Administrative overview · FIPS 47113
Madison 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
Madison County Building Department
For a project in or near Madison 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
731-423-6014 (Building Department); 731-265-6163 (commercial plan review)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Madison County Building Department, 100 E. Main Street, Suite 100, Jackson, TN 38301
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; applications received after 2:30 p.m. are processed the following business day.
Review expectation
Applications received by 2:30 p.m. are handled in the normal processing cycle; later applications move to the next business day. No general plan-review duration was published.
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 Madison County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Madison County Building Department 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 731-423-6014 (Building Department); 731-265-6163 (commercial plan review).
How long might review take?
Applications received by 2:30 p.m. are handled in the normal processing cycle; later applications move to the next business day. No general plan-review duration was published.
How are inspections scheduled?
The permit holder or authorized representative may request inspections by phone at 731-423-6014, in person, or through the Citizen Portal. Requests must be submitted by 3:30 p.m. the day before. Required residential stages include footing, foundation, slab, floor joists/girders, framing, insulation, and final; commercial work also requires fire and final building inspections.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
2018 International Building Code and 2018 International Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings, with Madison County amendments; the county construction guide also references applicable gas, plumbing, mechanical, fire, and electrical requirements. Residential exemptions include one-story detached accessory structures up to 200 sq. ft.; fences up to 7 ft.; retaining walls up to 4 ft.; ground-supported water tanks up to 5,000 gallons meeting the stated ratio; sidewalks and driveways; interior painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinetry, countertops and similar finish work; playground equipment; qualifying awnings; qualifying detached decks up to 200 sq. ft. and 30 inches above grade; prefabricated pools up to 24 inches deep; nursery/agricultural shade-cloth structures; and certain movable fixtures. Electrical work remains regulated by Tennessee.