Houston County, TN - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Houston County is shown on the state residential jurisdictions list as OPT OUT. Erin is separately listed as EXEMPT. Publicly available county permit information is thin, so the safest confirmed routing is to the county-side contact listed by the state for residential jurisdiction matters. If a project is inside unincorporated Houston County, do not assume the City of Erin handles it.

Department

Houston County is listed by the Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office as an OPT OUT residential jurisdiction; the state list names Ronnie Galloway as the contact for Houston County residential jurisdiction matters

Address

No public permit office address found for a county building codes department

Phone

(931) 201-3844

Email

gallowayinspection@gmail.com

Website

No active county permit department website found publicly

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the parcel is outside Erin city limits and inside unincorporated Houston County.
2. Contact the county residential jurisdiction contact listed by the state, Ronnie Galloway.
3. Determine whether the work is residential, trade-specific, or another regulated scope that needs local review.
4. Submit any required plans or project details to the local contact or office as directed.
5. Pay required fees and obtain the permit before starting work.
6. Call for inspections at the required stages.

Typical processing time: Not publicly stated

Source: Houston County is listed by the Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office as an OPT OUT residential jurisdiction; the state list names Ronnie Galloway as the contact for Houston County residential jurisdiction matters

General Requirements

The state residential jurisdiction list shows Houston County as OPT OUT, which means state residential permit enforcement does not apply there in the same way as state-enforced areas. Local permit requirements still need to be confirmed with the county contact before work starts.

Required Documents

• Not publicly confirmed

Permit validity

Not publicly confirmed

Building code

Publicly available county code adoption details were not found. Thin-data note: the state list confirms Houston County's residential jurisdiction status, but not the county's full locally adopted code text.

Owner-builder

Tennessee state guidance may allow owner-built work in some settings, but county acceptance and routing should be confirmed locally before relying on that rule.

Contractor requirements

For projects at or above Tennessee state thresholds, contractor licensing rules apply. State guidance also says local permits and inspections may still be required even when a state license is involved.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Not publicly confirmed

Plan check fee

Not publicly confirmed

Permit fee formula

Not publicly confirmed

Reinspection fee

Not publicly confirmed

Payment note

Not publicly confirmed

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Houston County is listed by the Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office as an OPT OUT residential jurisdiction; the state list names Ronnie Galloway as the contact for Houston County residential jurisdiction matters to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Not publicly confirmed (phone)

Inspection hours

Not publicly confirmed

Time windows

Not publicly confirmed

Typical inspection sequence: Not publicly confirmed

Not publicly confirmed

Additional Resources

• Building code: Publicly available county code adoption details were not found. Thin-data note: the state list confirms Houston County's residential jurisdiction status, but not the county's full locally adopted code text.
• 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

Frequently Asked Questions

Houston County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Houston County, TN?

The state residential jurisdiction list shows Houston County as OPT OUT, which means state residential permit enforcement does not apply there in the same way as state-enforced areas. Local permit requirements still need to be confirmed with the county contact before work starts.

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Houston County, TN?

The minimum permit fee is Not publicly confirmed. Fees are calculated as: Not publicly confirmed. Plan check fee: Not publicly confirmed.

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Houston County, TN?

1. Confirm the parcel is outside Erin city limits and inside unincorporated Houston County. 2. Contact the county residential jurisdiction contact listed by the state, Ronnie Galloway. 3. Determine whether the work is residential, trade-specific, or another regulated scope that needs local review. 4. Submit any required plans or project details to the local contact or office as directed. 5. Pay required fees and obtain the permit before starting work. 6. Call for inspections at the required stages.

How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Houston County, TN?

Typical processing time is Not publicly stated.

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Houston County, TN?

The following work is generally exempt: Publicly available county exemption list not found.; Thin-data note: if the county uses a local code or permit policy, the exemption list is not readily published on a public county permit page..

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Houston County, TN?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Not publicly confirmed.