Nashville, TN Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitting agency
- Dept. of Codes Administration
- Minimum permit fee
- $75 plus per-fixture charges
- Unpermitted work penalty
- Fee tripled (§ 16.12.230)
- Who can pull permit
- Registered contractor or homeowner
- Adopted code
- 2024 International Plumbing Code
Summary
Any plumbing installation, repair, or connection to a sewer or septic system in Metro Nashville and Davidson County requires a permit from the department of codes administration before work starts, under the Metro-adopted 2024 International Plumbing Code.
A plumbing permit shall be obtained from the department of codes administration prior to the installation of any plumbing, plumbing system or part thereof, including the installation or repair of a new or existing private sewage disposal system, and prior to the connection of any such plumbing installation or plumbing system to any sewer, sanitary or storm drain, septic drain, or sewage disposal system, public or private, and prior to the installation of any plumbing device, equipment, appliance or fixture in any existing or proposed plumbing installation or system, regardless of whether any such plumbing installation is made within the county or outside the limits thereof.B.A permit shall not be required for any storm drainage system except where the same connects to a public storm sewer or combination sewer, or is inside or under a building. (Prior code § 33-1-29)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 53 | Charter: Republication 9).
Full Breakdown
Metropolitan Code of Laws § 16.12.150 requires a plumbing permit from the department of codes administration before installing any plumbing, plumbing system, or private sewage disposal system, and before connecting to any sewer, septic, or storm drain: inside or outside the county. Applications go in writing on department forms per § 16.12.160. Only a registered Metro plumbing contractor or certified master plumber may pull the permit, though a resident homeowner may obtain a homeowner permit to do the work personally under § 16.12.170. Permit fees start at a $75 minimum plus per-fixture charges under § 16.12.220, and starting work before the permit issues triples the fee under § 16.12.230.
Violations & Fines
Working without a permit triples the standard fee under § 16.12.230, unless the director of codes administration finds an emergency; using an unregistered contractor risks permit denial under § 16.12.170.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Nashville?
Can a Nashville homeowner do their own plumbing work?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashville
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