Building permits in Nashville, TN

Short answer: In Nashville, permits are issued by Metro Nashville & Davidson County Department of Codes & Building Safety; of the 6 common projects we checked, 1 always need a permit, 1 do not, and 4 depend on the details.

Permitting authority: Metro Nashville & Davidson County Department of Codes & Building Safety. Covers Metro Nashville-Davidson County; satellite cities inside the county may issue their own permits, so confirm locally. Historic overlays need Historical Commission review. The Codes "may or may not require a permit" list is dated April 4, 2011.

Permit rules in Nashville
Project	Answer	Verified
Deck	Permit required Yes. New accessory structures, including decks and porches, need a building permit.	2026-10-19
Fence	No permit required No building permit for a new fence on a one- or two-family home, but it must comply with the zoning code. Historic districts: call the Histo…	2026-10-19
Interior / bathroom remodel	Depends on your project Vanities without electrical or plumbing work need no permit. A new shower/bath enclosure needs a building permit, and plumbing or electrical…	2026-10-19
Roof replacement	Depends on your project Repairs up to 33% of the roof area are normal maintenance with no permit. A new layer or replacing more than 1/3 of the roof needs a permit.	2026-10-19
Shed	Depends on your project Storage buildings (including portable ones) of 100 sq ft or more need a building permit. Smaller sheds are not listed as needing one.	2026-10-19
Water heater replacement	Depends on your project Generally no permit to replace a residential 50-gallon water heater. Changing fuel type (e.g., gas to electric) needs a permit.	2026-10-19

Fee schedule: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/codes/construction-and-permits/residential-building-permits

All Tennessee cities · All cities · Permit guides

Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.