Smith County, TN — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Smith County Planning Office

Street address

303 High Street North, Carthage, TN 37030

Phone

615.735.3418

Not clearly published in text on the pages reviewed

Coverage

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.

Online portal

Portal

CORE for state residential permits

Website

Department website

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Smith County

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.

Scope of work

Permit?

No county-wide exemption list was located in the public materials reviewed

Exempt

Detached non-living structures may still be exempt from the state residential permit program if they are not used for living purposes

Exempt

Exempt No county-wide exemption list was located in the public materials reviewed
Exempt Detached non-living structures may still be exempt from the state residential permit program if they are not used for living purposes

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

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
Permit validity: Not publicly stated in the county materials reviewed
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

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Not publicly stated

01

Confirm whether the project is a county development permit, a state residential building permit, or both.
02

For county routed projects, apply through the Smith County Planning Office using its residential building permit application.
03

Provide the septic permit or verification, 911 address information, site description, and contractor information.
04

For state residential permits, apply in CORE and pay the fee based on construction value.
05

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 ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Smith County building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

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

County application shows payment is collected with the permit application and references septic permit, 911 address, and zoning compliance inspection tracking

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

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

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 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

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Smith County permits

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

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

Building permit fees in unincorporated Smith County, TN are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. 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.

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

To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Smith County, TN, follow these steps: 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.

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

Building permit processing times in unincorporated Smith County, TN typically run Not publicly stated. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Smith County, TN? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit 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. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Smith County, TN? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Smith County, TN via: State residential inspections are scheduled through CORE or email to SFMO.permits-licensing@tn.gov; county inspection steps are not clearly posted.

last verified April 2026 source Smith County Planning Office ↗ entry id permits/tennessee/smith/unincorporated

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Smith County Planning Office before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Unincorporated Smith County