County Building Permits
Obion County, TN - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Obion County, Tennessee. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
The county says that outside city limits, no county building code exists, but a building permit is still required and is handled by the Assessor's Office
- Department
- Obion County Assessor of Property
- Address
- 4 Bill Burnett Circle, Union City, TN 38281
- Phone
- (731) 507-0999 Ext. #4
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Not identified • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Confirm the property is outside all city limits.
- Contact the Obion County Assessor's Office at the courthouse to obtain the permit.
- Submit the proposed work information for the field check the county says it performs to verify the work.
- Proceed with construction once the county permit is obtained.
- If the property is in a FEMA flood zone, follow the extra permitting and EMA referral process described by the county.
Typical processing time: No public general estimate found
General Requirements
The county says permits are required outside city limits even though no county building code exists. The assessor page specifically recommends permits for remodels, room additions, repairs, storm or flood damage repairs, and new home construction
Required Documents
- Not clearly published on the public pages reviewed
- Permit validity
- Not publicly specified
- Building code
- Outside city limits, the county FAQ says no code exists
- Owner-builder
- Not publicly specified
- Contractor requirements
- Not publicly specified
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- The assessor page says there is currently no cost for permits issued through the county, but that could change in the future
- Plan check fee
- Not publicly stated
- Permit fee formula
- Not publicly stated
- Reinspection fee
- Not publicly stated
- Payment note
- Thin public data. The county specifically directs applicants to the Assessor's Office rather than a public fee portal
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Obion County Assessor of Property to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- The assessor page says a field check is done to verify each permit (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Assessor Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
- Time windows
- Assessor Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Typical inspection sequence: Permit request, field check, then construction work
Not publicly specified
Additional Resources
- Building code: Outside city limits, the county FAQ says no code exists
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- https://www.obioncountytn.gov/faqs.html
- https://www.obioncountytn.gov/emergency_mgmt.html
- https://www.obioncountytn.gov/
- 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 Obion County Assessor of Property before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Obion County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Obion County, TN?
- The county says permits are required outside city limits even though no county building code exists. The assessor page specifically recommends permits for remodels, room additions, repairs, storm or flood damage repairs, and new home construction
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Obion County, TN?
- The minimum permit fee is The assessor page says there is currently no cost for permits issued through the county, but that could change in the future. Fees are calculated as: Not publicly stated. Plan check fee: Not publicly stated.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Obion County, TN?
- 1. Confirm the property is outside all city limits. 2. Contact the Obion County Assessor's Office at the courthouse to obtain the permit. 3. Submit the proposed work information for the field check the county says it performs to verify the work. 4. Proceed with construction once the county permit is obtained. 5. If the property is in a FEMA flood zone, follow the extra permitting and EMA referral process described by the county.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Obion County, TN?
- Typical processing time is No public general estimate found.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Obion County, TN?
- The following work is generally exempt: Thin public data: The county does not publish a formal exemption list in the reviewed pages; The assessor page instead broadly says to obtain permits for remodels, room additions, repairs, storm and flood damage repairs, and new home construction.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Obion County, TN?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: The assessor page says a field check is done to verify each permit.
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