BuildingPermitCost Tennessee permit fees at a glance
This page covers 3 cities and 1 county in Tennessee, each priced from its own official fee schedule. For the same $75,000 addition, totals run from $280.00 in Rutherford County to $462.50 in Knoxville, with a Tennessee median of $385.00, 53% below the median of $820.58 across all 267 places on this site.
The most common pricing method here is a fee table based on project value (2 of 4), followed by a rate per square foot (1) and a rate per $1,000 of project value (1). For project value, 1 place uses the ICC Building Valuation Data table and 1 place uses floor area instead of value.
3 of 4 charge a separate plan review fee.
1 of 4 schedules state an effective date. Every page shows its effective date and the date we last checked it against the official source.
| Project | Tennessee median | National median | Places |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 remodel | $160.00 | $380.00 | 4 |
| $75,000 addition | $385.00 | $820.58 | 4 |
| $350,000 new home | $1,680.00 | $2,918.63 | 4 |
Calculate your own project · Compare Tennessee places side by side · Fees people often miss
Cities
| Jurisdiction | $25k remodel | $75k addition | $350k new home | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City | $160.00 | $385.00 | $1,235.00 | Nov 5, 2026 |
| Knoxville | $187.50 | $462.50 | $2,012.50 | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Nashville / Davidson County | $162.50 | $437.50 | $1,950.00 | Nov 4, 2026 |
Counties
| Jurisdiction | $25k remodel | $75k addition | $350k new home | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutherford County | $135.00 | $280.00 | $1,680.00 | Nov 5, 2026 |
Tennessee permit fee questions
How much is a building permit in Tennessee?
It depends on the city or county, because each sets its own fees. Across the 4 places we cover in Tennessee, the median for a $75,000 addition is $385.00 and for a $350,000 new home $1,680.00, including plan review and required surcharges.
Which Tennessee places have the lowest and highest permit fees?
For a $75,000 addition, the lowest total we found is $280.00 in Rutherford County, TN and the highest is $462.50 in Knoxville, TN. The tables on this page list every place we cover.
Totals use each jurisdiction's own formula for a 300 sq ft remodel, a 400 sq ft addition and a 2,400 sq ft wood-frame home. Trade permits and conditional fees are not included. Fees are estimates based on the official schedules; confirm with the permit office before applying.