Davidson County, Tennessee operates as a consolidated city-county government called Metro Nashville. There's no separate 'county' building department — all residential permits are issued by Metro Nashville Codes Administration. Whether you're in Nashville proper, Antioch, Hermitage, Madison, or any other neighborhood, you use the same department.
Metro Nashville Codes Administration is at 800 Second Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37210. Phone: (615) 862-6590. Most permits can be applied for online at nashville.gov/departments/codes.
The shed threshold in Nashville is 100 square feet — stricter than most of Tennessee. A standard 10×10 shed already requires a permit. All decks attached to the structure require a permit. Fences do not require a building permit in most of Nashville, though zoning height limits apply. Permit fees are moderate — shed permits $75–$150, deck permits $100–$225.
What Requires a Permit
Frequently Asked Questions
- Nashville's threshold is 100 square feet — lower than most Tennessee counties. Any shed over 10×10 (100 sq ft) requires a building permit. This includes standard pre-built sheds like a 10×12 (120 sq ft) or 12×16 (192 sq ft). Setbacks in Nashville are typically 5 feet from rear and side property lines for accessory structures.
- Yes. Davidson County and Nashville consolidated into Metro Nashville Government in 1963. There is no separate county building department — Metro Nashville Codes Administration handles all permits for the entire county. If your address is in Davidson County, you use Nashville's Codes Administration regardless of whether you identify your location as 'Nashville,' 'Antioch,' 'Madison,' or any other community name.