Frequently Asked Questions

The following fees are required for the permitting of projects for 1-and 2-family residential buildings, townhouses, and associated accessory buildings. These fees help off-set the time and travel for field inspectors who are working to ensure the contractor and/or owner has clear direction on how to meet the requirements of the code and that the project does not experience delays or additional costs because of preventable issues during the construction process.

The following fees are required for the review of construction drawings associated with an IBC commercial project. These fees help off-set the time invested by the plans examiners to ensure the contractor and/or owner has clear direction on how to meet the requirements of the code and that the project does not experience delays or additional costs because of preventable issues during the inspection process.

The initial fee payment for the review of construction documents provides for the initial evaluation by the review groups and two (2) resubmittals for the verification of corrections or inclusion of additional information. If the plans are not permittable after three (3) review cycles, additional fees will be assessed based on the offices where approvals are outstanding. The following fees will be assessed on review cycle four (4) and greater

The following fees are required for the permitting of projects for 1-and 2-family residential buildings, townhouses, and associated accessory buildings. These fees help off-set the time and travel for field inspectors who are working to ensure the contractor and/or owner has clear direction on how to meet the requirements of the code and that the project does not experience delays or additional costs because of preventable issues during the construction process.

Work beginning prior to issuance of a permit will occur a penalty of an additional 100% of the calculated permit fee (double fees). Trade work performed without permit may result in the building project permit being locked until the appropriate permits are issued.

The following fees are required for the permitting of projects for either commercial buildings or IBC residential buildings. These fees help off-set the time and travel for field inspectors who are working to ensure the contractor and/or owner has clear direction on how to meet the requirements of the code and that the project does not experience delays or additional costs because of preventable issues during the construction process.

Work beginning prior to issuance of a permit will occur a penalty of an additional 100% of the calculated permit fee (double fees). Trade work performed without permit may result in the building project permit being locked until the appropriate permits are issued.

The following fees are required for the permitting of mechanical work associated with both IBC commercial and IRC residential mechanical installations. These fees help off-set the time and travel for field inspectors who are working to ensure the contractor and/or owner has clear direction on how to meet the requirements of the code and that the project does not experience delays or additional costs because of preventable issues during the construction process.

Work beginning prior to issuance of a permit will occur a penalty of an additional 100% of the calculated permit fee (double fees).

The following fees are required for the permitting of electrical work associated with both IBC commercial and IRC residential electrical installations. These fees help off-set the time and travel for field inspectors who are working to ensure the contractor and/or owner has clear direction on how to meet the requirements of the code and that the project does not experience delays or additional costs because of preventable issues during the construction process.

Work beginning prior to issuance of a permit will occur a penalty of an additional 100% of the calculated permit fee (double fees).

The following fees are required for the permitting of mechanical work associated with both IBC commercial and IRC residential mechanical installations. These fees help off-set the time and travel for field inspectors who are working to ensure the contractor and/or owner has clear direction on how to meet the requirements of the code and that the project does not experience delays or additional costs because of preventable issues during the construction process.

Work beginning prior to issuance of a permit will occur a penalty of an additional 100% of the calculated permit fee (double fees).

Your permit fees cover the initial required inspections and one reinspection for code compliance. Multiple reinspection attempts on same violation will result in reinspection fees. Reinspection fees must be paid before the permit will accept new inspection requests.

Permits are valid for 365 days from the date of issuance. Permits must be closed or renewed prior to their expiration to prevent the issuance of a NOV (Notice of Violation) against the property. Having a NOV open on the property can create issues when you want the sell a property, apply for permits for property improvements, seek financing/refinancing with a lending institution, or have an insurance claim at the property.

Registrations for building contractor and individuals performing work under a State of TN exemption do not have associated fees. MEP contractor and installer license fees are incurred at license issuance and renewal (license will be valid for 365 days from fee payment).

The International Residential Code (IRC) was created to serve as a complete, comprehensive code regulating the construction of single-family houses, two-family houses (duplexes) and buildings consisting of three or more townhouse units. All buildings within the scope of the IRC are limited to three stories above grade plane. For example, a four-story single-family house would fall within the scope of the International Building Code (IBC), not the IRC. The benefits of devoting a separate code to residential construction include the fact that the user need not navigate through a multitude of code provisions that do not apply to residential construction in order to locate that which is applicable. A separate code also allows for residential and nonresidential code provisions to be distinct and tailored to the structures that fall within the appropriate code’s scopes.

The IRC contains coverage for all components of a house or townhouse, including structural components, fireplaces and chimneys, thermal insulation, mechanical systems, fuel gas systems, plumbing systems and electrical systems.

The IRC is a prescriptive-oriented code with some examples of performance code language. It is often said that the IRC is the complete cookbook for residential construction. It is important to understand that the IRC contains coverage for what is conventional and common in residential construction practice. While the IRC will provide all of the needed coverage for most residential construction, it might not address construction practices and systems that are atypical or rarely encountered in the industry. The IRC is meant to be all inclusive for typical residential construction and it relies on other codes only where alternatives are desired or where the code lacks coverage for the uncommon aspect of residential construction. Of course, the IRC constantly evolves to address new technologies and construction practices that were once uncommon, but are now common.

The following fees are required for the review of construction drawings associated with an IRC residential project. These fees help off-set the time invested by the plans examiners to ensure the contractor and/or owner has clear direction on how to meet the requirements of the code and that the project does not experience delays or additional costs because of preventable issues during the inspection process.

The initial fee payment for the review of construction documents provides for the initial evaluation and two (2) resubmittals for the verification of corrections or inclusion of additional information. If the plans are permittable after three (3) review cycles, additional fees will be assessed based on the which offices are approvals are outstanding.

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

The International Building Code (IBC) is a model code that provides minimum requirements to safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare of the occupants of new and existing buildings and structures. The IBC is fully compatible with the ICC family of codes.

The IBC addresses structural strength, means of egress, sanitation, adequate lighting and ventilation, accessibility, energy conservation and life safety in regard to new and existing buildings, facilities and systems. The codes are promulgated on a 3-year cycle to allow for new construction methods and technologies to be incorporated into the codes. Alternative materials, designs and methods not specifically addressed in the code can be approved by the building official where the proposed materials, designs or methods comply with the intent of the provisions of the code (see Section 104.11).

The IBC applies to all occupancies, including one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses that are not within the scope of the IRC. The IRC is referenced for coverage of detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses as defined in the exception to Section 101.2 and the definition for “Townhouse” in Chapter 2. The IRC can also be used for the construction of live/work units (as defined in Section 419) and small bed and breakfast-style hotels where there are five or fewer guest rooms and the hotel is owner occupied. The IBC applies to all types of buildings and structures unless exempted. 

The following fees are required for the review of construction drawings associated with an IRC residential project. These fees help off-set the time invested by the plans examiners to ensure the contractor and/or owner has clear direction on how to meet the requirements of the code and that the project does not experience delays or additional costs because of preventable issues during the inspection process.

The initial fee payment for the review of construction documents provides for the initial evaluation by the review groups and two (2) resubmittals for the verification of corrections or inclusion of additional information. If the plans are not permittable after three (3) review cycles, additional fees will be assessed based on the offices where approvals are outstanding. The following fees will be assessed on review cycle four (4) and greater

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

Most of the time it is best to assume you will need a permit. In some cases, the requirement for a building permit can be waived by the building official, after review of the application. Just because a project is deemed 'exempt' from building permit requirement it does not mean that you are prohibited from pulling a permit. Often, homeowners will still pull an alteration permit for exempt work (for example changing out kitchen cabinets, replacing trim and painting) to have a record of work and inspection. Documenting updates with permits is an easy way to increase property value and prevent questions when selling the home or filing an insurance claim.

The following types of work may be provided an exemption from the requirement for a building permit, when associated with an approved zoning plans review:

1. One-story detached accessory structures, provided that the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet.
2. Fences not over 7 feet high.
3. Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge.
4. Sidewalks and driveways.
5. Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches deep.
6. Swings and other playground equipment.
7. Window awnings supported by an exterior wall that do not project more than 54 inches from the exterior wall and do not require additional  support. 
8. Decks not exceeding 200 square feet in area, that are not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, are not attached to a dwelling and do not serve the exit door required by Section R311.4.

Receiving an exemption from permit requirements does not that any work being done will not have to meet current code requirements, just that you will not have permit or inspection requirement. Another perk to pulling a permit for exempt work is that you will gain access to a City inspector to help guide you in your project. 

Permits are valid for 365 days from the date of issuance. Permits must be closed or renewed prior to their expiration to prevent the issuance of a NOV (Notice of Violation) against the property. Having a NOV open on the property can create issues when you want the sell a property, apply for permits for property improvements, seek financing/refinancing with a lending institution, or have an insurance claim at the property.

Yes.  You will need to submit a site plan that shows the dimensions of the lot, all existing structures, the size of the structure and the setbacks.  You will also need to provide an elevation or details documenting the height. This information will be reviewed and, once approved, will result in the appropriate permit. Some projects may qualify for exemptions provided by the code and will only require a certification permit be issued.

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

Submittal requirements will vary depending on the scope of your project. New construction and additions to a home will require the most information, minor alterations and accessory building will generally require less detail.

This is a minimum plan review checklist, additional information may be added by the applicant, required by the plans examiner or requested in the field, by the inspector, to determine code compliance. Permit holders remain responsible for meeting all code requirements, regardless if the subject item was a review item or not. This minimum review checklist is intended to help prevent any major non-compliance issues from being built in the field, which typically results in significant cost and delays on a project.

All plans submitted for permitting are required to match site plan layouts exactly, including I-Joist, floor and roof truss layouts. 

General

• Name of the person preparing the construction documents; such as the designer, engineer, or architect, with address and phone number.

• If plans are stamped by a State of Tennessee architect or engineer, their seals are required to be signed and dated.

• Indicate heated square footage, garage square footage, unheated square footage, deck/porch square footage.

• Number of bedrooms on the plans are required to match permit application.

• All options being used need to be clearly marked. Please eliminate or mark out options not being used.

• Drawings to scale (minimum 1/8").

• Details demonstrating compliance with energy code requirements for insulation (slab, floors, walls and ceiling) and windows/doors. 

Elevations / Floor Plans

• Front, sides and rear elevations

• Building height, mean roof height and story height

• Roof pitches

• Glazing U-Factor

• Rooms labeled as to their intended use. Please do not use bonus, flex or office.

• Mark all unheated / unfinished areas.

• Room, hallway and stair dimensions

• Window and door sizes and locations

• Label and show all fireplaces, prefab or masonry. 

Foundation / Floor Framing

• Continuous exterior footing width and thickness, installation depth and reinforcement (if required/provided).

• Foundation wall type, size and reinforcement (if required).

• Pier footing size width and depth, reinforcement (if required). 

• Pier sizes and solid cap

• Slab footings and layouts for mono-slabs

• Slab thickness and details, reinforcement (if required). 

• Crawl space ventilation or enclosed crawl space marked on plans with installation details

• Crawl space access size

• Girder size, number of members, species, grade and spans

• Floor joist direction, size, on-center spacing, species, grade and spans

• If using I-Joist, plans or layout will need to list manufacturer, series, size and on-center spacing. I-Joist design is required to be approved by architect or engineer of plans.

• If using open web floor trusses, layout from manufacturer required.

• Openings in floors, headers and trimmers marked

• Floor sheathing type and thickness 

Wall & General Framing

• Wall stud size, on-center spacing, species and grade

• Wall header size, number of members, species, grade and spans

• Number of jack and king studs for each opening

• Beam type or species/grade, size, number of members and span

• Stud column size, number of members, species and grade for beams and point loads

• Wall sheathing type and thickness

• Wall bracing method used

• Portal/narrow wall bracing detail, if required

• Point loads marked with load path and blocking requirements

• If brick veneer used, list lintel requirements. 

Roof Framing

• Roof rafter plan or layout from manufacturer if using engineered roof trusses

• Roof rafter direction, size, on-center spacing, species, grade and spans

• Roof tie down method and continuous load path

• Collar ties and rafter ties size and spacing

• Ridge board, hip and valley sizes

• Ceiling joist direction, size, on-center spacing, species, grade and spans

• Openings in ceilings or roof, headers and trimmers marked

• Roof sheathing type and thickness

• Roof ventilation or plans marked as unvented with installation details

• Attic access size and location 

Decks and Porches

• Dimensions – outside dimensions, spans between supports posts and footings.

• Footing sizes – width, depth and locations.

• Posts size.

• Beam sizes, number of members and spans between supports.

• Post-to-Beam attachment details

• Floor joist direction, size, on-center spacing and spans.

• Floor joist-to-Beam attachment details.

• Bracing details for free standing decks and decks attached to structures with a floor height 4’ or taller.

• Deck to house band attachment details.

• Header size, number of members and spans between posts

• Ceiling joist direction, size, on-center spacing and spans

• Roof rafter direction, size, on-center spacing and spans

• Ridge size
   

Note: All structural information must comply with the 2018 International Residential Code and all adopted ordinances. Structural elements not found in 2018 International Residential Code must be sealed by a professional engineer or architect registered in the State of Tennessee or comply with the requirements of the 2018 International Building Code.

A preliminary site plan is required before permits are issued. A final (as-built) site plan may be required prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy and/or release of a bond. A good resource for a site plan is a survey issued for a recent mortgage or refinance closing or KGIS maps. 

A site plan includes the entire lot, drawn to scale, with the following:

• Lot lines with dimensions and road frontage shown.

• All existing and proposed buildings and structures with overall dimensions and, for proposed buildings and structures, the distance measured from all adjacent lines to the closest point of the proposed construction.

• Existing and proposed driveways, parking spaces, patios, pool decking, and walkways with area and surface material identified.

• All existing and proposed impervious surfaces clearly itemized and listed in square feet and as a percentage of the net lot size. This can be shown on the site plan or an attached impervious calculation worksheet.

• All easements, buffers and flood hazard areas (FEMA or flood-prone soils).

• Parcel identification number (PIN), address of property, north arrow, scale of the site plan, bar scale, and date map prepared (and any revision dates). 

• If parcel is less than 5 acres, scales of 1" = 20', 30', 40', 50', 60' or 100' are acceptable..

• For a parcel of 5 acres or more, scales of 1” = 100’, 200’, 300’, 400’ or 500’ are acceptable in addition to the scales listed above and may be on any size paper. If the paper is larger than 11” x 17”, or the scale is smaller than 1”=100’, an inset or separate sheet must also be provided showing the proposed construction at a scale of 1” = 20’, 30’, 40’, 50’, 60’ or 100’.

• As-built surveys must be labeled as such, be completed by a professional land surveyor and include all the above. The date the as-built is prepared must be on or after the initial building final.

Further information regarding requirements of the Storm Water Programs may be obtained from City of Knoxville Development Services at 865-215-3669.

**These are minimum requirements. Special circumstances or small lots may necessitate further requirements**

We live and work in an environment which is largely manmade. Tennessee law recognizes the need "to safeguard life, health and property, and to promote public welfare" in that environment by ensuring that design professionals — architects, engineers, landscape architects, and registered interior designers — who shape that environment are properly qualified. Through the State Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners, the State sets standards for the education, experience, and performance of those who wish to practice these professions. 

In general, all structures must have plans prepared by design professionals registered by the Board. Plans and specifications for all structures classified as "assembly," "educational," and "institutional" in the Building Code must also be prepared by architects or engineers.  

The only exceptions to this requirement are:

• Structures classified as "business," "factory-industrial," "hazardous," "mercantile," "residential" and "storage" occupancies which are:

1. Less than three (3) stories in height; AND
2. Less than five thousand square feet (5,000 sq. ft.) in total gross area;

• One-family and two-family dwellings and domestic outbuildings pertaining thereto; 
• Farm buildings not designed or intended for human occupancy; and
• Sign that do not exceed either of the following limits (unless failure of the support system for the sign is likely to cause harm to people or property):

1. Any portion of the sign is twenty feet (20') or more above the ground level; or
2. Any portion of the sign is fifteen feet (15') or more above the ground level, and the sign has more than one hundred twenty square feet (120 sq.ft.) of total sign face area.

It should be noted that the law provides that any awarding authority, public or private, may require the services of a design professional for any project.

Whenever your project involves multiple permitting options you should always pick the most involved permit option to ensure all your bases are covered. 

• If you are adding a master suite (addition) and remodeling the kitchen (alteration) you would pick - Residential Addtion
• If you are building a detached garage (new) and adding a deck on the house (addition) you would pick - Residential New Construction

If you have questions please call the office at 865-215-3669 or email us at bldginspections@knoxvilletn.gov

A demolition permit is required when any building or structure is to be completely demolished. Partial demolitions or interior demolition is classified as an ALTERATION.

Typically, a demolition permit can be issued over-the-counter. In some instances, a site plan documenting the building(s) to be removed and/or a certificate of appropriateness needs to be submitted into the permanent records before the permit can be released. When this is the case you will be provided a link to upload your documents.

Any person who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure is required to first make application to the Building Inspections office.  In some cases, the requirement for a building permit can be waived by the building official, after review of the application.

The following types of work may be provided an exemption from the requirement for a building permit, when associated with an approved zoning plans review:

1. One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided that the floor area is not greater than 120 square feet (11 m2). 

2. Fences not over 7 feet (2134 mm) high. 

3. Oil derricks. 

4. Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or IIIA liquids. 

5. Water tanks supported directly on grade if the capacity is not greater than 5,000 gallons (18 925 L) and the ratio of height to diameter or width is not greater than 2:1. 

6. Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches (762 mm) above adjacent grade, and not over any basement or story below and are not part of an accessible route. 

7. Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work. 

8. Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery. 

9. Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy that are less than 24 inches (610 mm) deep, are not greater than 5,000 gallons (18 925 L) and are installed entirely above ground. 

10. Shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural purposes, not including service systems. 

11. Swings and other playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings. 

12. Window awnings in Group R-3 and U occupancies, supported by an exterior wall that do not project more than 54 inches (1372 mm) from the exterior wall and do not require additional support. 

13. Nonfixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches (1753 mm) in height.

Exemption from permit requirements does not grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of the code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. 

Projects for construction or alteration of buildings will be evaluated using both the construction codes and the zoning ordinance during the plans review process. 

Examples of IBC commercial type of projects would be:

1. Building any new structure other than a one-family dwelling, two-family dwelling, or townhouse. If you are working on an IRC residential project please back up and choose the residential projects option.

2. Changing the use or occupancy of an existing building or structure. 

3. Alterations, additions, or repairs to existing commercial buildings or structures.

Projects that do not involve the modification of a building will likely end up being a Certification project. These projects are primarily evaluated using the Zoning Code and do not generally permit any associated work or only allow work classified as exempt by the construction codes. 

Examples of this type of permit include:

1. Site reconfigurations not impacting a building or structure and not impacting accessibility of the site. 

2. Exterior modifications that are exempt from permit in established form districts throughout the city.

3. Accessory structures under 200 sq. ft. that exempt from building permits. 

Permits are valid for 365 days from the date of issuance. Permits must be closed or renewed prior to their expiration to prevent the issuance of a NOV (Notice of Violation) against the property. Having a NOV open on the property can create issues when you want the sell a property, apply for permits for property improvements, seek financing/refinancing with a lending institution, or have an insurance claim at the property.

The first time you are invited to join a project in KnoxPlans, you will receive an email notification. This email will contain a temporary password and a link to KnoxPlans. KnoxPlans uses pop-up windows (browser windows with no toolbars). If no KnoxPlans window appears when logging on, there may be a pop-up blocker installed that is preventing the main project window from opening. Allow pop-ups for the KnoxPlans site (pop-up blockers can be configured to allow pop-ups for specified sites).

To log in:

1. Click on the “Login to KnoxPlans” link. This will automatically open a login screen web browser. You can also open a web browser and type in your KnoxPlans URL (https://knoxville-tn-us.avolvecloud.com/Portal/Login/Index/KXTN-Prod).

2. Type or paste the temporary password into the Password Field and click Login. The password is case sensitive and must be entered exactly as it was provided to you in the email. If you have never logged into KnoxPlans with your default password, then you will not be able to reset your password. Once a successful login has occurred with a default (unencrypted) password, you will be taken to the Profile screen to enter a security question and answer, then the "Forgot Password?" link will be available to you. 

3.  Once you successfully log in, you will be taken to your user profile, where you will need to reset your password, create a security question    and answer, and enter some additional information about yourself.

4. Fill in the required fields (those marked with a red asterisk * (and highlighted), and click “Save.” You can return to this screen at any time by clicking on the “Profile” button on the Main Tool Bar.

5. After saving your profile information, you will be taken to the homepage, where your list of active projects will display.  If workflow is part of the configuration, then assignments, referred to as tasks may also display on the home page in the Task tab.

Logging in to KnoxPlans a second time (and every time after that); you will use the password that you entered in your User Profile page. After logging in, you will be taken to your home page. From this page, you can view the projects you have been invited to and all tasks for you to complete.

If you ever forget your password, click on the “Forgot Your Password?" link below the Login button. The use of the “Forgot Your Password?” link requires that the user has logged in at least once and no longer has a temporary password associated to their account

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

It is possible that the project you are looking for is listed under another email address. When you complete an application, if you enter an address other than the one that you usually use (maybe your personal email as opposed to the company email) the system will create a new account and attach the project there. 

If you contact the system administrator they should be able to locate your project and relocate it to the correct account. Note: Relocating projects to another account cannot be done to groups of projects.

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

The new version of KnoxPlans has a particular naming convention which is designed to provide better information to the review groups and allows for new tools which can speed up review times. All construction drawings uploaded into the drawings folder will have to adhere to the following standards:

• Files must be .pdf sheets
• Files must be single page pdf files
• Files must follow the naming convention of the system

The file naming convention is: one or two characters (see list) and three digits, optional period and two digits, dash, sheet name.

Examples of file naming:

• Sheet# is A201, File Name: A201-Exterior Elevations
• Sheet# is C1.1, File Name: C001.01-Grading
• Sheet# is T00, File Name: G000-Cover Sheet

Naming Convention Characters

• A: Architectural sheets
• S: Structural sheets
• E: Electrical sheets
• P: Plumbing sheets
• M: Mechanical sheets
• C: Civil sheets
• AS: Architectural Site Plan
• LS: Life Safety Plan
• FP: Fire Protection Plan
• L: Landscaping Plan
• G: General Sheets or Cover Sheet

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

The projects most likely to require a permit are those that change the structure or use of a building or have the potential to create unsafe working conditions. For example, you will likely need a building permit to:

• add or remove walls
• change the use of a room (such as by converting a garage to a living room)
• change the piping in your house
• re-roof your house, or
• demolish a portion of your house.

Projects that usually won't require a permit include:

• repainting your house
• adding kitchen cabinets
• replacing certain kitchen appliances

installing floor coverings

Timeframe for receiving a trade permit is often a few business days, construction related permits will vary depending on the complexity of the project. Our new online services are helping speed up this process but we live in a busy and ever growing city so the demand for permits is high. Please be patient when applying for permits. Please remember to monitor the email provided during the application phase as pertinent information and links will often be communicated through that email. 

Permits fees are based on the scope of work and valuation of the project. In computing the job cost, the estimate should include the total value of the work for which a permit is being issued including materials (both building materials and associated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing equipment and other permanent systems) and all associated labor.  

Fee Schedule

Work should not begin until a permit has been issued. Application of a permit does not allow work to be started. If work is started without obtaining a permit additional fees may be added or a stop work order can be issued.

Work should not be started with the intent that a permit will be obtained later. Only in rare emergency repair occurrences outlined in IBC and IRC chapter 1 can work take place and a permit be issued after work is completed. 

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

The project scope and valuation will determine who can pull a permit. There are licensing laws from the state level, and guidelines from the City of Knoxville, which have been put in place in an attempt to help to protect property owners and the general public by ensuring that only qualified individuals are performing work on property in our community. Permits must be pulled by an individual who has been issued a valid license for the type of work they want to perform.

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669..

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

Inspections can generally be scheduled for the next day if requested prior to 2pm. If the next day is not available prior to 2pm it means that the department already has more inspections scheduled than there is staff available.

All permits require a final inspection. If your project is a commercial property (not a 1-and 2-family dwelling), you will need final inspections from both the fire inspections office and the building inspections office. You may schedule the 940-Fire Final Inspection and 960-Building/Sign Final Inspection the same day IF you provide notice on both requests that you have doubled-up inspections.

The permit type and scope of work will determine what other inspection types are required. Your inspector is the best person to talk to about when they need to be involved. If your project included the review of plans, the back of your permit will provide you a basic list of required inspections based on the construction drawings submitted.

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.

The FAQ list is currently under development. Additional information will be available soon but, in the meantime, please call the office with your questions at 865-215-3669.