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§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Ashland City
The city requires permits for residential and commercial construction, decks, accessory buildings, driveways, grading, signs, pools, demolition, and related work. FAQ pages also state certain fences, decks under 200 square feet, and small detached accessory structures may be exempt.
Fence work under 7 feet is not required to be permitted by the city, subject to placement and height limits
Decks that do not exceed 200 square feet, do not serve the exit door, and are not over 30 inches off the ground and not attached to the dwelling are not required to be permitted
One-story detached accessory structures not exceeding 200 square feet are exempt under the city FAQ guidance
Other exemptions are referenced in the citys 2018 IRC permit exemption document and are not fully reproduced on the public page
- Exempt Fence work under 7 feet is not required to be permitted by the city, subject to placement and height limits
- Exempt Decks that do not exceed 200 square feet, do not serve the exit door, and are not over 30 inches off the ground and not attached to the dwelling are not required to be permitted
- Exempt One-story detached accessory structures not exceeding 200 square feet are exempt under the city FAQ guidance
- Exempt Other exemptions are referenced in the citys 2018 IRC permit exemption document and are not fully reproduced on the public page
Required documents
- City application form, supporting plans, proof of ownership for homeowner pulls, contractor license and insurance when a contractor is involved, septic permit when applicable, and other supporting materials specific to the project type.
- Building code
- 2018 ICC code cycle / 2018 Residential Code, per city pages and Ordinance 551
- Permit validity
- Public pages reviewed did not publish a general permit expiration term
- Owner-builder
- A property owner may build their own home for individual use, with one permit every two years, so long as it is not for sale, lease, or rent. The city warns the owner should not pull a permit on behalf of a contractor.
- Contractor requirements
- If a contractor is hired, the contractor is considered the prime and must be licensed. Anyone paid in excess of $25,000 by the owner is considered a prime and required to be licensed.
§ 03
Application process
Typical processing: Zoning interpretation requests are typically answered within 10 business days; no universal permit issuance timeline published
- 01 Confirm zoning and whether the project is permitted in the district.
- 02 Complete the applicable PDF application from the city forms pages.
- 03 Email the editable form to Alicia Martin or deliver it to City Hall.
- 04 Include supporting documents and, for homeowner builds, proof of ownership.
- 05 Obtain septic approval from the county environmentalist when applicable, and pay county adequate facilities and impact fees for one- and two-family homes before permit issuance.
- 06 Obtain any required driveway access approval.
- 07 Submit for building permit review; the city states applications are reviewed and zoning interpretations are typically provided within 10 business days for interpretation requests.
- 08 Schedule inspections by email or phone; the city states inspections require 24-hour notice and are performed Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
Typical processing time: Zoning interpretation requests are typically answered within 10 business days; no universal permit issuance timeline published
Source: Town of Ashland City Building Codes, Planning and Zoning ↗
§ 04
Fee schedule
Ashland City building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
Public fee schedule reviewed does not show a universal minimum for all permit types; some permit types have flat fees
02
Plan check fee
Not clearly published on the main pages reviewed; some engineering and review fees may apply in developers packet materials
03
Permit fee formula
Mixed. Residential and commercial permit work uses published flat or square-foot formulas in supporting documents and ordinance references
04
Reinspection fee
Public pages reviewed did not publish a general reinspection fee; county impact fees are separate from city fees
Public pages do not clearly state payment method; city forms are typically emailed or delivered, and county fees for impact facilities are handled separately before residential permit issuance
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- Email or phone to city staff; the city states all inspections can be scheduled by email or phone (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with 24-hour notice
- Time windows
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with 24-hour notice
Typical sequence: Public pages reviewed do not provide a complete universal inspection sequence; building and development documents indicate staged inspections for residential work and public works review where utilities or site work are involved
No general public reinspection schedule was found on the reviewed pages
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about Ashland City permits
01 Do I need a building permit in Ashland City, TN? ▸
The city requires permits for residential and commercial construction, decks, accessory buildings, driveways, grading, signs, pools, demolition, and related work. FAQ pages also state certain fences, decks under 200 square feet, and small detached accessory structures may be exempt.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Ashland City, TN? ▸
Building permit fees in Ashland City, TN are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Public fee schedule reviewed does not show a universal minimum for all permit types; some permit types have flat fees. Fees are calculated as: Mixed. Residential and commercial permit work uses published flat or square-foot formulas in supporting documents and ordinance references. Plan check fee: Not clearly published on the main pages reviewed; some engineering and review fees may apply in developers packet materials.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Ashland City, TN? ▸
To apply for a building permit in Ashland City, TN, follow these steps: 1. Confirm zoning and whether the project is permitted in the district. 2. Complete the applicable PDF application from the city forms pages. 3. Email the editable form to Alicia Martin or deliver it to City Hall. 4. Include supporting documents and, for homeowner builds, proof of ownership. 5. Obtain septic approval from the county environmentalist when applicable, and pay county adequate facilities and impact fees for one- and two-family homes before permit issuance. 6. Obtain any required driveway access approval. 7. Submit for building permit review; the city states applications are reviewed and zoning interpretations are typically provided within 10 business days for interpretation requests. 8. Schedule inspections by email or phone; the city states inspections require 24-hour notice and are performed Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Ashland City, TN? ▸
Building permit processing times in Ashland City, TN typically run Zoning interpretation requests are typically answered within 10 business days; no universal permit issuance timeline published. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in Ashland City, TN? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Ashland City, TN. The following work is generally exempt: Fence work under 7 feet is not required to be permitted by the city, subject to placement and height limits; Decks that do not exceed 200 square feet, do not serve the exit door, and are not over 30 inches off the ground and not attached to the dwelling are not required to be permitted; One-story detached accessory structures not exceeding 200 square feet are exempt under the city FAQ guidance; Other exemptions are referenced in the citys 2018 IRC permit exemption document and are not fully reproduced on the public page. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Ashland City, TN? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Ashland City, TN via: Email or phone to city staff; the city states all inspections can be scheduled by email or phone.
last verified April 2026
source Town of Ashland City Building Codes, Planning and Zoning ↗
entry id permits/tennessee/cheatham/ashland-city
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Town of Ashland City Building Codes, Planning and Zoning before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.