On this page 6
§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Clarksville
City FAQ states permit required whenever person wishes to construct, alter, repair, enlarge, move, renovate, demolish, or permanently place any building or structure.
Fences 6 feet high or less do not require city permit
- Exempt Fences 6 feet high or less do not require city permit
Note: Thin public data; no broader citywide exemption list for general building work found on current Clarksville permit pages.
Required documents
- Permit application
- Digital plans and any required design professional documents (commercial)
- Letter of Assurance from registered design professional where applicable
- Contractor registration, licensing, insurance review
- Subcontractor information
- Homeowner permit affidavit (homeowner projects)
- Building code
- 2018 IBC, 2018 IRC, 2009 IECC, 2018 IFC, 2018 IFGC, 2018 IMC, 2018 IPC, 2009 ICC A117.1, 2018 IEBC, 2017 NEC, 1985 Unsafe Building Abatement Code, and City of Clarksville Property Maintenance Code.
- Permit validity
- Valid for duration of project if construction begins within 6 months of issuance. If abandoned for more than 6 continuous months, permit no longer valid.
- Owner-builder
- Homeowner may obtain own permits except plumbing permits (must be obtained by licensed plumber). Homeowner permit affidavit states owner is acting as general contractor at primary residence and remains responsible for code compliance, structure placement, subcontractor permits, and not occupying structure before final inspection.
- Contractor requirements
- Tennessee law requires general contractor or home improvement contractor to be licensed and typically insured. Commercial plan-review guidance requires licensing review before permit issuance. Contractors using portal must complete contractor registration.
§ 03
Application process
Typical processing: Commercial plan review up to 10 business days after complete submission. Regional Planning site-plan review: 14-day departmental review, 22-day Planning Commission hearing. No single published turnaround for all residential permits.
- 01 Register for a Citizen Self Service account and, if acting as contractor, complete contractor registration through the city portal.
- 02 Determine whether zoning or site-plan approvals are needed. City directs rezoning and many planning matters to Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission.
- 03 Submit permit application through Self Service Portal. Commercial plan-review guidance requires all new commercial projects and additions/alterations/repairs to submit appropriate permit application plus digital plan set through portal.
- 04 Upload plans and supporting documents. Commercial submittals may require Tennessee registered design professional depending on occupancy, size, and scope.
- 05 Pay plan review fee at submittal when plan review required. Fee may be paid through online portal.
- 06 Complete city review. Commercial plan review may take up to 10 business days; longer if additional information requested. Regional Planning review includes 14-day departmental meeting and 22-day Planning Commission hearing when applicable.
- 07 Complete licensing, insurance, and subcontractor information review before issuance.
- 08 Pay permit and related connection fees, then receive issued permit.
- 09 Request required inspections through portal or by email, complete finals, obtain Certificate of Occupancy.
Typical processing time: Commercial plan review up to 10 business days after complete submission. Regional Planning site-plan review: 14-day departmental review, 22-day Planning Commission hearing. No single published turnaround for all residential permits.
§ 04
Fee schedule
Effective July 1, 2024
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
$15.00 for single-family, two-family, townhouse renovations or additions valued at $1,000 or less; non-residential fees begin at $50 plus square-foot charges
02
Plan check fee
One-half of building permit fee for commercial buildings or multifamily dwellings over $1,000 when plan submission required by IBC Section 106.1.
03
Permit fee formula
New single-family, two-family, townhouse: $0.37 per square foot. Renovations/additions: valuation schedule. Other projects: 0-5,000 sf at $50 + $1.00/sf; 5,001-20,000 sf at $50 + $1.25/sf; 20,001-50,000 sf at $50 + $1.50/sf; 50,001-100,000 sf at $50 + $2.00/sf.
04
Reinspection fee
First reinspection for footing, framing, or final building inspection: no reinspection permit required. Second and subsequent: $40.00 reinspection permit.
Portal can be used for payments. Commercial plan review fees due upon submission, may be paid through online portal.
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective July 1, 2024) before budgeting.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- Self Service Portal (online)
- bcresreq@cityofclarksville.com (residential) (email)
- bccommercial@cityofclarksville.com (commercial) (email)
- Inspection hours
- Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
- Time windows
- Same-day inspection requests taken up to 8:00 AM. Requests before 3:00 PM scheduled for next business day. Underground, footing, slab, water/sewer inspections after 1:30 PM scheduled next day. Inspections scheduled 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM at one-hour intervals if applicable.
Typical sequence: Footing, foundation, slab, framing, firewall (commercial), rough-in plumbing, rough-in mechanical/gas, rough-in electrical, water/sewer, sprinkler/fire alarm (where applicable), grading/drainage, final trade inspections, final building inspection, Certificate of Occupancy.
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about Clarksville permits
01 Do I need a building permit in Clarksville, TN? ▸
City FAQ states permit required whenever person wishes to construct, alter, repair, enlarge, move, renovate, demolish, or permanently place any building or structure.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Clarksville, TN? ▸
Building permit fees in Clarksville, TN are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $15.00 for single-family, two-family, townhouse renovations or additions valued at $1,000 or less; non-residential fees begin at $50 plus square-foot charges. Fees are calculated as: New single-family, two-family, townhouse: $0.37 per square foot. Renovations/additions: valuation schedule. Other projects: 0-5,000 sf at $50 + $1.00/sf; 5,001-20,000 sf at $50 + $1.25/sf; 20,001-50,000 sf at $50 + $1.50/sf; 50,001-100,000 sf at $50 + $2.00/sf.. Plan check fee: One-half of building permit fee for commercial buildings or multifamily dwellings over $1,000 when plan submission required by IBC Section 106.1..
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Clarksville, TN? ▸
To apply for a building permit in Clarksville, TN, follow these steps: 1. Register for a Citizen Self Service account and, if acting as contractor, complete contractor registration through the city portal. 2. Determine whether zoning or site-plan approvals are needed. City directs rezoning and many planning matters to Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission. 3. Submit permit application through Self Service Portal. Commercial plan-review guidance requires all new commercial projects and additions/alterations/repairs to submit appropriate permit application plus digital plan set through portal. 4. Upload plans and supporting documents. Commercial submittals may require Tennessee registered design professional depending on occupancy, size, and scope. 5. Pay plan review fee at submittal when plan review required. Fee may be paid through online portal. 6. Complete city review. Commercial plan review may take up to 10 business days; longer if additional information requested. Regional Planning review includes 14-day departmental meeting and 22-day Planning Commission hearing when applicable. 7. Complete licensing, insurance, and subcontractor information review before issuance. 8. Pay permit and related connection fees, then receive issued permit. 9. Request required inspections through portal or by email, complete finals, obtain Certificate of Occupancy.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Clarksville, TN? ▸
Building permit processing times in Clarksville, TN typically run Commercial plan review up to 10 business days after complete submission. Regional Planning site-plan review: 14-day departmental review, 22-day Planning Commission hearing. No single published turnaround for all residential permits.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in Clarksville, TN? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Clarksville, TN. The following work is generally exempt: Fences 6 feet high or less do not require city permit. Note: Thin public data; no broader citywide exemption list for general building work found on current Clarksville permit pages. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Clarksville, TN? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Clarksville, TN via: Self Service Portal, bcresreq@cityofclarksville.com (residential), bccommercial@cityofclarksville.com (commercial).
last verified April 2026
entry id permits/tennessee/montgomery/clarksville
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with City of Clarksville Building & Codes Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.