County Building Permits
Smith County, TN - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Smith County, Tennessee. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
The Planning Office says it handles building permits and electrical permits in the county outside of the three city limits. For residential one and two family and townhouse work, Smith County is listed as SRBP on the Tennessee Fire Marshal residential jurisdiction list, so the state residential permit program still matters for unincorporated county work.
- Department
- Smith County Planning Office
- Address
- 303 High Street North, Carthage, TN 37030
- Phone
- 615.735.3418
Online Permit Portal
Platform: CORE for state residential permits • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Confirm whether the project is a county development permit, a state residential building permit, or both.
- For county routed projects, apply through the Smith County Planning Office using its residential building permit application.
- Provide the septic permit or verification, 911 address information, site description, and contractor information.
- For state residential permits, apply in CORE and pay the fee based on construction value.
- Obtain the required permit before new construction, decking on mobile homes, or other regulated work begins.
Typical processing time: Not publicly stated
Source: Smith County Planning Office
General Requirements
Smith County's development guide says vacant land can be permitted, a septic permit copy is required, the 911 address is assigned before permit issuance, and new construction and decking on mobile homes require a state building permit. The county application also uses permit categories for residential, commercial, and industrial work.
Required Documents
- Septic permit or verification, 911 address assignment, site description, contractor name, estimated construction cost, tract size and road frontage, and any existing structures information
- Permit validity
- Not publicly stated in the county materials reviewed
- Building code
- State residential program uses the 2018 IRC and 2018 IECC; county application says the state of Tennessee has adopted the International Building Codes
- Owner-builder
- The county application says self-build is allowable if the owner has not built a home in the last two years
- Contractor requirements
- The county application states a licensed contractor is required under TCA 62-6-103, with responsibility on the owner to verify the contractor is properly licensed
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- County application lists residential $755, commercial $805, industrial $1005
- Plan check fee
- Not publicly stated
- Permit fee formula
- Mixed. County application shows flat category fees, while the state residential program is valuation-based
- Reinspection fee
- State residential program allows one free reinspection, then additional fees
- Payment note
- County application shows payment is collected with the permit application and references septic permit, 911 address, and zoning compliance inspection tracking
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Smith County Planning Office to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- State residential inspections are scheduled through CORE or email to SFMO.permits-licensing@tn.gov; county inspection steps are not clearly posted (phone)
- Inspection hours
- County Planning Office business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM
- Time windows
- County Planning Office business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM
Typical inspection sequence: County guide indicates septic, 911 address, zoning compliance, and then permit issuance; state residential inspections follow foundation, rough-in, and final stages
State residential program allows one free reinspection, then charges additional reinspection fees
Additional Resources
- Building code: State residential program uses the 2018 IRC and 2018 IECC; county application says the state of Tennessee has adopted the International Building Codes
- 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 Smith County Planning Office before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Smith County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Smith County, TN?
- Smith County's development guide says vacant land can be permitted, a septic permit copy is required, the 911 address is assigned before permit issuance, and new construction and decking on mobile homes require a state building permit. The county application also uses permit categories for residential, commercial, and industrial work.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Smith County, TN?
- The minimum permit fee is County application lists residential $755, commercial $805, industrial $1005. Fees are calculated as: Mixed. County application shows flat category fees, while the state residential program is valuation-based. Plan check fee: Not publicly stated.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Smith County, TN?
- 1. Confirm whether the project is a county development permit, a state residential building permit, or both. 2. For county routed projects, apply through the Smith County Planning Office using its residential building permit application. 3. Provide the septic permit or verification, 911 address information, site description, and contractor information. 4. For state residential permits, apply in CORE and pay the fee based on construction value. 5. Obtain the required permit before new construction, decking on mobile homes, or other regulated work begins.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Smith County, TN?
- Typical processing time is Not publicly stated.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Smith County, TN?
- The following work is generally exempt: No county-wide exemption list was located in the public materials reviewed; Detached non-living structures may still be exempt from the state residential permit program if they are not used for living purposes.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Smith County, TN?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: State residential inspections are scheduled through CORE or email to SFMO.permits-licensing@tn.gov; county inspection steps are not clearly posted.
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