Franklin, TN Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Franklin Municipal Code § 12-105
- Required before
- Occupying new, altered, or reclassified buildings
- Prerequisite inspections
- Building, zoning, fire, streets, stormwater, landscaping
- Temporary certificate term
- Up to 30 days, renewable
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor fine per Appendix A (§ 12-105(7))
Summary
Franklin, Tennessee requires a certificate of use and occupancy before anyone occupies a building, structure, or parcel that was constructed, expanded, renovated, or has a change of use. Franklin Municipal Code § 12-105 conditions that certificate on passing every required building, zoning, fire, streets, stormwater, and landscaping inspection, and the Building and Neighborhood Services Department can issue a 30-day temporary certificate for projects that aren't fully finished.
(1)Certificate of use and occupancy required. It shall be unlawful for any person to occupy or use a building or structure, part of a building or structure, or parcel of land prior to the issuance of a certificate of use and occupancy. The issuance of a certificate of use and occupancy shall be a prerequisite to the occupation, reoccupation, or use of a building, structure, or parcel of land when:(a)A building or structure has been constructed.(b)A building, structure, or portion thereof has been subject to an expansion, addition, renovation, and/or reconstruction.(c)A building, structure, or parcel of land has a change in its occupancy, use, and/or occupant....(3)Issuing certificates of use and occupancy. A certificate of use and occupancy shall not be issued until all required building, zoning, fire, streets, water management, stormwater, landscaping, green infrastructure, and other related building and site improvement inspections have been performed and approved in their entirety.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 30 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
' Applicants file with the building official concurrent with the building permit application, or before a change of use if no permit is required. Before the certificate issues, subsection (3) requires that 'all required building, zoning, fire, streets, water management, stormwater, landscaping, green infrastructure, and other related building and site improvement inspections have been performed and approved in their entirety,' and any performance sureties tied to the project must be transferred to maintenance obligations. The final certificate must include everything required by Section 111 of the International Building Code plus the zoning uses on the site and any special conditions from the approved development or site plan.
For projects not yet fully finished, subsection (4) lets the building official issue a temporary certificate for any portion 'which may be safely occupied prior to the final completion,' good for up to 30 days and renewable in 30-day increments upon a new application and fee. Subsection (5) adds a separate certificate of completion for phased, multi-tenant developments, confirming the building and site improvements are functional even though it does not itself authorize occupancy; a temporary certificate of completion under subsection (6) follows the same 30-day renewal structure.
Violations & Fines
Occupying a building before the certificate issues, or after a temporary certificate has expired or been revoked, is a misdemeanor under § 12-105(7), punishable by the fine set in Appendix A, Comprehensive Fees and Penalties; application fees for every temporary and final certificate of use and occupancy or completion are likewise fixed in Appendix A under § 12-105(8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move into a new building in Franklin before final inspections are done?
What if my Franklin project isn't fully finished but I need to move in?
What happens if I occupy a Franklin building without the required certificate?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Franklin
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