How to Apply for Knox County Building Permits

Your Guide to Applying for Knox County Building Permits

Whether you are remodeling your home for more living space, adding a garage, or doing other structural work to your home or property, you probably have a long to-do list. Building permits are important to have before you begin. DoNotPay can help you understand the process of obtaining

Why Do You Need a Building Permit?

The Knox County Code Administration requires building permits to make sure your projects are legal, safe, and healthy. Projects that include remodeling, additions, demolition, and new construction need permits. Remodeling is typically anything that changes the structural integrity of your home (adding/removing walls, finishing a basement, adding windows, etc.), or electrical or plumbing changes. If you are not sure if your project requires a , DoNotPay can help you figure that out.

How to File for a Knoxville Building Permit On Your Own

If you are wondering how to get a building permit, Knox County makes it seem simple, as long as you understand the ordinances and which to include in your application.

Do Your Research	Make sure you understand all ordinances and laws that pertain to your projects. When you apply, you agree to follow them. If you do not follow the ordinances, your application can be voided, which can lead to all kinds of problems, including potential fines and legal trouble.
Apply Online	When you apply online, you will need to fill out an online form with information about the property and lot, your contact information, contact information for the contractor, and an overview of the type of work to be completed. Then you will need to attach a variety of documents that include your site plan and structural drawings or a copy of a pre-approved permit. A variety of optional documents can be attached at this time as well, such as the TN contractor license and septic letter, among others. Attachments must be PDF, RTF, or Text. Applying online is likely the quickest way to try to obtain your permit by yourself.
Apply In-Person	You can apply in person at the following address: City County Building Suite 547, 400 Main Street Knoxville, TN 37902 Arrive between 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Take two (2) sets of plans, which must include a site plan. Obtain a certified address from Knoxville-Knox County Planning If the dwelling will be on a septic system, take a drain field layout from the health department
Contact Codes Administration	If you do not want to apply online, are having trouble applying online, cannot get to the City County Building during business hours, or have more questions, you can contact the Codes Administration department between 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Phone: 865-215-2325 Fax: 865-215-4255

What if You Can't Get Knox County Permits Yourself?

Researching ordinances, trying to understand permit regulations, and figuring out which forms to file can be a time-consuming, tedious, and frustrating process. If you have already applied and have been denied your permits, you may be even more stressed and overwhelmed. You may be considering hiring a local attorney to help you figure it out, but this can also be time-consuming and costly. DoNotPay has an alternative solution to help guide you through the process.

Let DoNotPay Help You Apply for Knox County Building Permits

If you are worried about misunderstanding local ordinances or submitting the wrong forms, you may find yourself increasingly frustrated with your remodeling project. Let DoNotPay help you reduce stress and walk you through the permit process more quickly.

If you want to quickly apply for a building permit in Knox County, but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 6 easy steps:

Go to the Planning Permissions product on DoNotPay.
Choose one of the following options:
1. Check whether your project needs a building permit or if it's exempt
2. Generate a permission request letter to send to your HOA
3. Generate a guide on how to complete the building permit application
Choose the focus of your project (new ADU, pool, shed, fence, etc.) and answer a few questions about your plans, including the size of the structure and estimated cost.
Indicate whether you're hiring a contractor and include the estimated start date and timeline for the project.
Indicate whether any public sidewalk/street space will be used during construction.
And that's it! DoNotPay will help guide you through the building permit process by checking if your project needs a building permit, contacting any HOAs you're a part of to request building permission, or generating detailed instructions on how to start and complete your building permit application process.

Why Should You Use DoNotPay to Help You Get Building Permits?

DoNotPay understands that it can be extremely overwhelming to research laws and determine which forms to file when applying for building permits. We understand that your time is valuable, which is why we make the process fast, easy and successful. We save you time because all you have to do is give us the important information, we can research for you. DoNotPay quickly finds the information you need and guides you through the entire process.

DoNotPay Can Help You With All Types of Permits and Permissions

DoNotPay does more than just help you apply for building permits in Knox County. If you need HOA approval, we can help get that too. If you have a home in another city or county that needs remodeling we can help whether it is in: