Fees, valuation & enforcement
Permit fees are a project input. Enforcement exposure is a project risk. Use the official schedule where available, then confirm valuation, trade permits, plan review, and inspection charges with the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
Official fee pathway
The final charge may depend on declared construction value, occupancy classification, square footage, plan review, state surcharges, trade permits, technology fees, and inspection activity. Do not use a neighboring city’s fee table as a substitute for this jurisdiction.
Fee desk contact
423-798-1724
Ask the counter to confirm current charges before submitting a project with multiple trades or a change of use.
Financial exposure
Plan for building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire, energy, zoning, septic, right-of-way, or other reviews that the project scope triggers. The lowest initial permit fee is not always the lowest project cost.
Enforcement exposure
When work begins without authorization, the agency may halt the site, require corrective plans, impose additional fees, withhold inspection release, or require concealed work to be exposed for review.
Closeout exposure
A missing final inspection or certificate can complicate occupancy, refinancing, sale, insurance, and utility connection. Preserve the approved plans and signed inspection record through closeout.
Professional field note
Even when a cosmetic or minor project does not require a building permit, zoning, floodplain, shoreline, historic, utility, fire, or right-of-way controls may still apply. Confirm the full jurisdictional picture before work starts.
Source trail
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Why permit costs vary
Building departments commonly calculate charges from valuation, occupancy, floor area, project type, plan review effort, trade scope, state surcharges, and inspection activity. A remodel that appears small on paper may still trigger structural, energy, fire, or utility review. Ask the permit counter which disciplines apply before you finalize the construction budget.
The same discipline applies to enforcement. Correcting unpermitted work after finishes are installed can require demolition, revised plans, additional inspections, and schedule disruption. Authorization is usually the less expensive project-management decision.