County Building Permits
Coffee County, TN - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Coffee County, Tennessee. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
This is the county authority for unincorporated Coffee County. City limits of Manchester and Tullahoma are separate city jurisdictions. Normandy city limits are handled through the state residential permit system, not the county, even if a parcel address references Coffee County.
- Department
- Coffee County Codes Compliance / Coffee County Codes Department
- Address
- 1329 McArthur Street, Suite 2, Manchester, TN 37355
- Phone
- 931-723-4841
Online Permit Portal
Platform: None clearly identified • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Confirm the property is in unincorporated Coffee County and not inside Manchester, Tullahoma, or Normandy city limits.
- Contact Coffee County Codes Compliance to confirm whether the proposed work needs a permit or zoning review.
- Prepare the permit application, site plan, and supporting documents.
- Submit the application to Codes Compliance.
- Pay the permit fee.
- Coordinate inspections with the county inspector.
- Obtain final approval and certificate of occupancy where applicable.
Typical processing time: Not publicly stated.
Source: Coffee County Codes Compliance / Coffee County Codes Department
General Requirements
County documents show permit fees and inspections for construction activity, and county zoning review for site plan and planning matters. The public sources reviewed do not provide a single countywide exemption chart.
Required Documents
- County planning commission application materials, site plans for commercial and industrial developments, and permit application information.
- Permit validity
- Permits are valid for 180 days from the issue date.
- Building code
- County inspection guidance cites 2018 IRC codes, 2018 IRC lumber span charts, and 2009 International Energy Conservation Code.
- Owner-builder
- Not clearly published in the reviewed public sources.
- Contractor requirements
- Not clearly published in the reviewed public sources.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- The public fee table starts at $15 for $1,000 valuation.
- Plan check fee
- Not clearly published in the reviewed public sources.
- Permit fee formula
- Valuation-based fee table, with square-foot pricing for finished and unfinished space.
- Reinspection fee
- One free inspection, then $100 per re-inspection.
- Payment note
- No public online payment workflow was identified for building permits in the reviewed sources.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Coffee County Codes Compliance / Coffee County Codes Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Call Codes Inspector Terry Floyd at 931-723-4841 to set up inspections. (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Coffee County Codes Compliance office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for lunch.
- Time windows
- Coffee County Codes Compliance office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for lunch.
Typical inspection sequence: Footing, framing/rough-in, insulation, and final inspection.
One free inspection, then $100 for re-inspection.
Additional Resources
- Building code: County inspection guidance cites 2018 IRC codes, 2018 IRC lumber span charts, and 2009 International Energy Conservation Code.
- 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 Coffee County Codes Compliance / Coffee County Codes Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Coffee County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Coffee County, TN?
- County documents show permit fees and inspections for construction activity, and county zoning review for site plan and planning matters. The public sources reviewed do not provide a single countywide exemption chart.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Coffee County, TN?
- The minimum permit fee is The public fee table starts at $15 for $1,000 valuation.. Fees are calculated as: Valuation-based fee table, with square-foot pricing for finished and unfinished space.. Plan check fee: Not clearly published in the reviewed public sources..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Coffee County, TN?
- 1. Confirm the property is in unincorporated Coffee County and not inside Manchester, Tullahoma, or Normandy city limits. 2. Contact Coffee County Codes Compliance to confirm whether the proposed work needs a permit or zoning review. 3. Prepare the permit application, site plan, and supporting documents. 4. Submit the application to Codes Compliance. 5. Pay the permit fee. 6. Coordinate inspections with the county inspector. 7. Obtain final approval and certificate of occupancy where applicable.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Coffee County, TN?
- Typical processing time is Not publicly stated..
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Coffee County, TN?
- The following work is generally exempt: No countywide exemption list was found on the main public pages reviewed.; Thin public data note: exempt work guidance appears to be handled case by case through the Codes Compliance office..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Coffee County, TN?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Call Codes Inspector Terry Floyd at 931-723-4841 to set up inspections..
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