Franklin, TN — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

City of Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services

Street address

Community Development, 120 9th Ave South, Franklin, TN 37064; mailing address 109 3rd Ave South, Franklin, TN 37064

Phone

615-791-3217; permitting and inspections setup line 615-794-7012 ext. 6

cofpermitapp@franklintn.gov

Coverage

Applies inside Franklin city limits in Williamson County; not for unincorporated county areas.

Online portal

Franklin IDT Plan Review

IDT electronic plan review system

Website

Department website

Additional resources

Online Inspection Portal ↗

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Franklin

Franklin's permitting page covers building permits for residential and commercial construction, trade permits, signs, pools, floodplain work, tree removal, driveway access, and use permits. Construction plans for residential and commercial projects must be submitted through the electronic plan review system.

Scope of work

Permit?

Certain one-story detached accessory structures under the code size threshold

Exempt

Ordinary repairs

Exempt

Some minor finish work and similar R105.2 exemptions

Exempt

Exempt Certain one-story detached accessory structures under the code size threshold
Exempt Ordinary repairs
Exempt Some minor finish work and similar R105.2 exemptions

Note: Franklin separately publishes permits for tree removal, pools, signs, driveways, and floodplain work, so those categories should not be assumed exempt.

Required documents

Permit application
Construction plans in PDF format
Trade permit forms as applicable
Homeowner affidavit where owner-builder applies
Project-specific forms such as floodplain, driveway, or tree removal documents

Building code: Effective January 1, 2026, Franklin lists 2024 IBC, 2024 IRC, 2024 IPC, 2024 IMC, 2024 IFGC, 2024 IEBC, 2024 IFC, 2024 IPMC, 2024 ISPSC, 2024 IECC for IBC projects, 2009 IECC for IRC projects, and 2023 NEC.
Permit validity: Construction plans reviewed and approved are valid 1 year from the date of approval.
Owner-builder: Homeowner affidavit form is published on Franklin's permitting page.
Contractor requirements: Franklin publishes a contractor licensing page and annual mechanical and plumbing license fees in the fee schedule.

Source: City of Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Online inspection portal account setup is stated as within 2 business days; no general plan review turnaround is posted on the main permitting page.

01

Prepare permit application, plan set in PDF order, and any supporting forms such as homeowner affidavit, trade permit application, floodplain permit, driveway permit, or tree removal permit as applicable.
02

Submit residential or commercial construction plans through Franklin's IDT plan review portal.
03

Submit trade permit applications through the listed online forms or prompted permit workflows.
04

Receive staff review comments and complete any required revisions or re-review cycles.
05

Pay permit and plan review fees once approved.
06

Permit is issued; inspections are then scheduled through the Franklin online inspection portal or by phone.

Typical processing time: Online inspection portal account setup is stated as within 2 business days; no general plan review turnaround is posted on the main permitting page.

Source: City of Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Franklin building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

$50 simple permit; plan review fee starts at $50 for valuation up to $100,000

Plan check fee

$50 up to $100,000 valuation; value x 0.0005 from $100,001 to $5,000,000; above that $2,500 plus value over $5,000,000 x 0.0001; consultant full reviews are $200 plus 100 percent consultant cost

Permit fee formula

New detached single-family homes and additions are $0.79 per square foot under roof; most other building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permit fees are valuation-based; simple permits are flat $50 by category

Reinspection fee

$50

Penalty (no permit)

Violations $50 per offense per day

Final inspections are blocked until fees due on the permit are paid in full.

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

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Online Inspection Portal (online)
615-591-5603 (phone)

Scheduling deadline: Call-in deadline is 12:00 pm for next business day inspections; online scheduling cutoff is 5:00 am for same-day inspections

Typical sequence: Depends on permit type; final inspection will not be scheduled if fees remain unpaid

Source: City of Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Franklin permits

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

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

Building permit fees in Franklin, TN are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $50 simple permit; plan review fee starts at $50 for valuation up to $100,000. Fees are calculated as: New detached single-family homes and additions are $0.79 per square foot under roof; most other building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permit fees are valuation-based; simple permits are flat $50 by category. Plan check fee: $50 up to $100,000 valuation; value x 0.0005 from $100,001 to $5,000,000; above that $2,500 plus value over $5,000,000 x 0.0001; consultant full reviews are $200 plus 100 percent consultant cost.

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

To apply for a building permit in Franklin, TN, follow these steps: 1. Prepare permit application, plan set in PDF order, and any supporting forms such as homeowner affidavit, trade permit application, floodplain permit, driveway permit, or tree removal permit as applicable. 2. Submit residential or commercial construction plans through Franklin's IDT plan review portal. 3. Submit trade permit applications through the listed online forms or prompted permit workflows. 4. Receive staff review comments and complete any required revisions or re-review cycles. 5. Pay permit and plan review fees once approved. 6. Permit is issued; inspections are then scheduled through the Franklin online inspection portal or by phone.

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

Building permit processing times in Franklin, TN typically run Online inspection portal account setup is stated as within 2 business days; no general plan review turnaround is posted on the main permitting page.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in Franklin, TN? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in Franklin, TN. The following work is generally exempt: Certain one-story detached accessory structures under the code size threshold; Ordinary repairs; Some minor finish work and similar R105.2 exemptions. Note: Franklin separately publishes permits for tree removal, pools, signs, driveways, and floodplain work, so those categories should not be assumed exempt. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Franklin, TN? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Franklin, TN via: Online Inspection Portal, 615-591-5603. Call-in deadline is 12:00 pm for next business day inspections; online scheduling cutoff is 5:00 am for same-day inspections.

last verified April 2026 source City of Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services ↗ entry id permits/tennessee/williamson/franklin

Report a correction

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

City of Franklin

Other jurisdictions in Williamson County.