Sevier County, TN — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Sevier County Building Inspections

Street address

227 Cedar Street, Sevierville, TN 37862

Phone

865-774-7120

buildinginspections@seviercountytn.org

Coverage

Covers construction in unincorporated Sevier County outside municipal limits. County planning and zoning, environmental health, utility, and Fire Marshal requirements may also apply depending on project type and use.

Online portal

MGO Connect / MyGovernmentOnline

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Sevier County

Any new construction, accessory structures, remodels, and additions require a building permit.

Note: No public general exemption list was posted on the county Building Inspections page reviewed. County FAQ instead states broadly that new construction, accessory structures, remodels, and additions require permits.

Required documents

Environmental health approvals when applicable
Zoning compliance
Floor plan
Contractor information
Online application
Additional forms for specific programs such as third-party inspections or STRU-related approvals

Building code: 2018 IRC; 2018 IBC; 2018 IPC; 2018 IMC; 2018 IFC; 2018 IFGC; 2018 ISPSC; 2018 IEBC; NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, with posted county amendment resolutions and an energy code amendment.
Permit validity: Not clearly posted on the main county Building Inspections page reviewed.
Owner-builder: Not clearly posted in a general county building-permit rule on the accessible page reviewed.
Contractor requirements: County page links users to Tennessee contractor lookup at https://verify.tn.gov/ and expects contractor information with the permit application.

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: No general county turnaround estimate was publicly posted on the main Building Inspections page reviewed.

01

Determine whether the property is in unincorporated Sevier County and whether county permitting applies.
02

Gather prerequisite items. The county says the building permit cannot be issued until required permits and documents are in hand, including environmental health, zoning compliance, floor plan, and contractor information.
03

Create an account in MGO Connect and submit the application online.
04

Pay permit and plan review fees after review.
05

Post permit and proceed to inspections as listed on the permit.
06

Complete required inspections, which typically include footing, under slab plumbing, rough framing, rough plumbing, energy/HVAC/gas piping, and final.

Typical processing time: No general county turnaround estimate was publicly posted on the main Building Inspections page reviewed.

Source: Sevier County Building Inspections ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Sevier County building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

$30 base fee

Plan check fee

$50 up to $250 depending on valuation per posted county commercial fee schedule

Permit fee formula

Valuation-based building fee schedule: $30 base to $2,000; then escalating per-thousand charges; commercial fee PDF is the publicly posted schedule and the county page separately links residential and commercial permit fee PDFs

Reinspection fee

$50

Penalty (no permit)

Building without permit first offense $200 and second offense $350

Online permitting is through MGO Connect; county page does not publish separate card-processing notes

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

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Permit-specific inspections required (permit_requirement)

Inspection hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Typical sequence: Footings; under slab plumbing; rough framing; rough plumbing; energy including HVAC and gas pipe; final

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Sevier County permits

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

Any new construction, accessory structures, remodels, and additions require a building permit.

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

Building permit fees in unincorporated Sevier County, TN are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $30 base fee. Fees are calculated as: Valuation-based building fee schedule: $30 base to $2,000; then escalating per-thousand charges; commercial fee PDF is the publicly posted schedule and the county page separately links residential and commercial permit fee PDFs. Plan check fee: $50 up to $250 depending on valuation per posted county commercial fee schedule.

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

To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Sevier County, TN, follow these steps: 1. Determine whether the property is in unincorporated Sevier County and whether county permitting applies. 2. Gather prerequisite items. The county says the building permit cannot be issued until required permits and documents are in hand, including environmental health, zoning compliance, floor plan, and contractor information. 3. Create an account in MGO Connect and submit the application online. 4. Pay permit and plan review fees after review. 5. Post permit and proceed to inspections as listed on the permit. 6. Complete required inspections, which typically include footing, under slab plumbing, rough framing, rough plumbing, energy/HVAC/gas piping, and final.

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

Building permit processing times in unincorporated Sevier County, TN typically run No general county turnaround estimate was publicly posted on the main Building Inspections page reviewed.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Sevier County, TN? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Sevier County, TN via: Permit-specific inspections required.

last verified April 2026 source Sevier County Building Inspections ↗ entry id permits/tennessee/sevier/unincorporated

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Sevier County Building Inspections before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Unincorporated Sevier County