Tennessee Shed Permit Rules: What Homeowners Need to Know

Tennessee's Unusual Opt-Out System

Tennessee handles building codes in a way that's genuinely unlike most states, and the differences matter if you're building a shed. The state has a residential building code — based on the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) — adopted and administered by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. But here's what makes Tennessee different: counties and cities can opt out of the state building code entirely.

Under Tennessee law, a county legislative body can vote to exempt itself from the state code. If they opt out, no building permits are required for residential construction in that county — not for homes, not for garages, and not for sheds. The opt-out must be renewed every 180 days, or the state code automatically applies again.

Many rural counties — particularly in central and eastern Tennessee — have opted out. Meanwhile, the state's major cities have done the opposite: they've adopted their own building codes (often stricter than the state baseline) and actively enforce them.

The result is a patchwork where a shed in rural Sevier County might need no permit at all, while the same shed in Nashville requires a building permit, a site plan, and zoning review. For a broader picture of how states handle shed permits nationally, see our complete guide to shed permits.

Three Tiers of Regulation

To understand your shed permit requirements in Tennessee, you need to figure out which tier your property falls into:

Tier 1: Opt-out counties (no building codes). No building permits required for any residential construction. Zoning regulations may still apply. Call your county clerk or codes department to confirm your county's current opt-out status.

Tier 2: Counties using the state code. The state residential building code does not require a permit for detached non-habitable structures like storage sheds, barns, and garages. The state code focuses on dwellings — structures people live in. If your county uses the state code without local amendments, your storage shed likely doesn't need a building permit regardless of size (though zoning requirements still apply).

Tier 3: Cities and counties with local codes. Major cities like Nashville, Memphis (Shelby County), Knoxville (Knox County), and Chattanooga have adopted their own building codes with specific thresholds for accessory structures. These local thresholds are often stricter than the state code.

Most of Tennessee's population lives in Tier 3 jurisdictions. If you're in one of the state's larger cities or suburban counties, expect to need a permit for any shed above a certain size.

How Five Tennessee Cities Handle Shed Permits

Nashville (Davidson County): 100 Square Feet

Nashville has the strictest shed permit threshold of any major Tennessee city. The Metro Department of Codes and Building Safety requires a residential building permit for all accessory structures of 100 square feet or more — including portable storage buildings delivered by a manufacturer.

Nashville's accessory structure permitting instructions specify detailed requirements. On lots smaller than 40,000 square feet (about 0.9 acres), an accessory structure behind the principal dwelling is limited to 700 square feet or 50% of the main dwelling's footprint, whichever is greater, up to a maximum of 2,500 square feet.

Accessory buildings of 700 square feet or less located behind the main structure get reduced setbacks: half the district requirement but no less than 3 feet from side and rear property lines. Buildings over 700 square feet must meet the full district setbacks.

Nashville's permit fee starts at $100 for projects with construction costs under $5,000. The application requires a site plan showing the proposed location with distances to property lines, existing structures, and easements. Properties in Nashville's historic districts — including Germantown, East Nashville, and 12 South — require additional Historic Zoning Commission approval.

Memphis (Shelby County): All Sheds Need a Permit

Memphis and Shelby County require a building permit for any shed regardless of size or cost. Even a small 8×10 storage shed needs a permit. This is the strictest approach among Tennessee's major cities.

Shelby County's code department requires all accessory structures to meet zoning requirements for setbacks, height, and placement. Separate permits are needed for electrical, plumbing, or HVAC systems if you're adding those to the shed. Permit fees are valuation-based, typically running $75–$200 for a standard residential shed.

Knoxville (Knox County): 120 Square Feet

Knoxville and Knox County use a 120-square-foot threshold. In unincorporated Knox County, sheds over 120 square feet require a residential building permit. Within the City of Knoxville's limits, a permit is required for sheds of any size.

Knox County also requires a permit for any shed — regardless of size — that has electrical connections or sits on a permanent foundation. A shed on blocks or skids under 120 square feet is generally exempt in unincorporated areas, but the same shed on a poured concrete slab would need a permit.

The distinction between the City of Knoxville and unincorporated Knox County is important. Many addresses in the Knoxville area are served by Knox County rather than the city, and the rules differ. Confirm which jurisdiction covers your property before starting.

Chattanooga (Hamilton County): 200 Square Feet with Questionnaire

Chattanooga follows a 200-square-foot threshold closer to the state standard. However, the city requires all homeowners to complete an accessory structure questionnaire for any shed, regardless of size. The questionnaire determines whether the shed's placement complies with city ordinances, easements, and setback requirements.

Sheds over 200 square feet require a full building permit. The city reviews applications for compliance with setbacks, height limits, and lot coverage. Retaining walls over 4 feet associated with the shed also require a separate permit.

Murfreesboro (Rutherford County): 120 Square Feet with Conditions

Murfreesboro and Rutherford County require a building permit for any storage building of 120 square feet or greater on blocks or skids, or any size on a permanent foundation. Even pre-built sheds purchased from a sales lot require a permit.

Rutherford County's permit application requires a site plan showing all detached structures on the property, the location of the septic tank and overflow lines, the house, and property lines. The county strongly recommends consulting subdivision covenants or deed restrictions, but does not enforce them — those are private contracts between the homeowner and the subdivision.

Permit fees in Rutherford County for accessory structures are calculated at $0.30 per square foot. A 200-square-foot shed would cost $60 for the permit. Electrical and plumbing add separate fees.

State Electrical Permits: A Separate System

One of Tennessee's distinctive features is that electrical permits and inspections are handled by the state, not by local building departments. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance appoints Deputy Electrical Inspectors who manage electrical permitting and inspection statewide.

This means:

• Even in counties that have opted out of building codes, you may still need a state electrical permit to run power to your shed
• The electrical permit is separate from any local building permit
• Electrical work must be performed by a licensed electrical contractor (or by the homeowner on their own residence)
• You can apply for state electrical permits through the Department of Commerce and Insurance or by calling 615-741-7170

This separation creates a situation where a homeowner in an opt-out county might not need any permit to build the shed structure itself but needs a state electrical permit the moment they run a single wire to it.

Agricultural Exemptions

Tennessee law provides an exemption for agricultural buildings — structures used directly for farming operations on bona fide working farms. This exemption can apply to barns, equipment sheds, livestock shelters, and similar farm buildings.

To qualify, the property must be actively used for commercial agricultural production. Rutherford County, for example, requires property owners to submit an affidavit and provide evidence such as:

• An IRS Schedule F from the most recent tax return
• An Agricultural Sales and Use Tax Exemption certificate from the Tennessee Department of Revenue
• Other financial documentation demonstrating commercial farm production
• A site inspection confirming that the property operates as a working farm

A suburban homeowner building a storage shed does not qualify for the agricultural exemption, even on a large lot with some garden use. The exemption is specifically for structures supporting commercial agricultural activity.

Septic System Considerations

Many Tennessee properties — particularly outside the sewer service areas of major cities — use septic systems. When building a shed on a property with a septic system, you must take care not to place the structure over or near the septic tank, distribution lines, or designated repair area.

Most Tennessee counties that require building permits also require a site plan showing the septic system location relative to the proposed shed. The State of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation manages septic system records and can help you locate your system components.

Before digging for a shed foundation in Tennessee, contact Tennessee 811 at least three business days before starting to have underground utilities marked. This is required by Chapter 16 of the Metro Code (in Nashville) and is good practice statewide.

HOA Restrictions

Tennessee has a growing number of Homeowners Association (HOA)-governed communities, particularly in the Nashville suburbs (Franklin, Murfreesboro, Brentwood, Mount Juliet) and the Knoxville and Chattanooga metro areas.

County building codes departments — including Rutherford County's — explicitly note that they do not enforce subdivision covenants. These are private contracts between the homeowner and the subdivision. But that doesn't mean you can ignore them: HOAs have their own enforcement mechanisms, including fines, liens, and legal action.

Common HOA restrictions on sheds include:

• Size limits (often 120 square feet or less)
• Material and color requirements matching the home
• Placement restrictions beyond what zoning requires
• Mandatory architectural review committee approval
• Prohibition on metal or plastic sheds in favor of wood or vinyl

Get written approval from your HOA before purchasing or placing a shed, even if your county doesn't require a building permit.

Consequences of Building Without Required Permits

In jurisdictions that enforce building codes, building without a permit can result in:

• Stop-work orders and penalty fines — many Tennessee cities charge double the permit fee as a penalty for building without a permit
• Requirement to remove the structure if it violates zoning setbacks, easements, or height restrictions
• Failed inspections during home sales — title companies and home inspectors routinely check for unpermitted structures in Tennessee's active real estate market
• Septic system violations — a shed placed over septic lines can result in costly remediation requirements from the state Department of Environment and Conservation

In opt-out counties where no building codes apply, the consequences are limited to zoning violations and septic system issues. But in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and other cities with active code enforcement, the risks are real and the penalties meaningful.

Permit fees across Tennessee are modest. Nashville starts at $100, and most other jurisdictions charge $50–$200 for a typical shed permit. The penalties for skipping the permit far exceed the cost of getting one.

If you're also planning a garage or carport alongside your shed, each structure needs its own permit in jurisdictions that require them, and zoning rules typically limit the total footprint of all accessory structures on the lot.

For an overview of all building permit requirements in Tennessee — including decks, fences, pools, and more — see our complete Tennessee building permit guide.