Administrative overview · FIPS 47037
Davidson 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
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County Department of Codes and Building Safety
For a project in or near Davidson 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
615-862-6500
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Metro Office Building, 800 President Ronald Reagan Way, 1st Floor, Codes Department, Nashville, TN 37210
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; closed weekends
Review expectation
N/A; Metro states each reviewing department has its own processing timeframe and publishes no standard overall review timeline.
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 Davidson County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County Department of Codes and Building Safety is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area 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 615-862-6500.
How long might review take?
N/A; Metro states each reviewing department has its own processing timeframe and publishes no standard overall review timeline.
How are inspections scheduled?
Registered contractors schedule inspections through ePermits; homeowners should coordinate through Metro Codes/Building Division. Building inspection 615-862-6550; electrical 615-862-6560; plumbing and gas/mechanical 615-862-6570. An inspection checklist is issued with the permit, separate trade inspections are required, and a final Use and Occupancy Letter follows completed inspections.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
2024 International Building Code, International Residential Code, Existing Building Code, Fuel/Gas Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and Energy Conservation Code; 2023 National Electrical Code; 2017 ICC A117.1, all with Metro amendments. Normal maintenance repairs generally do not require a building permit, including painting, papering, window/door glazing, floor finishing, minor chimney/stair/porch/underpinning repairs, and roof repairs up to 33% of roof area. Fences generally do not require permits. Accessory structures 100 sq ft or more require permits; verify project-specific rules with Metro Codes.