City Building Permits

Clarksville, TENNESSEE Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Clarksville, Tennessee. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Tennessee Montgomery County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

City department administers building permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy for property inside Clarksville city limits. Some related approvals still involve Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission, Clarksville Street Department, Clarksville Fire Rescue, Gas and Water, and Montgomery County adequate facilities tax collection.

Department
City of Clarksville Building & Codes Department
Address
100 South Spring Street, Clarksville, TN 37040
Phone
931-645-7426
Website
https://www.clarksvilletn.gov/310/Building-Codes

Online Permit Portal

Open Citizen Self Service

Platform: Tyler EnerGov Citizen Self Service • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only

Application Process

  1. Register for a Citizen Self Service account and, if acting as contractor, complete contractor registration through the city portal.
  2. Determine whether zoning or site-plan approvals are needed. City directs rezoning and many planning matters to Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission.
  3. Submit permit application through Self Service Portal. Commercial plan-review guidance requires all new commercial projects and additions/alterations/repairs to submit appropriate permit application plus digital plan set through portal.
  4. Upload plans and supporting documents. Commercial submittals may require Tennessee registered design professional depending on occupancy, size, and scope.
  5. Pay plan review fee at submittal when plan review required. Fee may be paid through online portal.
  6. Complete city review. Commercial plan review may take up to 10 business days; longer if additional information requested. Regional Planning review includes 14-day departmental meeting and 22-day Planning Commission hearing when applicable.
  7. Complete licensing, insurance, and subcontractor information review before issuance.
  8. Pay permit and related connection fees, then receive issued permit.
  9. Request required inspections through portal or by email, complete finals, obtain Certificate of Occupancy.

Typical processing time: Commercial plan review up to 10 business days after complete submission. Regional Planning site-plan review: 14-day departmental review, 22-day Planning Commission hearing. No single published turnaround for all residential permits.

Source: City of Clarksville Building & Codes Department

General Requirements

City FAQ states permit required whenever person wishes to construct, alter, repair, enlarge, move, renovate, demolish, or permanently place any building or structure.

Required Documents

  • Permit application
  • Digital plans and any required design professional documents (commercial)
  • Letter of Assurance from registered design professional where applicable
  • Contractor registration, licensing, insurance review
  • Subcontractor information
  • Homeowner permit affidavit (homeowner projects)
Permit validity
Valid for duration of project if construction begins within 6 months of issuance. If abandoned for more than 6 continuous months, permit no longer valid.
Building code
2018 IBC, 2018 IRC, 2009 IECC, 2018 IFC, 2018 IFGC, 2018 IMC, 2018 IPC, 2009 ICC A117.1, 2018 IEBC, 2017 NEC, 1985 Unsafe Building Abatement Code, and City of Clarksville Property Maintenance Code.
Owner-builder
Homeowner may obtain own permits except plumbing permits (must be obtained by licensed plumber). Homeowner permit affidavit states owner is acting as general contractor at primary residence and remains responsible for code compliance, structure placement, subcontractor permits, and not occupying structure before final inspection.
Contractor requirements
Tennessee law requires general contractor or home improvement contractor to be licensed and typically insured. Commercial plan-review guidance requires licensing review before permit issuance. Contractors using portal must complete contractor registration.

Fees

Minimum permit fee
$15.00 for single-family, two-family, townhouse renovations or additions valued at $1,000 or less; non-residential fees begin at $50 plus square-foot charges
Plan check fee
One-half of building permit fee for commercial buildings or multifamily dwellings over $1,000 when plan submission required by IBC Section 106.1.
Permit fee formula
New single-family, two-family, townhouse: $0.37 per square foot. Renovations/additions: valuation schedule. Other projects: 0-5,000 sf at $50 + $1.00/sf; 5,001-20,000 sf at $50 + $1.25/sf; 20,001-50,000 sf at $50 + $1.50/sf; 50,001-100,000 sf at $50 + $2.00/sf.
Reinspection fee
First reinspection for footing, framing, or final building inspection: no reinspection permit required. Second and subsequent: $40.00 reinspection permit.
Payment note
Portal can be used for payments. Commercial plan review fees due upon submission, may be paid through online portal.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective July 1, 2024).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the City of Clarksville Building & Codes Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

  • Self Service Portal (online)
  • bcresreq@cityofclarksville.com (residential) (email)
  • bccommercial@cityofclarksville.com (commercial) (email)
Inspection hours
Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Time windows
Same-day inspection requests taken up to 8:00 AM. Requests before 3:00 PM scheduled for next business day. Underground, footing, slab, water/sewer inspections after 1:30 PM scheduled next day. Inspections scheduled 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM at one-hour intervals if applicable.

Typical inspection sequence: Footing, foundation, slab, framing, firewall (commercial), rough-in plumbing, rough-in mechanical/gas, rough-in electrical, water/sewer, sprinkler/fire alarm (where applicable), grading/drainage, final trade inspections, final building inspection, Certificate of Occupancy.

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the City of Clarksville Building & Codes Department before applying.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.