Administrative overview · FIPS 47159
Smith 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
Smith County Planning Office / Land Use Regulations Administrator
For a project in or near Smith 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
615-735-3418
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Smith County Planning Office, 303 High Street North, Carthage, TN 37030
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Review expectation
N/A; no general review timeline was published in the accessible official materials.
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 Smith County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Smith County Planning Office / Land Use Regulations Administrator 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 615-735-3418.
How long might review take?
N/A; no general review timeline was published in the accessible official materials.
How are inspections scheduled?
Submit the permit application to the Smith County Planning Office. The official planning page identifies the office as responsible for building permits, electrical permits, and inspections outside the three city limits. The application requires project, parcel, zoning, floodplain, septic, and 911-address information; call 615-735-3418 for inspection arrangements. State residential inspections may be requested through https://core.tn.gov when the state program applies.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
The county application states that Tennessee has adopted the International Building Codes and requires a properly licensed contractor under T.C.A. 62-6-103. For one- and two-family residential work in jurisdictions using the state program, Tennessee identifies the 2018 International Residential Code and 2018 International Energy Conservation Code; confirm the code edition and any municipal requirements for the specific project. Smith County's zoning resolution states that it does not require building permits for agricultural buildings or other non-residential structures on land devoted to agricultural use, subject to the stated statutory limitations. Tennessee guidance also indicates that installation of a manufactured or modular home itself may not require a state residential permit, although custom site work such as a deck, patio, or stoop may require one. The county's development guide states that new construction and decking on mobile homes require a state building permit; verify the exact exemption with the Planning Office before starting work.