Hamilton County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

County permit authority for unincorporated Hamilton County and municipalities that have not adopted and are not enforcing their own municipal building codes.

Department

Hamilton County Building Inspection Department

Address

Development Resource Center, 4005 Cromwell Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421

Phone

(423) 209-7860

Email

Inspect@HamiltonTN.gov

Website

https://www.hamiltontn.gov/Department_BuildingInspections.aspx

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Register or log in to the county permit site.
2. Complete the online permit application for building or trade work.
3. Submit required permit documents and forms.
4. Licensed contractors may pay permit fees online; property owners may apply online but must visit the office to pay application fees.
5. Receive permit approval and issuance from the Building and Zoning Office.
6. Schedule inspections and maintain the permit record through the county system.

Typical processing time: No public turnaround estimate located on the reviewed pages.

Source: Hamilton County Building Inspection Department

General Requirements

Hamilton County states a building permit is required for any new, alteration, addition, or repair to a structure.

Required Documents

• Online permit application and project-specific permit forms
• County application pages post building, electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing permit forms

Permit validity

Not clearly posted on the public pages reviewed.

Building code

2018 IBC, 2018 IRC, 2018 IPC, 2018 IMC, 2018 IFGC, 2018 IFC, 2018 ISPSC, 2018 IECC, 2020 NEC, ANSI accessibility code 2017, and NFPA 101 2018, effective January 1, 2022

Owner-builder

The property owner may construct one single residence once every two years for the owner's own use, not for resale, lease, or rent. The state homeowner affidavit must be signed.

Contractor requirements

The county notes that anyone hired by the homeowner would be considered a prime contractor or construction manager and is not exempt from license requirements.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Not clearly posted

Plan check fee

Not clearly posted

Permit fee formula

Not clearly posted

Payment note

Licensed contractors with valid licenses may pay permit fees online. Other property owners must visit the office to pay application fees.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Storage buildings 10 feet by 20 feet or less without plumbing or electrical
• Fences not over 7 feet in height
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops, and similar finish work
• Prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep, not greater than 5,000 gallons, and installed entirely above ground
• Swings and other playground equipment
• Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, not over any basement or story below, and not part of an accessible route

Inspections

How to Schedule

• County permit system and Building Inspection office (portal)

Inspection hours

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: Project-specific by permit type; county issues building, electric, gas, mechanical, and plumbing permits and inspects for compliance.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2018 IBC, 2018 IRC, 2018 IPC, 2018 IMC, 2018 IFGC, 2018 IFC, 2018 ISPSC, 2018 IECC, 2020 NEC, ANSI accessibility code 2017, and NFPA 101 2018, effective January 1, 2022
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building Inspections
• Documents
• Building Inspection - Septic
• Water Authority
• License lookup guide: Tennessee Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Tennessee Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Tennessee hub: Tennessee Contractor License & Permit Hub