Welcome to the Rutherford County Building Codes Department website. The primary focus and the purpose of building codes is to protect public health, safety and welfare as they relate to the construction and occupancy of buildings and structures. The codes are sets of regulations governing the design, construction, alteration and maintenance of structures.

The Rutherford County Building Codes Department provides permitting, plans review, inspection, codes enforcement, property maintenance enforcement and zoning enforcement to the citizens of Rutherford County. We play an integral role in creating a sustainable future for our citizens through building standards and safety, working alongside our builders and the general public negotiating the adopted codes, county regulations and procedures.

This website is full of helpful information if you are considering a construction project at your home. If the information within this website does not answer all your questions, I encourage you to call our office anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to speak with an inspector or any member of our staff. Thank you for visiting and we welcome any comments or suggestions you may have to make our website navigational for you and ultimately for others.

PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS

To assist us in providing you with the best service possible during the permit application process, we ask that you read the following information carefully, as some of our application processes have changed.

To ensure that all requirements have been met, the applicant must submit all the necessary documentation to our office for review prior to obtaining a Building Permit.  This review process will take 1-2 business days, upon completion of the review you will receive a text or email to advise that your permit is ready to be issued.

Please reference the following lists to review the complete list of documentation necessary for the type of project you are permitting.  A permit cannot be issued until a review has been completed, please allow for this in your building schedule.

Single-Family Dwelling (SFD)

Applies to primary dwelling, additional dwelling unit, manufactured/modular home, apartment within a barn or garage

• Development Tax receipt (details found here)

• Building Permit Application found here

• Zoning Compliance Form when the SFD is not located in a recorded subdivision (obtained from Rutherford County Planning Department, instructions found here)

• Land Disturbance Permit (obtained from the Rutherford County Planning Department when the proposed SFD is not located in a recorded subdivision)

• Erosion Control Form found here

• SSDS or STEP verification (TN Dept. of Environment & Conservation or CUD)

• A detailed copy of the floor plan of the proposed SFD with dimensions

• A plot plan showing the location of the proposed SFD on the building lot noting accurate setbacks from property lines and MSBL (minimum setback line)

• Homeowner Affidavit found here (if the applicant is also the homeowner)

** NOTE – If your project involves any of the following scenarios, a full plans review will be required. Please allow up to 5 working days for review in each of these cases:

• living space inside a pole-barn type structure – a full set of architectural and stamped structural drawings must be submitted with building permit application

• an SFD with a basement regardless of its size – a full set of architectural drawings must be submitted with permit application

• an SFD with greater than 5,000 sf of living space – a full set of architectural drawings must be submitted with permit application

Addition to a Single-Family Dwelling (ASFD)
addition of living space, garage, carport, deck, porch – anything attached to the principle structure

• Building Permit Application found here

• Zoning Compliance Form (obtained from Rutherford County Planning Department, instructions found here)

• A copy of the existing completion certificate of SSDS showing location and dimensions (use this drawing/layout when creating your concept drawing listed below)

• A detailed copy of the floor plan of the proposed addition with dimensions

• A concept drawing showing location of the addition and accurate dimensions from SSDS (see above), property lines and other structures in the vicinity of the addition

• Homeowner Affidavit found here (if the applicant is also the homeowner)

Remodel of an existing Single-Family Dwelling or Accessory Structure (REM)
remodel or modification of any existing square footage – can be living space or accessory space

• Building Permit Application found here

• A detailed copy of the floor plan of the proposed remodel with accurate dimensions

Plumbing or Gas Permit

• Completed application form (gas permit app found here | plumbing permit app found here)

• Homeowner Affidavit (if the applicant is also the homeowner performing his/her own work)  Affidavit for gas work found here | Affidavit for plumbing work found here

Accessory Structure
(storage bldg., garage, barn, carport, etc.)

• Building Permit Application found here

• Zoning Compliance Form (obtained from Rutherford County Planning Department and instructions found here)

• A copy of the existing completion certificate of SSDS showing location and dimensions (use this drawing/layout when creating your concept drawing listed below)

• A concept drawing showing location of the structure and accurate dimensions from SSDS (see above), property lines and other structures in the vicinity of the new building

• Homeowner Affidavit found here (if the applicant is also the homeowner)

Swimming Pool Permit

• Zoning Compliance Form (obtained from Rutherford County Planning Department and found here)

• A copy of the existing completion certificate of SSDS showing location and dimensions (use this drawing/layout when creating your concept drawing listed below)

• A concept drawing showing location of the addition and accurate dimensions from SSDS (see above), property lines and other structures in the vicinity of the swimming pool

• A signed and notarized swimming pool barrier agreement – can be completed and notarized at our office – signing the barrier agreement constitutes full acknowledgment of the barrier requirements for a swimming pool.  Please read the form completely here before you come to the office to pick up your permit so that we can answer any questions you may have.