Administrative overview · FIPS 47021
Cheatham County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
Municipal Fallback
This profile identifies a handoff outside the county’s ordinary structural permitting lane.
Required jurisdiction check
Confirm the controlling local or state authority before filing.
The record is marked Municipal Fallback. That means the county profile should be treated as a routing brief: incorporated municipalities, a state building department, or a state fire marshal may control plan review, permits, and inspections. Contact the named agency below and verify the parcel’s jurisdiction before paying a fee or scheduling field work.
Responsible agency
Cheatham County Department of Codes, Building Safety, Land Use and Zoning
For a project in or near Cheatham County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
615-792-7915
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Cheatham County Building & Codes, 338 Frey Street, Ashland City, TN 37015
Operating hours
Monday-Thursday, 7:30 AM-4:30 PM; closed Fridays. Building permit applications are accepted and processed until 4:00 PM; the office may close for lunch from noon-1:00 PM.
Review expectation
N/A; no published review or issuance timeline was located. Applications require plans, proof of septic and driveway approvals, and any contractor license/workers’ compensation documentation before issuance.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Cheatham County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
This record is marked Municipal Fallback. Confirm whether a city, state agency, or other local authority controls the parcel before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 615-792-7915.
How long might review take?
N/A; no published review or issuance timeline was located. Applications require plans, proof of septic and driveway approvals, and any contractor license/workers’ compensation documentation before issuance.
How are inspections scheduled?
Apply or check permit status through the official iWorQ portal; the applicant is responsible for ensuring inspections are completed. Required stages generally include footing, foundation, framing/rough-in for plumbing and mechanical, insulation and final inspection. Setback and final inspections apply to exempt accessory structures and agricultural buildings. Before final building inspection, final septic and driveway approvals are required; occupancy requires a Certificate of Occupancy. Call the Building Commission at 615-792-7915 for scheduling instructions.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Cheatham County’s adopted-codes page identifies the 2018 International Building Code, 2018 Residential Building Code and 2018 International Property Maintenance Code. The required-permits bulletin also references the 2018 International Swimming Pool & Spa Code. Electrical permits are issued separately by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, and septic permits separately by Tennessee Environment and Conservation. The first accessory structure on a parcel is excluded if it does not exceed 200 square feet, subject to setback and zoning rules. An uncovered deck is exempt when it is no more than 200 square feet, no more than 30 inches above grade, unattached to the dwelling and not serving the required exit door. Agricultural buildings supporting a commercial farm may be exempt from certain building-permit requirements and have no permit fee, but the county recommends applying and performs setback and final inspections. Foundation-preparation excavation alone does not require a grading permit, although other required permits still apply.