City Building Permits

Franklin, TENNESSEE Building Permit Guide

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

Tennessee Williamson County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Applies inside Franklin city limits in Williamson County; not for unincorporated county areas.

Department
City of Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services
Address
Community Development, 120 9th Ave South, Franklin, TN 37064; mailing address 109 3rd Ave South, Franklin, TN 37064
Phone
615-791-3217; permitting and inspections setup line 615-794-7012 ext. 6
Website
https://www.franklintn.gov/government/departments-a-j/building-and-neighborhood-services/permit-applications-information

Online Permit Portal

Open Franklin IDT Plan Review

Platform: IDT electronic plan review system • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only

Additional resources:

Application Process

  1. Prepare permit application, plan set in PDF order, and any supporting forms such as homeowner affidavit, trade permit application, floodplain permit, driveway permit, or tree removal permit as applicable.
  2. Submit residential or commercial construction plans through Franklin's IDT plan review portal.
  3. Submit trade permit applications through the listed online forms or prompted permit workflows.
  4. Receive staff review comments and complete any required revisions or re-review cycles.
  5. Pay permit and plan review fees once approved.
  6. Permit is issued; inspections are then scheduled through the Franklin online inspection portal or by phone.

Typical processing time: Online inspection portal account setup is stated as within 2 business days; no general plan review turnaround is posted on the main permitting page.

Source: City of Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services

General Requirements

Franklin's permitting page covers building permits for residential and commercial construction, trade permits, signs, pools, floodplain work, tree removal, driveway access, and use permits. Construction plans for residential and commercial projects must be submitted through the electronic plan review system.

Required Documents

  • Permit application
  • Construction plans in PDF format
  • Trade permit forms as applicable
  • Homeowner affidavit where owner-builder applies
  • Project-specific forms such as floodplain, driveway, or tree removal documents
Permit validity
Construction plans reviewed and approved are valid 1 year from the date of approval.
Building code
Effective January 1, 2026, Franklin lists 2024 IBC, 2024 IRC, 2024 IPC, 2024 IMC, 2024 IFGC, 2024 IEBC, 2024 IFC, 2024 IPMC, 2024 ISPSC, 2024 IECC for IBC projects, 2009 IECC for IRC projects, and 2023 NEC.
Owner-builder
Homeowner affidavit form is published on Franklin's permitting page.
Contractor requirements
Franklin publishes a contractor licensing page and annual mechanical and plumbing license fees in the fee schedule.

Fees

Minimum permit fee
$50 simple permit; plan review fee starts at $50 for valuation up to $100,000
Plan check fee
$50 up to $100,000 valuation; value x 0.0005 from $100,001 to $5,000,000; above that $2,500 plus value over $5,000,000 x 0.0001; consultant full reviews are $200 plus 100 percent consultant cost
Permit fee formula
New detached single-family homes and additions are $0.79 per square foot under roof; most other building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permit fees are valuation-based; simple permits are flat $50 by category
Reinspection fee
$50
Penalty (no permit)
Violations $50 per offense per day
Payment note
Final inspections are blocked until fees due on the permit are paid in full.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

  • Certain one-story detached accessory structures under the code size threshold
  • Ordinary repairs
  • Some minor finish work and similar R105.2 exemptions

Important: Franklin separately publishes permits for tree removal, pools, signs, driveways, and floodplain work, so those categories should not be assumed exempt.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Scheduling deadline
Call-in deadline is 12:00 pm for next business day inspections; online scheduling cutoff is 5:00 am for same-day inspections

Typical inspection sequence: Depends on permit type; final inspection will not be scheduled if fees remain unpaid

Additional Resources

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

Need help with your project?

Navigating permits in Franklin can be complicated.

Jaspector connects you with local experts who can review your scope, verify your contractor, and help you understand what permits your project actually needs.

Learn how Jaspector works
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.

Other cities in Williamson County

brentwood spring-hill nolensville fairview Unincorporated Area
View all Williamson County jurisdictions →