Portland, TN — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

City of Portland Building Codes Department

Street address

100 S Russell Street, Portland, TN 37148

Phone

615-325-6776

Coverage

Covers permits within Portland city limits.

Online portal

GovWell

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Portland

Portland states it issues permits for new construction, remodels, demolition, swimming pools, plumbing, mechanical, fire protection, moving, fireworks stands, and use and occupancy permits.

Note: No public consolidated exemption list was located on the reviewed pages.

Required documents

Permit application
Project details entered in GovWell
Uploaded plans and supporting documents
Project-type-specific forms from the Building Permit Applications page

Building code: Portland states it uses the 2018 International Codes.
Permit validity: Not clearly posted on the reviewed pages.
Owner-builder: Not clearly posted on the reviewed pages.
Contractor requirements: Not clearly consolidated on the reviewed pages; applicants should verify contractor registration and state licensing requirements directly with the department.

§ 03

Application process

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

01

Create a GovWell account using email and mobile phone verification.
02

Log into the GovWell portal and start a new application.
03

Choose the permit type and enter project details.
04

Upload required documents in PDF, JPEG, PNG, or JPG format.
05

Submit the application and wait for confirmation by portal and email.
06

Track status in the My Projects dashboard and respond to correction requests by uploading additional documents.
07

Download the issued permit from the portal and proceed to inspections.

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

Source: City of Portland Building Codes Department ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Portland building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

Residential building $50; commercial or industrial building $100; residential plumbing $50; commercial or industrial plumbing $100; residential mechanical $50; commercial or industrial mechanical $100; fire protection $100

Plan check fee

Not separately summarized in accessible plain text on the reviewed fee page.

Permit fee formula

Portland posts separate schedules by permit type, with building, plumbing, and mechanical fees based on valuation or square footage, plus flat fees for some accessory work and permit categories.

Reinspection fee

$75 residential reinspection fee and $100 commercial or industrial reinspection fee after one included reinspection; work started before permit issuance incurs double permit fees unless approved as an emergency.

All permits incur a $15 administrative fee. The reviewed public pages do not clearly summarize payment methods beyond the portal rollout.

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

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Inspection Hotline 615-805-3080 (phone)
IDT Plans inspection request link (online)

Scheduling deadline: Inspections must be called in before 3:00 PM to be on the next-day schedule. Calls after 3:00 PM are scheduled two business days out.
Inspection hours: Department office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Typical sequence: Portland describes a standard process of plan review, permit issuance, and inspections, but does not publish a single consolidated inspection sequence on the main public page reviewed.

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Portland permits

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

Portland states it issues permits for new construction, remodels, demolition, swimming pools, plumbing, mechanical, fire protection, moving, fireworks stands, and use and occupancy permits.

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

Building permit fees in Portland, TN are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Residential building $50; commercial or industrial building $100; residential plumbing $50; commercial or industrial plumbing $100; residential mechanical $50; commercial or industrial mechanical $100; fire protection $100. Fees are calculated as: Portland posts separate schedules by permit type, with building, plumbing, and mechanical fees based on valuation or square footage, plus flat fees for some accessory work and permit categories.. Plan check fee: Not separately summarized in accessible plain text on the reviewed fee page..

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

To apply for a building permit in Portland, TN, follow these steps: 1. Create a GovWell account using email and mobile phone verification. 2. Log into the GovWell portal and start a new application. 3. Choose the permit type and enter project details. 4. Upload required documents in PDF, JPEG, PNG, or JPG format. 5. Submit the application and wait for confirmation by portal and email. 6. Track status in the My Projects dashboard and respond to correction requests by uploading additional documents. 7. Download the issued permit from the portal and proceed to inspections.

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

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

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

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Portland, TN via: Inspection Hotline 615-805-3080, IDT Plans inspection request link. Inspections must be called in before 3:00 PM to be on the next-day schedule. Calls after 3:00 PM are scheduled two business days out..

last verified April 2026 source City of Portland Building Codes Department ↗ entry id permits/tennessee/sumner/portland

Report a correction

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

City of Portland

Other jurisdictions in Sumner County.