City Building Permits
Centerville, TN - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Centerville, Tennessee. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Public county zoning materials state that Centerville is separately referenced in the county zoning resolution and that applicants in Centerville airport zoning areas still apply to the Hickman County Building Commissioner. The town also has its own portal, but public-facing permit specifics are thin.
- Department
- Hickman County Building/ADA Coordinator; county zoning/building administration for the Town of Centerville is routed through the county building commissioner system, while Centerville also maintains its own town portal.
- Address
- 114 N. Central Avenue, Suite 101, Centerville, TN 37033
- Phone
- 931-729-5534
Online Permit Portal
Platform: GovtPortal • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Confirm whether the project is inside Centerville town limits and whether airport zoning review applies.
- Contact the Hickman County Building/ADA Coordinator for routing and forms, or use the Centerville portal if the town directs the transaction there.
- Prepare the application package and any required site plan or plat.
- Submit the permit application to the building authority.
- County review checks zoning conformity and any special exception or variance needs.
- Permit is issued if the proposal conforms and fees are paid.
Typical processing time: Not publicly stated.
General Requirements
The county zoning resolution makes it unlawful to begin excavation, construction, moving, alteration, repair, expansion, change of use, or land fill without a permit issued by the Building Commissioner. Agriculturally related construction is exempt.
Required Documents
- Written application on forms provided by the Building Commissioner, plus a duplicate plan or plat drawn to scale showing lot shape and dimensions, structures, uses, parking and loading areas, and other relevant information. Certain projects may require architect or engineer prepared plans.
- Permit validity
- A permit becomes invalid if work does not start within 12 months or is suspended/discontinued for 1 year.
- Building code
- Not clearly stated in the public-facing sources reviewed. County zoning materials reference the International Residential Code indirectly for camper use, but do not clearly publish a building code adoption statement.
- Owner-builder
- No Centerville-specific owner-builder rule was located in the public materials reviewed.
- Contractor requirements
- No town-specific contractor licensing rule was located in public permit materials. State contractor licensing rules still apply where required by Tennessee law.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Not publicly stated.
- Plan check fee
- Not publicly stated.
- Permit fee formula
- County commission sets the schedule from time to time; the public resolution says only that the fee schedule is posted in the Building Commissioner office.
- Reinspection fee
- A reinspection fee of $50 is allowed where an inspection is requested and the structure is not ready. A building permit fee may be doubled if construction begins before obtaining a permit.
- Payment note
- Until the fee is paid in full, no action is taken on the application.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Hickman County Building/ADA Coordinator; county zoning/building administration for the Town of Centerville is routed through the county building commissioner system, while Centerville also maintains its own town portal. to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Not publicly stated. (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Not publicly stated.
- Time windows
- Not publicly stated.
Typical inspection sequence: Public materials mention compliance inspection after occupancy and within 1 year following occupancy, but do not publish the full inspection sequence.
A $50 reinspection fee applies if the structure is not ready when the inspection is requested.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Not clearly stated in the public-facing sources reviewed. County zoning materials reference the International Residential Code indirectly for camper use, but do not clearly publish a building code adoption statement.
- 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 Hickman County Building/ADA Coordinator; county zoning/building administration for the Town of Centerville is routed through the county building commissioner system, while Centerville also maintains its own town portal. before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Centerville Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Centerville, TN?
- The county zoning resolution makes it unlawful to begin excavation, construction, moving, alteration, repair, expansion, change of use, or land fill without a permit issued by the Building Commissioner. Agriculturally related construction is exempt.
- How much does a building permit cost in Centerville, TN?
- The minimum permit fee is Not publicly stated.. Fees are calculated as: County commission sets the schedule from time to time; the public resolution says only that the fee schedule is posted in the Building Commissioner office.. Plan check fee: Not publicly stated..
- How do I apply for a building permit in Centerville, TN?
- 1. Confirm whether the project is inside Centerville town limits and whether airport zoning review applies. 2. Contact the Hickman County Building/ADA Coordinator for routing and forms, or use the Centerville portal if the town directs the transaction there. 3. Prepare the application package and any required site plan or plat. 4. Submit the permit application to the building authority. 5. County review checks zoning conformity and any special exception or variance needs. 6. Permit is issued if the proposal conforms and fees are paid.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in Centerville, TN?
- Typical processing time is Not publicly stated..
- What work is exempt from building permits in Centerville, TN?
- The following work is generally exempt: Agriculturally related construction is exempt.; County zoning materials say signs regulated by TDOT do not require local permits.; Utility facilities necessary for public services are listed as permitted uses in the zoning resolution; this is not a blanket permit exemption, so confirm project-specific routing..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Centerville, TN?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Not publicly stated..
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