Plumbing Permit in Williamson County, Tennessee
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
For plumbing work in unincorporated Williamson County, such as adding fixtures, a new bathroom, or other plumbing changes as part of a renovation or addition
Issued byWilliamson County Building Codes Department
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Williamson County administers its own plumbing permits under its 2021 International Plumbing Code adoption, unlike electrical work, which routes through the state. The county's Schedule of Building Permit Fees publishes a dedicated Plumbing Permit Fee Schedule, and the Building Codes Department's Residential Renovations and Additions guidance states that plumbing permits, along with building and electrical permits, are likely required for additions and renovations, and that additional plumbing fixtures such as a new bathroom will likely require a permit. A single statement that all plumbing work requires a permit was not found; contact the Building Codes Department at 615-790-5718 or Community Development at 615-790-5725 to confirm for smaller plumbing jobs.
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When a permit is usually needed
For plumbing work in unincorporated Williamson County, such as adding fixtures, a new bathroom, or other plumbing changes as part of a renovation or addition
What a plumbing permit costs in Williamson County
How Williamson County compares in Tennessee
No Tennessee jurisdiction we have verified sets a size threshold for this permit, so what actually differs between them is the fee.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis | It depends | Permit issuance $20.00, plus $4.00 for issuing each permit (data processing)... |
| Nashville | Permit required | Flat minimum of $75 per permit plus $11 per plumbing fixture, per Metro Code... |
| Williamson Countythis page | Permit required | Plumbing Permit Fee Schedule: $10.00 for issuing each permit, plus $5.00 for... |
How to apply in Williamson County
In Williamson County, you apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit.
What most plumbing permit applications include:
- For Williamson County, a permit is required before any owner or authorized agent constructs, alters, repairs, removes, converts, or replaces a plumbing system regulated by the code (IRC R105.1).
- For Williamson County, the application must identify and describe the work, describe the site, state the intended use and occupancy, and be signed by the applicant or an authorized agent (IRC R105.3).
- Two or more sets of construction documents must accompany the application, drawn with enough clarity to show the location, nature, and extent of the proposed plumbing work and how it will conform to code (IRC R106.1, R106.1.1).
- Minor plumbing repairs, such as clearing a stoppage or removing and resetting a water closet without rearranging pipes or fixtures, are exempt from permit (IRC R105.2).
- Once issued, a permit is only valid for a limited window, commonly 180 days, and becomes invalid if the work is not started or is abandoned within that time, though extensions can be requested (IRC R105.3.2, R105.5).
General submittal guidance from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Chapter 1 Scope and Administration, Sections R105 Permits and R106 Construction Documents. Source. Williamson County Building Codes Department sets the exact checklist for Williamson County.
Where to apply in Williamson County:
Williamson County Building Codes Department
- 1320 West Main Street, Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37064
- Phone: 615-790-5718
Plumbing Permit in Williamson County compared with nearby Tennessee localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Tennessee schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williamson County | Permit required | Not specified | Plumbing Permit Fee Schedule: $10.00 for issuing each permit, plus $5.00 for water and... | |
| Memphis | It depends | whether the work only stops a leak or clears a stoppage without replacing, rearranging or removing pipe, valve or fixture components | Permit issuance $20.00, plus $4.00 for issuing each permit (data processing) and a $1.00... | |
| Nashville | Permit required | Not specified | Flat minimum of $75 per permit plus $11 per plumbing fixture, per Metro Code 16.12.220... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Williamson County, plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.
- In Williamson County: piping and equipment placed under a slab or floor must be in place and inspected before any concrete is poured or floor sheathing is installed over it (IRC R109.1.1.1).
- In Williamson County: rough plumbing, along with the mechanical, gas, and electrical rough-in, must be inspected prior to covering or concealment and before fixtures or appliances are set (IRC R109.1.2).
- In Williamson County: rough drain, waste, and vent (DWV) piping is tested with water, air, or (for plastic piping) a vacuum, and must show no evidence of leakage before it is closed in (IRC P2503.5.1).
- In Williamson County: the water-distribution piping is tested and must hold tight under the system's working pressure, or under a 50 psi air test for non-plastic piping, before it is concealed (IRC P2503.7).
- In Williamson County: the framing inspection cannot proceed until the plumbing rough inspection, along with the mechanical and electrical rough inspections, has been approved (IRC R109.1.4).
- In Williamson County: at the final drainage test, each fixture is filled and then drained, and its traps and fixture connections must prove watertight by visual inspection (IRC P2503.5.2).
- In Williamson County: final inspection is made after all work required by the permit is complete, and includes confirming backflow protection, such as vacuum breakers on hose bibbs, is installed (IRC R109.1.6, P2902.4.3).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Williamson County permit portal or by phone at 615-790-5718.
Inspection sequence from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Section R109 Inspections and Section P2503 Inspection and Tests. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Plumbing Permit checklist for Williamson County
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: For plumbing work in unincorporated Williamson County, such as adding fixtures, a new bathroom, or other plumbing changes as part of a renovation or addition.
- Budget the fee. Plumbing Permit Fee Schedule: $10.00 for issuing each permit, plus $5.00 for water and $5.00 for sewer; $2.50 for each additional plumbing fixture, floor drain, or trap; $2.50 for each water heater or vent (Schedule of Building Permit Fees). Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Williamson County, you apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit. Start at the Williamson County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Williamson County Building Codes Department. Phone: 615-790-5718. Address: 1320 West Main Street, Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37064.
- Plan for inspections. In Williamson County, plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a plumbing permit in Williamson County?
- Williamson County administers its own plumbing permits under its 2021 International Plumbing Code adoption, unlike electrical work, which routes through the state. The county's Schedule of Building Permit Fees publishes a dedicated Plumbing Permit Fee Schedule, and the Building Codes Department's Residential Renovations and Additions guidance states that plumbing permits, along with building and electrical permits, are likely required for additions and renovations, and that additional plumbing fixtures such as a new bathroom will likely require a permit. A single statement that all plumbing work requires a permit was not found; contact the Building Codes Department at 615-790-5718 or Community Development at 615-790-5725 to confirm for smaller plumbing jobs. Always confirm with the Williamson County Building Codes Department before starting.
- How much does a plumbing permit cost in Williamson County?
- Plumbing Permit Fee Schedule: $10.00 for issuing each permit, plus $5.00 for water and $5.00 for sewer; $2.50 for each additional plumbing fixture, floor drain, or trap; $2.50 for each water heater or vent (Schedule of Building Permit Fees). See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a plumbing permit in Williamson County?
- You can apply through the Williamson County permit portal or contact the Williamson County Building Codes Department directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a plumbing permit themselves in Williamson County?
- Under Tennessee law (T.C.A. 62-6-103; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-23-.01(1)(i), -.05(3), -.05(4)(b)2.; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-01-.05(2)(a)): Tennessee lets a homeowner act as their own builder. Under T.C.A. 62-6-103, as the State Fire Marshal's Office explains it, an owner may construct a single residence once every two years for personal use without a contractor's license, so long as the home is not for resale, lease, or rent, and anyone the homeowner hires whose portion of the work is $25,000 or more must be a licensed contractor. In state permit areas the owner pulls a property owner's permit, limited by rule to one per 24 month period, and the work is subject to the same inspections and fees as a contractor's job; proof of licensure is waived at permit purchase only when the owner personally performs the work. For electrical work, a homeowner may wire their own residence only after obtaining a residential property owner's electrical permit, which covers only the applicant and immediate family, does not authorize help from anyone unlicensed, and is limited to one per 12 month period unless the owner lost the home to fire or windstorm. Confirm how Williamson County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Williamson County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Deck permits follow the county's general building permit valuation table: no fee for... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | State-issued via the TN CORE system: a $5 issuing fee plus ampere-based inspection fees... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Mechanical Permit Fee Schedule: $10.00 permit fee plus $10.00 for the first $1,000 of... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | Swimming pools designed or able to hold water more than 30 inches deep in unincorporated Williamson County require a building permit; pools designed to hold 30 inches of water or less, temporary pools, above-ground pools with no permanent filter system or decking, and pools not left up year-round are exempt from the permit requirement. | No pool-specific line |
| Roof Replacement Permit | No permit needed | Not specified | No permit or fee |
Plumbing Permit in other Tennessee localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Williamson County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this plumbing permit page for Williamson County was verified. 3 official sources: williamsoncounty-tn.gov, williamsoncounty-tn.gov, williamsoncounty-tn.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Williamson County Building Codes Department. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Plumbing Permit requirements across Tennessee localities
Tennessee rule changes
- Metro Nashville posts a current codes fee schedule, replacing the 2010 sheet
BL2022-1215 (Metro Fee Schedule Legislation) ·