City Building Permits
Gordonsville, TN - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Gordonsville, Tennessee. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Applies inside Gordonsville city limits, including the Smith County portion of the town. The town zoning ordinance governs building permits and occupancy permits within the town.
- Department
- Town of Gordonsville Building Inspector / Town Hall
- Address
- 63 Main Street East, Gordonsville, TN 38563
- Phone
- (615) 683-8282
Online Permit Portal
Platform: None • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Go to the town permits page and open the Building Permit Application.
- Complete the application and provide a site or development plan drawn to scale.
- Submit the application to the building inspector for review.
- The building inspector reviews the plans for compliance with the zoning ordinance.
- If approved, the town issues the building permit.
- A certificate of occupancy is required before the structure is used.
Typical processing time: Not expressly stated for building permits; zoning-related special exceptions are decided within 45 days under a separate form
General Requirements
The zoning ordinance states it is unlawful to begin excavation, construction, moving, adding to a structure, or filling land until the building inspector issues a permit.
Required Documents
- Application on forms provided; development plan or plat drawn to scale showing lot shape and dimensions, building locations, intended use, parking, and other essential information
- Permit validity
- Building permits are void six months from the issue date unless substantial progress has been made
- Building code
- The town zoning ordinance references local zoning and permit standards; a separate building-code adoption statement was not located on the pages reviewed
- Owner-builder
- Not publicly stated in the ordinance excerpt located
- Contractor requirements
- Not publicly stated in the ordinance excerpt located
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Not publicly stated for general building permits
- Plan check fee
- Not publicly stated
- Permit fee formula
- Not publicly stated for general building permits
- Reinspection fee
- Not publicly stated
- Payment note
- The town's public pages do show a $50 special exception application fee and $100 initial fee plus $50 annual renewal for bed and breakfast homes and short-term rentals, but those are not general building permit fees
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Town of Gordonsville Building Inspector / Town Hall to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Not publicly stated (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Town office hours and meeting times are posted, but inspection windows were not found
- Time windows
- Town office hours and meeting times are posted, but inspection windows were not found
Typical inspection sequence: Zoning review, permit issuance, final occupancy review before use
Not publicly stated
Additional Resources
- Building code: The town zoning ordinance references local zoning and permit standards; a separate building-code adoption statement was not located on the pages reviewed
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- 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 Town of Gordonsville Building Inspector / Town Hall before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gordonsville Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Gordonsville, TN?
- The zoning ordinance states it is unlawful to begin excavation, construction, moving, adding to a structure, or filling land until the building inspector issues a permit.
- How much does a building permit cost in Gordonsville, TN?
- The minimum permit fee is Not publicly stated for general building permits. Fees are calculated as: Not publicly stated for general building permits. Plan check fee: Not publicly stated.
- How do I apply for a building permit in Gordonsville, TN?
- 1. Go to the town permits page and open the Building Permit Application. 2. Complete the application and provide a site or development plan drawn to scale. 3. Submit the application to the building inspector for review. 4. The building inspector reviews the plans for compliance with the zoning ordinance. 5. If approved, the town issues the building permit. 6. A certificate of occupancy is required before the structure is used.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in Gordonsville, TN?
- Typical processing time is Not expressly stated for building permits; zoning-related special exceptions are decided within 45 days under a separate form.
- What work is exempt from building permits in Gordonsville, TN?
- The following work is generally exempt: No public general exemption list was located in the materials reviewed..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Gordonsville, TN?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Not publicly stated.
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