542-1834
Online Permit Portal
Platform: No public portal found • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Verify zoning before any construction or excavation begins.
- Gather the county checklist items.
- Bring the package to Carter County Planning and Zoning.
- Obtain stormwater, driveway, septic, and address-related items as needed.
- Receive county review and the building permit.
- Start work only after the permit is issued.
Typical processing time: Not clearly published
General Requirements
Before new residential or commercial construction, additions, accessory buildings, swimming pools, or ground disturbance.
Required Documents
- Property tax card, 911 address, septic permit or proof of existing septic system, driveway connection agreement, square footage, number of stories, foundation type, and state contractor license for non-owner permits.
- Permit validity
- Not clearly published
- Building code
- Not clearly published on the county page.
- Owner-builder
- The county form notes homeowner permits and distinguishes them from permits issued to others.
- Contractor requirements
- State contractor license required for permits issued to other than the homeowner.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Not clearly published
- Plan check fee
- Not clearly published
- Permit fee formula
- Not clearly published
- Reinspection fee
- Failure to obtain all required permits before work begins results in the permit fee being doubled.
- Payment note
- Thin public data
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Carter County Planning and Zoning to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Not clearly published (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Building permits are written Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
- Time windows
- Building permits are written Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Typical inspection sequence: Not clearly published
Not clearly published
Additional Resources
- Building code: Not clearly published on the county page.
- 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 Carter County Planning and Zoning before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Carter County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Carter County, TN?
- Before new residential or commercial construction, additions, accessory buildings, swimming pools, or ground disturbance.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Carter County, TN?
- The minimum permit fee is Not clearly published. Fees are calculated as: Not clearly published. Plan check fee: Not clearly published.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Carter County, TN?
- 1. Verify zoning before any construction or excavation begins. 2. Gather the county checklist items. 3. Bring the package to Carter County Planning and Zoning. 4. Obtain stormwater, driveway, septic, and address-related items as needed. 5. Receive county review and the building permit. 6. Start work only after the permit is issued.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Carter County, TN?
- Typical processing time is Not clearly published.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Carter County, TN?
- The following work is generally exempt: Thin public data. No county exemption list was found on the cited public page..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Carter County, TN?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Not clearly published.
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