Do I need a permit for addition or structural alteration in Forest Hills?
Yes. In Tennessee, addition or structural alteration generally requires a permit, and Forest Hills is no exception.
Additions and structural alterations require a permit and plan review; expect separate trade permits for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work tied into the project. Owner-builders may perform work on their own residence under TCA 62-6-103, but the permit, inspections, and code compliance are still required. Building additions and structural alterations require a City of Forest Hills building permit, and plans must be approved by the Building Official and the City Manager, who may require additional City Engineer review. Additions are reviewed against the City Zoning Ordinance bulk standards and the City Stormwater Ordinance, and the Hillside Protection Zoning Overlay or floodplain rules can add requirements, so check whether your lot is affected. Tennessee requires a state contractor license for residential building work of roughly 25,000 dollars and up, so confirm your contractor holds the correct classification and monetary limit.
Documents you may need
- Permit applicationrequired
- Construction drawings / floor plansrequired
- Site plan showing setbacks and lot coveragerequired
- Structural and energy-code details (framing, foundation, insulation)Likely required
- City of Forest Hills building permit application through the City Permit Database for the addition or structural alterationrequired
- Complete plan set and site plan approved by the Building Official and the City Manager, with possible City Engineer reviewrequired
- Metro Nashville electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits for those portions of the work, since Metro Nashville conducts the trade inspectionsLikely required
Possible inspections
- Footing / foundation inspection
- Framing and rough-in (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) inspections
- Insulation / energy inspection
- Final inspection
- Erosion control, footing and slab, foundation survey, and foundation inspections by the City of Forest Hills Building Inspector
- Framing and insulation inspections
- Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC trade inspections conducted by Metro Nashville
- Final inspection (interior and engineer site) and Use and Occupancy certificate
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for addition or structural alteration in Forest Hills?
- Yes. In Tennessee, addition or structural alteration generally requires a permit, and Forest Hills is no exception. Additions and structural alterations require a permit and plan review; expect separate trade permits for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work tied into the project. Owner-builders may perform work on their own residence under TCA 62-6-103, but the permit, inspections, and code compliance are still required. Building additions and structural alterations require a City of Forest Hills building permit, and plans must be approved by the Building Official and the City Manager, who may require additional City Engineer review. Additions are reviewed against the City Zoning Ordinance bulk standards and the City Stormwater Ordinance, and the Hillside Protection Zoning Overlay or floodplain rules can add requirements, so check whether your lot is affected. Tennessee requires a state contractor license for residential building work of roughly 25,000 dollars and up, so confirm your contractor holds the correct classification and monetary limit.
- Who issues the permit in Forest Hills?
- The local building department for Forest Hills handles permitting. This page lists its contact details and online portal. Your mailing city is not always the permitting authority, so confirm the jurisdiction before you apply.
- How do I find out the exact requirements for my project?
- Run the free PermitRoadmap check for your specific project and answers. It returns the likely permits, documents, inspections, and next steps, each linked to its official source.
PermitRoadmap is an independent informational service and is not affiliated with any city, county, state agency, or permitting authority. Results are informational and do not replace confirming requirements with the local permitting authority.