County Building Permits
Johnson County, TN - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Johnson County, Tennessee. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Johnson County states that it does not currently require a building permit. The county also states there is no zoning department. For new structures and additions, the public-facing county guidance says the county requires septic and electric permits, and FEMA flood permits are handled through the Property Assessor's Office.
- Department
- Johnson County Government; Property Assessor handles FEMA flood permits for new construction
- Address
- Johnson County Courthouse, 222 West Main Street, Mountain City, TN 37683
- Phone
- (423) 727-9696
- jococontactus@gmail.com
- Website
- https://www.johnsoncountytn.gov
Online Permit Portal
Platform: None published. • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Confirm whether the work is in the unincorporated county and whether it is inside Mountain City limits.
- For new structures or additions, obtain the required septic permit and electric permit first, and apply for any required FEMA flood permit through the Property Assessor's Office.
- If the project is in a flood zone or otherwise subject to special review, coordinate with the county office before starting work.
- Complete the related trade or environmental approvals required by the county or state.
- Proceed without a county building permit, because the county states none is currently required.
Typical processing time: Not publicly stated.
Source: Johnson County Government; Property Assessor handles FEMA flood permits for new construction
General Requirements
Johnson County public guidance says the county does not currently require a building permit. For new structures and additions, the county says the only requirements are a septic permit and an electric permit, and FEMA flood permits must be applied for in the Property Assessor's Office.
Required Documents
- Thin public data. The county guidance did not publish a checklist for the septic, electric, or flood permit files.
- Permit validity
- Not applicable for a county building permit because the county states no county building permit is currently required.
- Building code
- The county public newcomer page links to building code information, but the page itself does not publish a county building permit regime. Public guidance also says Johnson County does not have a zoning department.
- Owner-builder
- Not publicly stated in the county sources reviewed.
- Contractor requirements
- Thin public data for the county building context. State contractor licensing rules still apply where applicable, but the county does not publish a separate building permit contractor rule because it does not currently require a building permit.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Not applicable for a county building permit.
- Plan check fee
- Not applicable for a county building permit.
- Permit fee formula
- Not applicable for a county building permit.
- Reinspection fee
- Not applicable for a county building permit.
- Payment note
- The county public guidance did not publish fee processing notes for a building permit program.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Johnson County Government; Property Assessor handles FEMA flood permits for new construction to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Not publicly published for a county building permit program. (phone)
- Inspection hours
- County courthouse hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM; county clerk hours differ, but no county building inspection schedule was published.
- Time windows
- County courthouse hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM; county clerk hours differ, but no county building inspection schedule was published.
Typical inspection sequence: Not publicly published for a county building permit program.
Not publicly published for a county building permit program.
Additional Resources
- Building code: The county public newcomer page links to building code information, but the page itself does not publish a county building permit regime. Public guidance also says Johnson County does not have a zoning department.
- 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 Johnson County Government; Property Assessor handles FEMA flood permits for new construction before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Johnson County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Johnson County, TN?
- Johnson County public guidance says the county does not currently require a building permit. For new structures and additions, the county says the only requirements are a septic permit and an electric permit, and FEMA flood permits must be applied for in the Property Assessor's Office.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Johnson County, TN?
- The minimum permit fee is Not applicable for a county building permit.. Fees are calculated as: Not applicable for a county building permit.. Plan check fee: Not applicable for a county building permit..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Johnson County, TN?
- 1. Confirm whether the work is in the unincorporated county and whether it is inside Mountain City limits. 2. For new structures or additions, obtain the required septic permit and electric permit first, and apply for any required FEMA flood permit through the Property Assessor's Office. 3. If the project is in a flood zone or otherwise subject to special review, coordinate with the county office before starting work. 4. Complete the related trade or environmental approvals required by the county or state. 5. Proceed without a county building permit, because the county states none is currently required.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Johnson County, TN?
- Typical processing time is Not publicly stated..
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Johnson County, TN?
- The following work is generally exempt: All work is effectively outside a county building permit program because Johnson County states it does not currently require a building permit.; The county does, however, say new structures and additions still require septic and electric permits, and FEMA flood permit review where applicable..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Johnson County, TN?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Not publicly published for a county building permit program..
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