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§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Montgomery County
County FAQ states permit required whenever person wishes to construct, alter, repair, enlarge, move, renovate, demolish, or permanently place any building or structure.
Fence construction does not require building permit in unincorporated Montgomery County
- Exempt Fence construction does not require building permit in unincorporated Montgomery County
Note: Thin public data; no broader county exemption list found on current public permit pages.
Required documents
- Permit application
- Owner or contractor affidavit
- Survey or recorded minor plat where applicable
- Septic permit or septic file for septic properties
- Road bond or TDOT access letter when applicable
- Street address information
- Adequate facilities tax receipt
- Plot plan
- Flood information
- Project plans with detailed foundation, framing, floor, roof, insulation, elevation, structural information
- Building code
- 2018 IECC with amendments (Resolution 24-1-2, effective January 8, 2024). 2018 IBC, IRC, IPC, IMC, IFC, IFGC, IPMC, 2009 ICC A117.1 adopted January 1, 2021. State of Tennessee handles county electrical permits.
- Permit validity
- Permit becomes void 12 months from issuance unless substantial progress made by expiration date. Separate permits required for plumbing, electrical, gas work.
- Owner-builder
- County homeowner-applicant affidavit requires applicant to be record owner, build for individual use (not for sale/lease/rent), and not obtain another homeowner permit within 2 years. Homeowner must perform all permitted work except where state law requires licensed parties; may not hire construction manager; if stops acting as owner-builder and hires contractor, permit void and new permit required. Homeowner notice states owner-builder permit restricts construction of another residence for personal use for 2 years.
- Contractor requirements
- Projects valued at $25,000 or more require Tennessee contractor license. Permit application asks for contractor license number, classification, monetary limits. County FAQ states Tennessee law requires general/home improvement contractors licensed and typically insured.
§ 03
Application process
Typical processing: Not posted on current county public pages.
- 01 Confirm project is in unincorporated Montgomery County and determine permit type. County issues building permits for single-family homes, detached garages, additions, pools, mobile homes, barns, sheds, renovations, fire restoration, plumbing, mechanical, demolition, signs, and certain commercial/industrial work.
- 02 Gather prerequisite approvals: current survey (if required), recorded minor plat for parcels under 5 acres not in platted subdivision, septic permit or septic file, road bond or TDOT letter for highway frontage, street address assignment, and adequate facilities tax payment.
- 03 Complete residential building permit application and associated owner or contractor affidavit. Form requires map-group-parcel, utility, floodplain information, and estimated construction cost.
- 04 Submit plans and supporting materials. Form and plan-review requirements call for completed building permit application, plot plan, and plan set. Residential plan-review requires elevations, foundation plan, floor plans, floor framing, anchor details, stair sections, deck details, sheathing, framing sizes, insulation/REScheck, finish floor elevations, structural details. Commercial/industrial requires sealed drawings, specifications, site plan, drainage/erosion materials.
- 05 Pay permit fees and archive fee. Commercial/industrial projects require plan review fees at submission.
- 06 Receive permit issuance after county review and all prerequisite documents/outside approvals in place.
- 07 Post permit at job site and call in required inspections using application number.
- 08 Complete final inspections and provide septic certificate of completion or flood certificate before certificate of occupancy issuance.
Typical processing time: Not posted on current county public pages.
§ 04
Fee schedule
Montgomery County building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
$25.00 plus $5.00 archive and records fee on all applications
02
Plan check fee
Commercial: one-half of commercial construction permit fee. Industrial: one-half of industrial permit fee.
03
Permit fee formula
Residential (including double-wide): $0.38 per square foot total (bonus rooms, garages, finished basements). Single-wide mobile homes, accessory buildings, additions, detached garages, renovations: $0.38/sf. Commercial: $0.38/sf. Industrial: based on cost of construction.
04
Reinspection fee
$50.00. Pre-inspection fee: $50.00. Reinspection required if inspection failed, items not connected at follow-up, or all items not corrected within 10 days.
Current public pages do not clearly identify accepted payment methods. County pages state permits, reinspection fees, adequate facilities tax, septic applications can be done online, but current public workflow centered on forms and department contact.
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- 931-648-5718 (have application number ready) (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
- Time windows
- No separate inspection-hour window publicly posted
Typical sequence: Slab plumbing, slab foundation, monolithic slab, footing, foundation, framing #1 structural, framing #2 insulation, plumbing rough-in, final, plumbing final, plus mobile-home setback/final or pool setback/final where applicable.
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about unincorporated Montgomery County permits
01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Montgomery County, TN? ▸
County 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 unincorporated Montgomery County, TN? ▸
Building permit fees in unincorporated Montgomery County, TN are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $25.00 plus $5.00 archive and records fee on all applications. Fees are calculated as: Residential (including double-wide): $0.38 per square foot total (bonus rooms, garages, finished basements). Single-wide mobile homes, accessory buildings, additions, detached garages, renovations: $0.38/sf. Commercial: $0.38/sf. Industrial: based on cost of construction.. Plan check fee: Commercial: one-half of commercial construction permit fee. Industrial: one-half of industrial permit fee..
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Montgomery County, TN? ▸
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Montgomery County, TN, follow these steps: 1. Confirm project is in unincorporated Montgomery County and determine permit type. County issues building permits for single-family homes, detached garages, additions, pools, mobile homes, barns, sheds, renovations, fire restoration, plumbing, mechanical, demolition, signs, and certain commercial/industrial work. 2. Gather prerequisite approvals: current survey (if required), recorded minor plat for parcels under 5 acres not in platted subdivision, septic permit or septic file, road bond or TDOT letter for highway frontage, street address assignment, and adequate facilities tax payment. 3. Complete residential building permit application and associated owner or contractor affidavit. Form requires map-group-parcel, utility, floodplain information, and estimated construction cost. 4. Submit plans and supporting materials. Form and plan-review requirements call for completed building permit application, plot plan, and plan set. Residential plan-review requires elevations, foundation plan, floor plans, floor framing, anchor details, stair sections, deck details, sheathing, framing sizes, insulation/REScheck, finish floor elevations, structural details. Commercial/industrial requires sealed drawings, specifications, site plan, drainage/erosion materials. 5. Pay permit fees and archive fee. Commercial/industrial projects require plan review fees at submission. 6. Receive permit issuance after county review and all prerequisite documents/outside approvals in place. 7. Post permit at job site and call in required inspections using application number. 8. Complete final inspections and provide septic certificate of completion or flood certificate before certificate of occupancy issuance.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Montgomery County, TN? ▸
Building permit processing times in unincorporated Montgomery County, TN typically run Not posted on current county public pages.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Montgomery County, TN? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Montgomery County, TN. The following work is generally exempt: Fence construction does not require building permit in unincorporated Montgomery County. Note: Thin public data; no broader county exemption list found on current public permit pages. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Montgomery County, TN? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Montgomery County, TN via: 931-648-5718 (have application number ready).
last verified April 2026
entry id permits/tennessee/montgomery/unincorporated
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Montgomery County Building and Codes before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.