Building Permits Central: I Need a Water Meter Inspection

Process Overview

Water meters are needed to measure a property’s water usage. Your water and sewer charges that you receive from Metro Water Services (MWS) are based on the water meter’s readings.

There are specific rules that state how meters should be installed, so it’s important that the applicant works with a licensed plumber throughout the process. Each meter that your project requires must be permitted and inspected. For example, some projects will need separate domestic (standard), irrigation, and sprinkler system meters. Meters must pass all final inspection criteria for you to receive a Use and Occupancy (U and O) permit that allows you to “move in.”

Need for Licensed Professional

Meter installation requires a licensed plumber. Applicants must work with a licensed plumber throughout the process.

Getting Started

Initiate a Building Permit Application

• Contact the Metro Nashville Codes Zoning Division in person by visiting the first floor of 800 2nd Avenue South, Nashville, TN 27320; by phone at 615-862-6510; or by email at [email protected].
• Zoning examiners will review plans and provide an application checklist that shows which departmental agency reviews are needed for your specific project.
• After receiving the permit application checklist, if “Sewer Availability Review” and/or “Water Availability Review” is marked, you must make follow-up contact to another agency to meet the permit requirements. If the building permit application is for a commercial project, email the Fire Department to start the process [email protected]. If the permit application is for a residential project, email MWS at [email protected] to start the process.

Installation

• Once all signoffs are complete and the permit is issued by MWS (often referred to as the licensed plumber “pulling” the permit), a meter inspection appointment will automatically be made for 30 business days after the date the permit is pulled. You can also request an earlier inspection date, if desired by emailing [email protected].
• The plumber should install the meter and be ready for it to be inspected within 30 business days after the permit is pulled.
• The permit should not be requested yet if the meter installation is projected to be more than 30 days in the future.

Inspection

• If a meter passes all inspection criteria upon the first inspection, then only that inspection is needed and will serve as the final inspection. However, depending on how the meter has been installed by the plumber, meters often will require both an initial and a final meter inspection to satisfy all requirements.
• The initial meter inspection verifies that the meter is in the ground according to specifications and can be programmed properly by the inspector.
• The licensed plumber for the project must ensure that the meter is accessible and in conformance with regulations prior to the meter inspection date. You can find the specifications for all meter and meter box installations here under the “Approved Construction Specifications and Details” section. Once there, select “Meter Box” and “Meter in Box” to view all specifications and regulations.

Inspection Results

• The project developer, contractor, and plumber of record will each receive an email with the meter inspection results.
• If the meter fails the initial inspection, those parties will receive information detailing why it failed and notice that a reinspection will be set for 30 business days from the last inspection date. Again, the applicant can request to move the reinspection date up by e-mailing [email protected].
• Notes from past inspections can also be viewed on ePermits by searching for a project by address. Notes (if applicable) will be under the “U and O Water Availability Final.”
• If the meter meets initial inspection criteria, but not final, the final meter inspection will be automatically scheduled for 120 business days later, which may be moved up by e-mailing [email protected].
• Once all MWS devices (meters and backflow preventers) pass final inspection, then MWS will be able to sign off on its portion of the U and O permit that allows you to “move in.”

This description is intended to provide a general process overview and does not cover every situation. Each applicant’s situation depends on the particulars of the work to be done and the location of the property.