Administrative overview · FIPS 47069
Hardeman 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
Hardeman County Zoning Compliance Office; Tennessee State Residential Building Program
For a project in or near Hardeman 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
731-658-5412
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Hardeman County Zoning Compliance Office, 100 N. Main Street, 2nd Floor, Bolivar, TN 38008
Operating hours
N/A for the Zoning Compliance Office; the county Assessor’s published office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., but applicants should confirm zoning-office hours by phone.
Review expectation
N/A for initial permit review. The county zoning-compliance permit becomes void after six months unless substantial progress has been made; the final inspection/certificate-of-occupancy review is due within five days after notice that the premises is ready.
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 Hardeman County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Hardeman County Zoning Compliance Office; Tennessee State Residential Building Program 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 731-658-5412.
How long might review take?
N/A for initial permit review. The county zoning-compliance permit becomes void after six months unless substantial progress has been made; the final inspection/certificate-of-occupancy review is due within five days after notice that the premises is ready.
How are inspections scheduled?
Purchase/service the residential permit and request inspections through https://core.tn.gov/ or contact the State Residential Building Program at 615-741-7170. The state inspection sequence generally includes foundation, framing/rough-in, and final inspections. For county zoning compliance, notify the Zoning Compliance Officer when the building is ready; the resolution requires a final inspection and certificate-of-occupancy decision within five days after notification.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Hardeman County is listed by Tennessee as SRBP, with Ricky Watkins as the listed residential inspector (731-609-8326). The state residential program uses the 2018 International Residential Code and 2018 International Energy Conservation Code with Tennessee amendments. Separately, Hardeman County enforces its zoning resolution, zoning-compliance permits, floodplain provisions, and certificates of occupancy. Under the State Residential Building Program, detached garages, sheds, barns, and other detached structures not used for living purposes are exempt from a state residential building permit, and the 2018 IRC permit exemptions include fences not over 7 feet high. Hardeman County’s zoning resolution separately requires a zoning-compliance permit before excavation, construction, moving, or alteration of any building, including accessory buildings; confirm local zoning requirements for any exempt state project.