State Guide · Verified 2026
Shed Installation Permits in Tennessee
The Building Code in Tennessee
Tennessee statewide minimum (2018 IRC-based), administered by the State Fire Marshal's Office
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, through its State Fire Marshal's Office, sets a statewide minimum based on the 2018 IRC. Cities and counties can adopt their own codes as long as they meet or exceed that minimum, and where no local government enforces any code, the State Fire Marshal steps in directly. Tennessee uniquely allows a city or county to formally opt out of residential code enforcement entirely by a two-thirds vote of its governing body, and in those opt-out areas there is no residential building permit requirement of any kind, sheds included.
Quick Facts
Who Sets the Rules
Three tiers, not one statewide answer
Tennessee's system genuinely splits into three categories: "exempt" cities and counties that enforce their own adopted codes, "non-exempt" areas where the State Fire Marshal enforces the minimum directly, and "opt-out" jurisdictions that voted to have no residential building code at all. Which tier applies to a given address changes the shed answer completely.
Opt-out areas mean no permit, no inspection, by design
A jurisdiction can formally opt out of residential code enforcement by a two-thirds vote of its governing body. In these areas, roughly a fifth of Tennessee's population, there is no residential building permit requirement for a shed, a deck, or even a house, and no inspection process. Since 2017, homeowners in opt-out areas can voluntarily request a state inspection if they want the assurance for insurance or resale purposes.
Where codes are enforced, cities set their own numbers
Nashville requires a permit above 100 square feet, stricter than the 200-square-foot state baseline. Knox County uses 120 square feet. Shelby County, home to Memphis, requires a permit for any shed regardless of size, the strictest local rule found in the state.
Electrical permitting runs on its own separate track
Tennessee is distinctive in that electrical permitting and inspection statewide is handled by the state itself, not local building departments, through Deputy Electrical Inspectors appointed by the Department of Commerce and Insurance. This means a homeowner in an opt-out county might need no permit for the shed structure itself, but still needs a state electrical permit to run power to it.
Septic and utility-locate rules apply broadly
Most Tennessee jurisdictions that require a shed permit also require a site plan showing the septic system's location relative to the shed, and a call to Tennessee 811 at least three business days before digging is required practice statewide.
What people get wrong
The most common mistake is assuming a Tennessee-wide rule exists at all. With three genuinely different enforcement tiers and roughly 20% of the population in areas with no residential code whatsoever, the real answer always starts with which tier applies to the specific address.
Counties With Their Own Rules
These Tennessee counties have verified, county-specific shed installation rules that differ from the state baseline:
Check Your County
Select your county for the local rule, fees, and your building department's contact details:
Building It Yourself? Here's What You'll Need
Popular tools and materials homeowners use for a shed installation project:
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Official Sources
Rules change and cities within a county may differ. This guide is general information, not legal advice — always confirm with your local building department. Reviewed by the StateDataIndex Editorial Team · Updated September 2026.