East Ridge, TENNESSEE Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

City permit authority for work inside East Ridge city limits.

Department

City of East Ridge Building and Codes Department

Address

1517 Tombras Avenue, East Ridge, TN 37412

Phone

(423) 867-7711

Email

mhowell@eastridgetn.gov , mmahoney@eastridgetn.gov

Website

https://www.eastridgetn.gov/building_codes.html

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Obtain the residential or commercial permit application from the city website or office.
2. Submit the completed application to the Building Inspections Office with drawings for residential work or two sets of signed and sealed commercial plans.
3. Pay plan review fees at submittal.
4. Wait for plan review and approval notice from the office.
5. The person doing the work, or that person's designated individual, signs for and picks up the permit and pays the permit fee.
6. Schedule required inspections through the city system and proceed to final inspection.

Typical processing time: 5 to 7 working days for residential; 10 to 14 working days for commercial plans.

Source: City of East Ridge Building and Codes Department

General Requirements

East Ridge states it requires building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, street cut, storm water, sign, house moving, and demolition permits.

Required Documents

• Completed permit application
• Residential drawings if applicable
• Two sets of signed and sealed commercial plans for commercial work

Permit validity

Not clearly posted on the public pages reviewed.

Building code

Building and Codes page links an Adopted Codes packet. The city also approved Ordinance 1150 on September 11, 2025 adopting the 2023 NEC for city electrical standards; other public city materials still point generally to the adopted codes packet and property maintenance enforcement.

Owner-builder

No owner-builder summary located on the public pages reviewed.

Contractor requirements

Trade permits for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing must be pulled by a licensed contractor with a Tennessee license. The permit pickup step also requires the person doing the work or their designated individual to sign for the permit.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Not clearly posted for general building permits. Street cut permit fee is $200.

Plan check fee

30 percent of the building permit fee

Permit fee formula

General building permit formula not clearly posted on the reviewed public pages. Street cut permits use a flat fee plus possible added repaving cost for large cuts.

Payment note

Payment is due when the permit is picked up in the office.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Cosmetic alterations such as paint, wallpaper, and carpeting
• Exterior storage buildings less than 120 square feet

Inspections

How to Schedule

• OpenGov system (portal)

Inspection hours

7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: Building minimum four inspections: foundation/footing, rough-in framing, insulation, final. Plumbing minimum five. Mechanical minimum three. Electrical inspections are regulated by the State of Tennessee and the city handout directs applicants to the assigned state electrical inspector.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Building and Codes page links an Adopted Codes packet. The city also approved Ordinance 1150 on September 11, 2025 adopting the 2023 NEC for city electrical standards; other public city materials still point generally to the adopted codes packet and property maintenance enforcement.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Required Inspections PDF
• Building Permit Application
• TN Board of Contractors
• License lookup guide: Tennessee Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Tennessee Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Tennessee hub: Tennessee Contractor License & Permit Hub

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