Sullivan County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

Unincorporated Sullivan County. Electrical permits and inspections are handled separately by the State of Tennessee, not the county.

Department

Sullivan County Department of Planning and Codes

Address

3425 Highway 126, Suite 101, Blountville, TN 37617

Phone

423-323-6440

Email

Permits@sullivancountytn.gov

Website

https://sullivancountytn.gov/planning-and-codes/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Review zoning, district, setbacks, and whether the project needs related approvals such as septic or sewer, floodplain, stormwater, driveway connection, or sign review.
2. Save the county's fillable permit application to your computer, complete it, and email it to Permits@sullivancountytn.gov or deliver it to the Planning and Codes office.
3. Submit required supporting items. The application and county zoning resolution call for plot plans for new one- and two-family dwellings or additions, site plans for non-residential permits, water or sewer tap receipt or septic permit and layout, and floodplain elevation certificate where applicable.
4. Obtain any separate approvals that are not issued by Planning and Codes, including state-issued electrical permits and inspections through Tennessee CORE.
5. County staff reviews the application and issues the permit if the project conforms with zoning and building requirements.
6. The applicant, contractor, or homeowner must call for inspections. The county application says to allow 3 business days turnaround because inspections are handled in the order received.
7. Request final inspection and certificate of occupancy at completion.

Typical processing time: County application says allow 3 business days turnaround for inspections. Initial permit review timing is not otherwise posted.

Source: Sullivan County Department of Planning and Codes

General Requirements

Sullivan County says building permits are required for all types of residential housing including new homes, single-wide mobile homes, double-wide mobile homes, modular homes, additions, carports, garages, storage buildings, gazebos, pools, decks, roofs, and interior remodeling jobs. Zoning compliance permits are required for multifamily and planned developments and for non-residential structures such as commercial buildings, churches, signs, and manufacturing uses.

Required Documents

• County permit application
• Plot plan for new one- and two-family dwellings or additions
• Site plan for non-residential permits
• Water or sewer tap receipt or septic permit and layout for new buildings
• Floodplain elevation certificate if in a Special Flood Hazard Area
• Contractor information and state license if applicable

Permit validity

The county permit application states the permit expires after 180 days from issuance and or between inspections if not exercised.

Building code

County page states the county adopted the 2018 International Residential Code and the 2018 Energy Code effective April 1, 2018 for one- and two-family residential work. The zoning resolution also governs zoning compliance permit requirements.

Owner-builder

The county application asks whether the property owner is acting as the general contractor. No separate public owner-builder affidavit or special owner-builder limitation was found in the reviewed county materials.

Contractor requirements

Contractor company name and state license number are requested on the county application. Electrical permits are state-issued. Tennessee state licensing rules apply where project value or trade classification requires it.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$28.00 for residential accessory structure (small) and for residential plumbing or mechanical replacement or remodel improvements; $58.00 is the county's lowest listed single-family home permit tier

Plan check fee

No separate plan review fee line was identified in the current county fee table reviewed.

Permit fee formula

Mixed flat and valuation-based. Single family homes are $58 from $1 to $25,000, $78 from $25,001 to $50,000, $203 from $50,001 to $100,000, then stepped tiers up to $1,003 above $500,001. Commercial, industrial, and non-residential work is $103 from $1 to $50,000, $203 from $50,001 to $200,000, $403 from $200,001 to $300,000, $603 from $300,001 to $500,000, and $1,003 above $500,001.

Reinspection fee

Construction without first obtaining a building permit causes the permit fee to be doubled, minus the initial archive fee. Renewal fee is $58 for primary structures and $28 for detached accessory structures.

Penalty (no permit)

Construction without first obtaining a building permit causes the permit fee to be doubled, minus the initial archive fee.

Payment note

The reviewed materials do not describe an online county permit payment workflow. Confirm payment method directly with Planning and Codes.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Sullivan County Department of Planning and Codes to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Call Planning and Codes (phone)

Inspection hours

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday except designated holidays; best to call between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon for timely inspections

Typical inspection sequence: County permit application requires all inspections as needed and a final inspection for the certificate of occupancy. The manufactured home checklist separately identifies first inspection, state manufactured-home and electrical inspections, framing inspection for additions such as decks or porches, then final setback inspection for county certificate of occupancy.

Additional Resources

• Building code: County page states the county adopted the 2018 International Residential Code and the 2018 Energy Code effective April 1, 2018 for one- and two-family residential work. The zoning resolution also governs zoning compliance permit requirements.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Manufactured Home Permits and Inspections Checklist
• GIS Map
• License lookup guide: Tennessee Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Tennessee Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Tennessee hub: Tennessee Contractor License & Permit Hub