Administrative overview · FIPS 47059
Greene 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
Greene County Building Commissioner / Building and Zoning Office
For a project in or near Greene 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
423-798-1724
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Greene County Building and Zoning Office, 401 Takoma Avenue, Suite 102, Greeneville, TN 37743
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Review expectation
The zoning resolution requires the initial onsite investigation within three days after the applicant demonstrates compliance with applicable zoning, subdivision, and floodplain requirements. The permit is issued after the application is approved and the initial inspection is completed; a final zoning-compliance inspection is due within three business days after application.
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 Greene County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Greene County Building Commissioner / Building and Zoning Office 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 423-798-1724.
How long might review take?
The zoning resolution requires the initial onsite investigation within three days after the applicant demonstrates compliance with applicable zoning, subdivision, and floodplain requirements. The permit is issued after the application is approved and the initial inspection is completed; a final zoning-compliance inspection is due within three business days after application.
How are inspections scheduled?
Apply through the Greene County iWorQ portal or contact Building Official Tim Tweed at 423-798-1724. Required inspections include zoning/setback, footer, slab, rough-in, energy, final building inspection, and certificate of occupancy; other inspections may be required by structure type. The applicant must stake property lines and structure locations as required, and the office conducts an initial site investigation after the application is complete.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Greene County states that it has adopted the 2018 International Building Code and the 2018 International Residential Code with Appendix J. The Building and Zoning Office enforces these adopted construction codes together with county zoning, subdivision, floodplain, and construction-safety requirements. A building permit is required before excavation, construction, moving, or alteration of buildings and accessory buildings. The zoning resolution says no building permit or county zoning regulation is required for erection, construction, or reconstruction of a building or structure on land devoted to agricultural use; verify other state, environmental, septic, floodplain, or municipal requirements. The county publishes no broad cosmetic-repair exemption list.