Bolthole Index

Davidson County, Tennessee

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Davidson County (Metro Nashville), Tennessee

50Index Score / 100
#95 of 95 in Tennessee

Davidson County, Tennessee requires a Metro Codes building permit for new residential construction1. Every parcel is zoned under the Metropolitan Zoning Code2. Metro Public Health's Septic and Sewage Disposal Systems division is the local authority for on-site systems3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required, issued by Metro's own Codes Department (not the state residential permit program)1
Zoning
Yes, every parcel is zoned under the Metropolitan Zoning Code2
Septic permits
Metro Public Health's Septic and Sewage Disposal Systems division4
Owner-builder
A qualifying owner-occupant may self-permit with two notarized affidavits; not available for a DADU5
Septic permit fee
$400 new conventional system up to 1,000 gallons/day; repairs have no permit fee6
Driveway on a state highway
Needs a separate TDOT entrance permit7

Who to call

Building permits

Metro Nashville Department of Codes and Building Safety

Building permits, plan review and inspections for Davidson County / Metro Nashville, including residential construction and use-and-occupancy

615-862-6500

800 President Ronald Reagan Way, 1st Floor, Nashville, TN 37210

Online permits →

Planning & zoning

Metro Nashville Planning Department

Zoning administration under the Metropolitan Zoning Code, subdivision review, and development questions for Davidson County / Metro Nashville

615-862-7190

800 President Ronald Reagan Way, 2nd Floor, Nashville, TN 37210

Septic permits

Metro Public Health Department, Septic and Sewage Disposal Systems

Septic (subsurface sewage disposal) system permitting, soils interpretation, design review and inspection for Davidson County

615-340-5616

2500 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN 37209

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Davidson County, Tennessee?

Yes. Metro Nashville's own Department of Codes and Building Safety requires a building permit for new residential construction, applied for through the Department of Codes and Building Safety rather than through Tennessee's separate state residential permit program1. Tennessee's State Fire Marshal's Office runs a statewide residential building permit program, but only in the jurisdictions that haven't adopted and enforce their own local codes, and that state program never replaces local grading, floodplain, septic or zoning approvals where they apply8. Because Metro Nashville and Davidson County share one consolidated government, the same Codes Department and the same Metropolitan Zoning Code apply countywide, so there is no separate "unincorporated county" permitting process here the way there is in most Tennessee counties12.

Who is the Davidson County building department, and how do you reach them?

The Metro Department of Codes and Building Safety issues building permits, reviews plans and performs inspections for Davidson County9. Its office is at 800 President Ronald Reagan Way, 1st Floor, Nashville, TN 37210; call 615-862-65009. Residential permits are applied for online through ePermits9. An owner who occupies or intends to occupy a single-family residence may use Metro's self-permit process, assuming responsibility for zoning, building and trade-code compliance and submitting a notarized Affidavit of Exemption and Self Permit Affidavit5. A self-permit cannot be used for a detached accessory dwelling unit5.

Does Davidson County have zoning?

Yes. Every parcel in Davidson County is zoned under the Metropolitan Zoning Code, administered by the Metro Planning Department, one floor above the Codes Department in the same Metro Office Building210. Reach the Planning Department at 615-862-7190 for zoning, subdivision or development questions, or visit 800 President Ronald Reagan Way, 2nd Floor, Nashville10. Tennessee law delegates zoning authority to county legislative bodies for the parts of a county outside municipal corporations, and Metro Nashville's consolidated charter carries out that authority countywide through the Metropolitan Zoning Code rather than a patchwork of separate city and county zoning maps112. A farm building that's incidental to an active agricultural use on land devoted to agriculture can be exempt from county zoning regulation, but that exemption doesn't apply near a state or federal-aid highway, a public airport, a public park, or inside the one-hundred-year floodplain, so confirm your specific parcel with the Planning Department before assuming it applies1210.

How do septic permits work in Davidson County?

Metro Public Health's Septic and Sewage Disposal Systems division is the local authority for on-site systems in Davidson County3. The division is based at the Lentz Public Health Center, 2500 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN 37209; call 615-340-561613. Tennessee requires a Septic System Construction Permit before installing a system or repairing a faulty one; review generally takes about 10 days and must be completed within 45 days6. A new conventional-system permit costs $400 for design flow up to 1,000 gallons per day, while a new alternative-system permit costs $500 at that capacity6. A repair permit has no permit fee, although the repair construction inspection fee is $1006. If a lot abuts a street with a sanitary sewer operated by a qualifying bonded utility, that utility can require the building to connect and stop using another sewage-disposal method14.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Davidson County?

Davidson County has not provided enough information here to confirm whether long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy is allowed on a particular parcel. Every parcel is governed by the Metropolitan Zoning Code, so ask the Metro Planning Department about the parcel's zoning district and proposed use before relying on an RV or tiny home as a residence210. For a conventional single-family residence, an owner who occupies or intends to occupy the home may qualify for Metro's self-permit process, but the owner assumes responsibility for code compliance and must submit two notarized affidavits5. Metro does not allow that self-permit process for a detached accessory dwelling unit5.

Building a home in Davidson County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district and proposed use with the Metro Planning Department at 615-862-7190102.
  2. Check the flood map before designing the site; development in a designated floodway is prohibited with few exceptions15.
  3. If the parcel will use an on-site system, work with Metro Public Health at 615-340-5616 on the required Septic System Construction Permit3136.
  4. If a qualifying bonded sewer utility serves the street, ask whether connection is required instead of septic14.
  5. Apply for the residential building permit through Metro Codes' ePermits portal91.
  6. An owner-occupant seeking a self-permit must accept code responsibility and submit the notarized Affidavit of Exemption and Self Permit Affidavit; a detached accessory dwelling unit is ineligible5.
  7. A driveway on state highway right-of-way requires a separate TDOT entrance permit7.

What to check before you buy land in Davidson County

Start with zoning, sewer availability, flood exposure and legal access rather than assuming a rural-looking Davidson County parcel can take the same improvements as neighboring land. Development in a designated floodway is prohibited with few exceptions, and other floodplain requirements may apply outside the floodway15. For land without sewer, have Metro Public Health evaluate the site: only about 16.1% of mapped soils avoid severe limits for a conventional septic drain field316. A qualifying bonded sewer utility may require a building on an abutting lot to connect to its sanitary sewer14. Farmland value averages about $12,414 per acre, while the typical home value is about $435,0401718. The median property-tax bill is about $2,390 per year at an effective rate near 0.6%1920. A driveway on state highway right-of-way needs TDOT approval7.

Watch-outs

  • Development in a designated Metro Nashville-Davidson County floodway is prohibited with few exceptions; floodplain permits or elevation requirements may also apply outside the floodway15.
  • Davidson County is a consolidated city-county government, so "Metro Nashville" and "Davidson County" mean the same permitting authority; don't expect a separate county office distinct from the city12.
  • The agricultural-building exemption from county zoning does not apply on land adjacent to a state or federal-aid highway, a public airport, a public park, or inside the one-hundred-year floodplain, so a farm building near any of those needs a closer look from the Planning Department1210.
  • If your lot's street already has a sanitary sewer run by a bonded utility, that utility can require you to connect and stop using septic, so ask before you plan a system around private septic alone14.
  • A driveway that connects to a state highway right-of-way needs its own TDOT entrance permit, separate from any Metro building or zoning approval7.

Sources

  1. Nashville.gov - Building Permit Process (2026 county census)
  2. Nashville.gov - Building Permit Process (2026 county census)
  3. Septic and Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  4. Septic and Sewage Disposal Systems (2026 county census)
  5. Residential Building Permit Procedures, quoted and re-checked
  6. Septic System Construction Permit (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Highway Entrance Permits (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Residential Permit FAQs (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Metro Nashville Department of Codes and Building Safety (nashville.gov)
  10. Metro Nashville Planning Department (nashville.gov)
  11. Tennessee Attorney General Opinion No. 10-108 (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Exemption from County Zoning Regulation for Buildings on Land Used for Agriculture, Opinion No. 22-07 (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Metro Public Health Department, Septic and Sewage Disposal Systems (nashville.gov)
  14. Utility Customers Frequently Asked Questions (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Build Responsibly to Prevent Flood Damage, quoted and re-checked
  16. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  17. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  18. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  19. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 29, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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County locator

Davidson County in Tennessee

50
County map
Davidson County highlighted among the Tennessee counties · colored by Index score

How Davidson County scores

Seclusion18100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency67100% ev.
Admin Boringness46100% ev.
Durability70100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost55100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$435kTypical home
0.6%Property tax
$12,414Land / acre
52.1"Annual rain
2.5% of yrsSevere drought
12.3 / yr (+11.1)Mid-century 100°F days
15.8 daysMid-century dry spell
2.47" (+8.5%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.55×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,760Home insurance / yr
1.6% / yrInsurance growth
1.3%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
910,935People within 30 min
4,158,910People within 2 hr
716,475Radius comparison (15 mi)
1,414.2People / sq mi
5.8%Federal land
72.8%Land at 15% slope or less
16.1%Septic soil without severe limits
47,669 acWorkable land screen
57.5 tonsBiomass / forest ac
59.2°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Davidson County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Davidson County rules

  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    An owner who presently occupies or intends to occupy a single-family residence.

    • The owner assumes responsibility for compliance with applicable zoning, building, and trades codes.
    • A self-permit requires a notarized Affidavit of Exemption and Self Permit Affidavit.
    • A self-permit cannot be pulled for a DADU.
    “commonly referred to as a "Self Permit."”
  • Who permits septicLocal

    On-site subsurface sewage disposal systems in Davidson County.

    • The administering local body identified by the official page is the Metro Public Health Department’s septic and sewage disposal division.
    “the division seeks to develop, review, and enforce”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Development in designated floodway areas within Metro Nashville-Davidson County.

    • The official page states the prohibition has few exceptions; the specific exceptions are not enumerated on that page.
    • Other floodplain requirements, including permits and elevation, may apply outside the floodway.
    “Development in the floodway is prohibited (with few exceptions).”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    Metro Nashville/Davidson County parcels are zoned under the Metropolitan Zoning Code with permitted uses by zone district.

    Nashville.gov - Building Permit Process ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Tennessee rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    State residential building permits for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses in Tennessee jurisdictions where the State Fire Marshal's Office administers the residential building permit program.

    • The state permit is required only in some areas because other jurisdictions may enforce local residential building codes.
    • A county legislative body may remove unincorporated areas from the state program or a city legislative body may remove the city by a two-thirds vote.
    • The state permit does not replace grading or fill approval, floodplain compliance, septic or sewer permits, electrical permits, or zoning approval.
    • Local governments remain responsible for locally adopted codes and other requirements.
    “Why is the state residential building permit only required in some areas of the state?”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Certificates of occupancy for one- and two-family dwellings in Tennessee opt-out or non-code jurisdictions when the State Fire Marshal's Office inspects the dwelling during construction.

    • The owner or contractor may obtain a state building permit to request the inspection.
    • The Certificate of Occupancy is released only if the dwelling is determined to meet statewide building construction safety standards.
    • The source describes this process for opt-out or non-code jurisdictions and for new construction or additions to existing homes.
    “determined to meet the statewide building construction safety standards, the State Fire Marshal’s Office will release a Certificate of Occupancy”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation of a subsurface sewage disposal system on property in Tennessee, and repair of an existing faulty system.

    • A Septic System Construction Permit is required before installation or repair.
    • The application requires site and system information; soils maps may be required and large conventional or alternative systems require a licensed-engineer design.
    • The review generally takes 10 days and must be completed within 45 days.
    • New conventional permit fee is $400 up to 1,000 gallons per day, plus $100 for each additional 1,000 gallons per day.
    • New alternative permit fee is $500 up to 1,000 gallons per day, plus $150 for each additional 1,000 gallons per day.
    • Experimental SSDS permit fee is $500.
    • Repair permits have no permit fee; repair construction inspection fee is $100.
    • Contract counties Blount, Davidson, Hamilton, Jefferson, Knox, Madison, Sevier, Shelby, and Williamson may require an additional permit.

    new conventional SSDS permit fee: 400 USD up to 1000 gallons per day design flow ($100 for each additional 1000 gpd flow) · new alternative SSDS permit fee: 500 USD up to 1000 gallons per day design flow ($150 for each additional 1000 gpd flow) · experimental SSDS permit fee: 500 USD · repair permit fee: No permit fee

    “Any individual or property owner who desires to have a subsurface sewage disposal (septic) system installed on their property or requiring repair to an existing faulty system must get a Septic System Construction Permit.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Residential, commercial, or industrial buildings on lots or parcels abutting a street or other public way containing a sanitary sewer, where the applicable Tennessee utility system has issued bonds payable for sewer services.

    • The cited Tennessee statute grants qualifying utility systems authority to require connection.
    • The building must exist on the abutting lot or parcel.
    • The owner, tenant, or occupant may be required to cease using other means for disposal of sewage, sewage waste, or other polluting matter.
    • This source describes authority to require sewer connection; it does not establish that every Tennessee property has sewer available.
    “Utility systems within the State of Tennessee that have issued bonds payable for sewer services are granted authority in TCA § 7-35-201 (1) to "require the owner tenant or occupant of each lot or parcel of land that abuts upon a street or other public way containing a sanitary sewer and upon which lot or parcel a building exists for residential, commercial or industrial use, to connect the building with the sanitary sewer and to cease to use any other means for the disposal of sewage, sewage waste or other polluting matter."”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Buildings or structures on land used for agricultural purposes and subject to county zoning regulation in Tennessee.

    • The building or structure must be located on lands devoted to agricultural uses.
    • The building or structure must be incidental to the agricultural enterprise.
    • The exemption does not apply to agricultural lands adjacent or in proximity to state or federal-aid highways, public airports, or public parks.
    • The exemption does not apply to land located within the one-hundred-year flood plain.
    • The Attorney General opinion states that the provision applies to counties only and has no application to municipalities.
    • There is no blanket exemption for cotton gins, grain elevators, slaughterhouses, processing plants, or milk bottling plants; those structures qualify only when the statutory conditions are met.
    “it must be located on lands “devoted to agricultural uses;” and (2) it must be “incidental to the agricultural enterprise.””
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Construction, modification, revision, or change in use of a driveway on Tennessee state highway right-of-way.

    • The requirement applies to state highway right-of-way and does not establish a permit requirement for every driveway on every road.
    • Property owners must obtain the permit from TDOT.
    • County or municipal land-use regulations may also apply.
    “Under state law, a permit is required before construction of a driveway on state highway right-of-way, including the modification, revision, or change in use”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Residential building permits administered by Tennessee's State Residential Building Code Enforcement Program for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses where the state program applies.

    • The state program does not apply where a local government enforces local building codes under an exemption or where the city or county has opted out by a two-thirds vote.
    • For construction costs above the maximum listed in the table, an additional fee of $50.00 applies for each additional $50,000 or fraction thereof.
    • The construction cost cannot be less than $60.57 per heated square foot of construction.
    • An HVAC and Plumbing Inspection is required for all new construction.
    • A slab other than Monolith Pour Inspection is required when slab and footing are cast separately.

    permit fee for construction cost $0 to $5,000: 100 USD · permit fee for construction cost $5,001 to $100,000: 350 USD · additional fee for plumbing and HVAC inspection: 100 USD (Applicable as stated in the fee table.) · additional fee for slab other than monolith pour: 100 USD (Applicable when slab and footing are cast separately.)

    “$0 to $5,000 | $100 | $100 | $100 $5,001 to $100,000 | $350 | $100 | $100”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Residential permit purchase and inspection process under Tennessee's State Residential Building Code Enforcement Program.

    • The state program applies to one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses only in areas without the stated local-code exemption or opt-out.
    • A first-time CORE user must register for an account.
    • A building permit must be purchased online or at a local Issue Agent.
    • Inspections cover the foundation before pouring, framing/rough-in construction, and final construction.
    • One free re-inspection is available; each additional re-inspection requires an additional fee.
    • A homeowner may build a home only if it will be the homeowner's residence, not sold or leased, and the homeowner has not received a homeowner building permit during the preceding 24 months.
    • Detached garages, sheds, barns, and other detached structures not used for living purposes do not require a state residential building permit.
    • A permit is not required for installation of a manufactured or modular home, but custom site work such as a deck, patio, or stoop requires a permit.

    effective date for permit requirement for additions over 30 square feet: 2011-10-01 (Applies to additions to existing homes.) · free re-inspections per project: 1 inspection (Available if a required inspection is not passed the first time.)

    “A building permit must be purchased online or at a local Issue Agent. The cost of the building permit is based on the estimated cost”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    County legislative bodies adopting zoning regulations for portions of Tennessee counties outside municipal corporations.

    • The authority is exercised under the conditions and procedures in Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 13-7-101 through 13-7-119.
    • The grant applies to portions of counties outside municipal corporations.
    • County zoning authority does not authorize county building permits or regulation of buildings or structures on agricultural land when the building or structure is incidental to the agricultural enterprise, except on agricultural lands adjacent or in proximity to state federal-aid highways, public airports or public parks.
    • The agricultural-land limitation applies to counties only and has no application to municipalities.
    “Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 13-7-101, et seq., the General Assembly has expressly delegated the authority to county legislative bodies to enact zoning regulations and create a board of zoning appeals.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption in Davidson County.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling-size requirements in Davidson County.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land in Davidson County.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in Davidson County.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in Davidson County.
5 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Subdividing land

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Living off-grid in Davidson County, Tennessee

Is Davidson County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Davidson County scores 50/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop and mixed durability signals. Watch-outs: about 910,935 people within a 30-minute drive.

Do you need a building permit in Davidson County, Tennessee?

Davidson County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Metro Public Health Department, Septic and Sewage Disposal Systems Division. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Davidson County, Tennessee?

Land in Davidson County runs about $12,414 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Davidson County?

Davidson County gets about 52.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 2.5% of years.

How remote is Davidson County?

A representative private-land location has about 910,935 people within a 30-minute drive and 4,158,910 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Davidson County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Davidson compares in Tennessee

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