Town of Jonesborough, TENNESSEE Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Town permit authority for incorporated Jonesborough. Public-facing permit information is concentrated on the Building Department page and linked forms.

Department

Town of Jonesborough Building Department

Address

Town Hall, 123 Boone Street, Jonesborough, TN 37659

Phone

Building Inspector: 423-753-1035; Town Hall general: 423-753-1030

Email

kfair@jonesboroughtn.org

Website

https://www.jonesboroughtn.org/town-services/building-inspector/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Contact the Building Department and confirm whether the project needs a permit, grading permit, Historic Zoning Commission approval, or stormwater review. Jonesborough specifically calls out historic district exterior work and disturbance over 1 acre.
2. Download the applicable building, grading, demolition, or mechanical/plumbing permit form from the Building Department page or obtain it from the Administration Office in Town Hall.
3. Complete the building permit application with owner, contractor, zoning district, project valuation, flood-zone information, and construction details. The application also asks for Historic Zoning Commission approval date when applicable.
4. Submit the application and any required supporting materials to the building official. The Building Department page says permits are applied for through the building official before work starts.
5. Pay permit and any plan review fees. Effective July 29, 2025, Jonesborough's building permit fees are calculated from the project's sum total valuation.
6. Wait for review and approval. The town does not post a general permit turnaround time in the reviewed materials.
7. After issuance, call for required inspections. The application specifically says footings must be inspected before concrete is poured, and the Building Department page says the inspector handles footers, concrete, plumbing, framing, and related inspections.

Typical processing time: Not publicly posted in the reviewed Jonesborough materials.

Source: Town of Jonesborough Building Department

General Requirements

Jonesborough states that any owner or owner's authorized agent intending to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems, must first apply to the building official and obtain the required permit.

Required Documents

• Building permit application
• Owner and contractor details
• Zoning district
• Project valuation
• Flood-zone information
• Construction details
• Contractor license number when required
• Historic Zoning Commission approval date where applicable
• Any other supporting plans or stormwater documents needed for the site

Permit validity

Not clearly posted in the reviewed Jonesborough public materials.

Building code

Jonesborough's Building Department page says inspections are for compliance with 2018 ICC codes requirements. The municipal code amendments page also shows 2021 adoption of the 2018 International Building Code, 2023 International Energy Conservation amendments, and 2025 building code, permit fee, and plan review fee amendments.

Owner-builder

Jonesborough's public page says the owner or the owner's authorized agent may apply. No separate local owner-builder affidavit or published limitation was found in the reviewed materials.

Contractor requirements

The building permit application requires a state contractor license number for all construction of $25,000 or more. Tennessee state contractor and trade licensing rules still apply for building and trade work.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

No separate minimum building permit fee is listed in the posted 2025 building fee ordinance; valuation is multiplied by the adopted percentage

Plan check fee

See the posted plan review fee sheet for planning and review charges. Examples include site plan review at $250 per acre, grading permits from $100 to $1,200 by acreage, minor subdivision plat review at $75 plus $50 per lot, major subdivision plat review at $200 plus $50 per lot, rezoning review fees, and BZA appeals at $300.

Permit fee formula

Building permit fees are valuation-based at 0.85% of the sum total project valuation. The ordinance says valuation includes all work, including building, plumbing, and mechanical. Mechanical-only permits are also calculated at 0.85% of mechanical valuation. Moving, demolition, and manufactured home setup permits are each $100. Outdoor advertising signs are 3.5% of signage valuation, and off-premises outdoor advertising signs are 0.85%.

Reinspection fee

The 2025 fee ordinance states work started before obtaining a required permit causes permit fees to be doubled.

Penalty (no permit)

The 2025 fee ordinance states work started before obtaining a required permit causes permit fees to be doubled.

Payment note

Plan review fee sheet states fees must be paid prior to administrative or board approval. No public online permit payment portal was identified.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective July 29, 2025).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures not exceeding 200 square feet
• Fences not over 7 feet high
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing to top of wall unless supporting a surcharge
• Water tanks supported directly on grade not exceeding 5,000 gallons and meeting the listed ratio limits
• Sidewalks and driveways
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep
• Swings and other playground equipment
• Window awnings projecting not more than 54 inches and not requiring additional support
• Decks not exceeding 200 square feet, not more than 30 inches above grade, not attached to a dwelling, and not serving the required exit door
• Listed minor electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing repairs in the town's posted permit-exempt handout

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Call Building Inspector at 423-753-1035 (phone)

Inspection hours

No public inspection hours or cut-off times were posted on the reviewed Jonesborough pages

Typical inspection sequence: Footers before pouring concrete; concrete work; plumbing; framing; and other code inspections as needed by project scope.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Jonesborough's Building Department page says inspections are for compliance with 2018 ICC codes requirements. The municipal code amendments page also shows 2021 adoption of the 2018 International Building Code, 2023 International Energy Conservation amendments, and 2025 building code, permit fee, and plan review fee amendments.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Municipal Code
• Grading Permit Form
• Storm Water Ordinance
• Subdivision Regulations
• License lookup guide: Tennessee Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Tennessee Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Tennessee hub: Tennessee Contractor License & Permit Hub

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