County Building Permits
Lewis County, TN - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Lewis County, Tennessee. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Lewis County's zoning page states the county does not require a building permit for any type or size of structure outside Hohenwald city limits and does not have a building and codes department. The county page directs questions about building and codes to the City of Hohenwald.
- Department
- No county building permit department
- Address
- 110 North Park Street, Room 108, Hohenwald, TN 38462 for the courthouse, but not a county permit office
- Phone
- 931-796-3378 for the county government main line
Online Permit Portal
Platform: None • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Confirm the property is outside Hohenwald city limits.
- Recognize that Lewis County does not require a building permit for any type or size of structure outside the city limits.
- Follow Tennessee state law and any utility or septic requirements that still apply.
- Contact the relevant state or utility agency for septic, electric, or other regulated services as needed.
Typical processing time: Not applicable because the county does not issue building permits.
General Requirements
Lewis County says no building permit is required outside the City of Hohenwald for any type of structure or any size of structure, residential or commercial.
Required Documents
- None for a county building permit because the county does not issue one. Separate state or utility requirements may still apply.
- Permit validity
- Not applicable at the county level because no county building permit is issued.
- Building code
- Lewis County says it requires only what is outlined in Tennessee Code outside the city limits. The county page does not identify a county-adopted local building code set.
- Owner-builder
- Thin public data. The county page does not publish owner-builder rules because it does not run a building permit program.
- Contractor requirements
- No county building permit licensing requirement was published because the county does not issue permits.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- None
- Plan check fee
- None
- Permit fee formula
- None, because no county building permit fee is charged
- Reinspection fee
- None at the county building-permit level
- Payment note
- Lewis County says there are no fees associated with building new structures outside the city limits of Hohenwald.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the No county building permit department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- None at the county building-permit level (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Not applicable
- Time windows
- Not applicable
Typical inspection sequence: Not applicable at the county building-permit level
Not applicable at the county building-permit level
Additional Resources
- Building code: Lewis County says it requires only what is outlined in Tennessee Code outside the city limits. The county page does not identify a county-adopted local building code set.
- 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 No county building permit department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lewis County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Lewis County, TN?
- Lewis County says no building permit is required outside the City of Hohenwald for any type of structure or any size of structure, residential or commercial.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Lewis County, TN?
- The minimum permit fee is None. Fees are calculated as: None, because no county building permit fee is charged. Plan check fee: None.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Lewis County, TN?
- 1. Confirm the property is outside Hohenwald city limits. 2. Recognize that Lewis County does not require a building permit for any type or size of structure outside the city limits. 3. Follow Tennessee state law and any utility or septic requirements that still apply. 4. Contact the relevant state or utility agency for septic, electric, or other regulated services as needed.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Lewis County, TN?
- Typical processing time is Not applicable because the county does not issue building permits..
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Lewis County, TN?
- The following work is generally exempt: Lewis County states no building permit is required for any type of structure or any sized structure outside Hohenwald city limits; Emergency backup power generators are specifically stated to require no county permit.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Lewis County, TN?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: None at the county building-permit level.
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