Gatlinburg, TN — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

City of Gatlinburg Building and Planning Department

Street address

City Hall, upstairs, 1230 East Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Phone

865-436-7792

Coverage

Covers building, planning, zoning, and related boards within the City of Gatlinburg. The department administers zoning ordinances and coordinates the EDRB, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Planning Commission.

Online portal

MyGovernmentOnline / MGO Connect

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Gatlinburg

The department states it administers and enforces building codes, makes required inspections, and reviews building plans. Specific permit triggers are not consolidated on one accessible public page; users are directed to contact the department for permit and zoning questions.

Note: No public general exemption list was located on the accessible department pages reviewed

Required documents

Permit application and design plans submitted through MyGovernmentOnline
Additional ordinance and checklist documents as housed in the department documents library

Building code: 2018 International Building and Fire Codes effective for applications submitted after May 4, 2021, along with the 2018 Existing Building Code and 2018 Swimming Pool and Spa Code.
Permit validity: Not clearly posted on the accessible public pages reviewed.
Owner-builder: Not clearly posted on the accessible public pages reviewed.
Contractor requirements: Not clearly posted on the accessible public pages reviewed; applicants should verify Tennessee and local requirements with the department.

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: No general processing time estimate was publicly posted on the pages reviewed.

01

Contact Building and Planning if you need help determining permit or zoning requirements.
02

Prepare permit application materials and design plans for online submission.
03

Submit the building permit through MyGovernmentOnline.
04

Department staff review the plans and application for code compliance.
05

Complete inspections required by the department.
06

Resolve any comments or corrections and proceed to final approval.

Typical processing time: No general processing time estimate was publicly posted on the pages reviewed.

Source: City of Gatlinburg Building and Planning Department ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Gatlinburg building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

Not publicly posted in an accessible general fee schedule located during this research

Plan check fee

Not publicly posted in an accessible general fee schedule located during this research

Permit fee formula

Not publicly posted in an accessible general fee schedule located during this research

Reinspection fee

Not publicly posted in an accessible general fee schedule located during this research

No general building permit fee schedule was located on the public pages reviewed. The city clearly directs users to MyGovernmentOnline for permit processing, but a public consolidated fee sheet was not located. For a separate tourist residency permit program, the city posts $200 for a 2-bedroom-or-less unit plus $75 for each bedroom over two.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Department contact (department)

Inspection hours: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm, except observed holidays

Typical sequence: The department states it makes required inspections and reviews building plans, but does not publish a general step-by-step inspection sequence on the accessible pages reviewed

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Gatlinburg permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Gatlinburg, TN? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in Gatlinburg, TN? ▸

Building permit fees in Gatlinburg, TN are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Not publicly posted in an accessible general fee schedule located during this research. Fees are calculated as: Not publicly posted in an accessible general fee schedule located during this research. Plan check fee: Not publicly posted in an accessible general fee schedule located during this research.

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Gatlinburg, TN? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Gatlinburg, TN, follow these steps: 1. Contact Building and Planning if you need help determining permit or zoning requirements. 2. Prepare permit application materials and design plans for online submission. 3. Submit the building permit through MyGovernmentOnline. 4. Department staff review the plans and application for code compliance. 5. Complete inspections required by the department. 6. Resolve any comments or corrections and proceed to final approval.

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

Building permit processing times in Gatlinburg, TN typically run No general processing time estimate was publicly posted on the pages reviewed.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in Gatlinburg, TN? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Gatlinburg, TN via: Department contact.

last verified April 2026 source City of Gatlinburg Building and Planning Department ↗ entry id permits/tennessee/sevier/gatlinburg

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with City of Gatlinburg Building and Planning Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of Gatlinburg

Other jurisdictions in Sevier County.