We have made changes to the City's online permitting website. Feedback indicated the permitting website requires toomany clicks, is text heavy and generally not intuitive. This will affect bookmarked links you may have created to inspections, apply for permit, and/or pay fees.
The license type for this registration application is Homeowner Permit Holder (Homeowner Contractor). This registration will allow for the issuance of permits to the permit holder of record so they may perform general construction at single-family residential projects (IRC). Approval work may involve the construction, alteration, enlargement, or demolition of the principal building and/or residential accessory structures. This license is issued in accordance with the guidelines and exemptions set forth in TCA §62-6-103 and will allow the permit holder to perform work at their registered single-family property (for their personal use only; not rent/lease), unrestricted by project valuation.
All work permitted under this license type is to be performed by the homeowner and/or immediate family. Persons working on the project who are not the owner/immediate family must be appropriately licensed by the State of TN and are required to pull their own permits for their portion of the project.
Gather all the documents you need to complete the application. During the application process you will be prompted to upload the following information:
homeowner-and-unlicensed-contractor-ack-form.pdf(PDF, 268KB)
All persons making application for license or permit must have a Citizen Access account. This account will keep all of your permits organized, allow you to pay invoices, and track permit progress.
Apply for Citizens Access Account
Complete the online form below apply for a new license.
Application for License
A member of the administrative staff will review the application, verify all necessary information is available and, if additional information is required, will be reaching out.
There are no fees associated with issuance of a registration for a City of Knoxville homeowner contractor (HC) license. If all required information is available the technician will begin the process of creating your license.
Typically, processing of a license request will be completed after no more than 1-2 business days. Staffing levels and application volume may contribute to deviations in estimated turn-around times. When processing is completed you will receive an email with your COK license number.
Once a COK license number has been assigned it will need to be linked to your ACA account. This is done by:
It is possible that your ACA account may have multiple COK license types associated depending on the type of work you perform.
There are opportunities for an owner of a single-family residential property to perform building or structural work themselves, without a contractor's license. A permit for building or structural work will remain valid as long as the project continues to comply with the general requirements for permitting under an HC license and the HC license holders work is not determined to create a safety hazard for themselves or others. In general, a homeowner project permit will require:
the HC license holder has not been issued another project permit within two (2) years at another address.
There are opportunities for an owner of a single-family residential property to perform mechanical, electrical or plumbing work themselves, without a contractor's license. A permit for mechanical, electrical or plumbing work will remain valid as long as the project continues to comply with the general requirements for permitting under an HC license and the HC license holders work is not determined to create a safety hazard for themselves or others. In general, a homeowner sub-trade permit will require:
Special exceptions: