Process Overview
Applicants wanting to add a deck or patio to a residence must submit their phone number, the address of the residence, and a site plan for review by the Metro Nashville Department of Codes and Building Safety zoning examiners. The site plan ensures that the proposed deck or patio would not encroach upon the property setbacks. The site plan submitted should show the dimensions of the proposed patio or deck as well as the property but does not need to be professionally drawn.
The Codes zoning examiner will review the plan, ask any necessary questions, and create a permit application. The permit application will include a checklist that identifies any necessary reviews and signoffs from other Metro Nashville agencies that the applicant must get for a building and other required permits to be issued. The applicant must not begin work before the building permit and other required permits are issued.
Based on the site plan and permits required, agencies may ask for modifications to be made to bring the plan into conformance.
Once the applicant completes any additional agency reviews and signoffs, the applicant should return the application to the Codes zoning examiners and pay for any associated fees. After that, the necessary permit(s) will be issued. At that time, construction of the deck or patio may begin.
Unless there is an inspection required for gas-mechanical equipment to be installed, it is likely that the only inspection required will be a final inspection. However, if your proposed patio is of sufficient size and in a flood plain, it may also require further review and inspection.
This description does not cover every situation but depends on the particulars of your plan and your location that are reflected in the permit application checklist created by the Codes zoning examiners.
Need for a Licensed Professional
For any decks or patios that add equipment requiring a gas-mechanical permit (such as for a gas fireplace or installed grill), a licensed contractor must complete the work. If the homeowner wants to complete electrical or plumbing work on their own, they must get approval from Metro Codes that they have the knowledge to do so. A homeowner seeking to complete the electrical and/or plumbing work on their own should set up a meeting with Metro Codes chief inspectors. A Metro Codes chief inspector will interview the homeowner to determine whether the homeowner has the knowledge necessary to complete the work. To begin the certification process, please speak with your assigned Codes zoning examiner.
Getting Started
Submit the following information to the Metro Codes zoning examiners to receive the needed approvals and permits:
- Residential Permit Application
- A site plan showing where the deck or patio (does not need to be professionally drawn, but should provide the dimensions of the proposed deck or patio, including total square footage and height)
Codes Zoning Division contact information:
- Address: 800 President Ronald Reagan Way, Nashville, TN 37210
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone Number: 615-862-6510
Registered contractors may apply via the Metro ePermits system. Contractors can register and obtain a username and password by e-mailing [email protected].
Other Resources and Links
- A Complete List of All Metro Permits That May Be Required
- Guidelines for Homeowner Electrical Permits
- Example Site Plan
- General Codes Department Information
- Learn More About Your Property’s Zoning
- Zoning Examination Process Information
- Understanding the Davidson County Code
- Nashville ePermits – May be used to submit plans/monitor permit and inspection status
- To pay for a building permit: [email protected]
For any zoning questions, dial 311 or 615-862-5000 to speak with a representative at hubNashville or visit hub.nashville.gov. A representative there will answer your question or put you in contact with someone who can.
Keys to Navigating the Process
- It is the responsibility of the applicant to follow the requirements of the checklist on the building permit application and to make sure all necessary signoffs are achieved. Currently, Metro Nashville does not have the technology to route the application through each step in the required process; that is the applicant’s responsibility.
- The same goes for the inspection process. It is the applicant’s responsibility to schedule the necessary inspections with Metro Nashville at the proper time in the building process.
- Do not seek to determine what reviews and permits are required on your own. That is the zoning examiners’ job. If you fail to complete the steps identified in your permit application because you do not think they are necessary, your process will be delayed.
- Allow plenty of time. The Metro agencies involved in the review process are dealing with an unprecedented number of permit applications.
Tracking Progress
Members of the public and registered contractors can track the progress of applications, inspections, and permit issuances by address or by using the permit application number created by the Codes zoning examiners at the start of the process at epermits.nashville.gov.