Macon County, TN — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Macon County Codes Enforcement Officer

Street address

607 Highway 52 Bypass East, Suite D, Lafayette, TN 37083

Phone

(615) 666-4480 x3811

qmarlow@hotmail.com

Coverage

For unincorporated Macon County, the county zoning code is administered and enforced by the Macon County Codes Enforcement Officer. The code states the officer issues all applicable permits and conducts inspections. In practice, unincorporated county projects are routed through the county zoning/code office rather than a separate city department.

Website

Department website

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Macon County

The county zoning code makes it unlawful to commence excavation, construction, moving, alteration, expansion, use change, or floodplain fill without a permit from the Codes Enforcement Officer.

Scope of work

Permit?

No public county exemption list was located in the materials reviewed.

Exempt

Thin data: the county zoning code is public, but the fee schedule and permit exemption table were not clearly surfaced in the accessible text.

Exempt

Exempt No public county exemption list was located in the materials reviewed.
Exempt Thin data: the county zoning code is public, but the fee schedule and permit exemption table were not clearly surfaced in the accessible text.

Note: the county zoning code is public, but the fee schedule and permit exemption table were not clearly surfaced in the accessible text.

Required documents

Written zoning permit application on county forms; duplicate scaled plan/sketch; lot dimensions; structure locations; existing and intended use; parking and loading information; and floodplain-related documentation when applicable.

Building code: The public county zoning code governs zoning compliance and permitting, but the specific building code edition for unincorporated county work was not clearly posted in the sources reviewed. Thin data.
Permit validity: Not publicly posted.
Owner-builder: Not publicly posted.
Contractor requirements: Not publicly posted in the county materials reviewed; Tennessee contractor licensing rules may still apply depending on project scope and value.

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Not publicly posted.

01

Confirm whether the work is located in unincorporated Macon County and subject to county zoning review.
02

Prepare a written zoning permit application on county-provided forms.
03

Attach required plans or sketches in duplicate drawn to scale.
04

Include site, lot, structure, use, parking, drainage, and flood data as required by the zoning code.
05

Submit the application and pay the required fee.
06

County Codes Enforcement Officer reviews for zoning compliance and issues the zoning permit if compliant.
07

If denied, the applicant may appeal through the Board of Zoning Appeals process.

Typical processing time: Not publicly posted.

Source: Macon County Codes Enforcement Officer ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Macon County building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

The code states that no action is taken until the appropriate fee is paid, but the current schedule was not fully visible in the reviewed public text.

Plan check fee

Not publicly posted.

Permit fee formula

A fee schedule is set by the county legislative body and posted in the Codes Enforcement Officer office; the public PDF text reviewed did not expose the full current schedule.

Reinspection fee

The zoning code states a civil penalty of $100.00 per day for continuing violations.

The code states no action is taken on an application until the appropriate fee is paid in full.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Not publicly posted. (phone)

Inspection hours: County office hours for the listed codes enforcement contact were M-W 11:00-5:00.
Time windows: County office hours for the listed codes enforcement contact were M-W 11:00-5:00.

Typical sequence: The county code says the Codes Enforcement Officer conducts inspections for compliance and makes and maintains records thereof. After a building or premise is ready for occupancy, a second inspection is required within one year following occupancy.

The code places responsibility on the owner to correct deficiencies after inspection. The county may also pursue enforcement, civil penalties, and other remedies for violations.

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Macon County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Macon County, TN? ▸

The county zoning code makes it unlawful to commence excavation, construction, moving, alteration, expansion, use change, or floodplain fill without a permit from the Codes Enforcement Officer.

02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Macon County, TN? ▸

Building permit fees in unincorporated Macon County, TN are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is The code states that no action is taken until the appropriate fee is paid, but the current schedule was not fully visible in the reviewed public text.. Fees are calculated as: A fee schedule is set by the county legislative body and posted in the Codes Enforcement Officer office; the public PDF text reviewed did not expose the full current schedule.. Plan check fee: Not publicly posted..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Macon County, TN? ▸

To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Macon County, TN, follow these steps: 1. Confirm whether the work is located in unincorporated Macon County and subject to county zoning review. 2. Prepare a written zoning permit application on county-provided forms. 3. Attach required plans or sketches in duplicate drawn to scale. 4. Include site, lot, structure, use, parking, drainage, and flood data as required by the zoning code. 5. Submit the application and pay the required fee. 6. County Codes Enforcement Officer reviews for zoning compliance and issues the zoning permit if compliant. 7. If denied, the applicant may appeal through the Board of Zoning Appeals process.

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

Building permit processing times in unincorporated Macon County, TN typically run Not publicly posted.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Macon County, TN? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Macon County, TN. The following work is generally exempt: No public county exemption list was located in the materials reviewed.; Thin data: the county zoning code is public, but the fee schedule and permit exemption table were not clearly surfaced in the accessible text.. Note: the county zoning code is public, but the fee schedule and permit exemption table were not clearly surfaced in the accessible text. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Macon County, TN? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Macon County, TN via: Not publicly posted..

last verified April 2026 source Macon County Codes Enforcement Officer ↗ entry id permits/tennessee/macon/unincorporated

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Macon County Codes Enforcement Officer before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Unincorporated Macon County