The county building department manages permits for unincorporated areas, while incorporated cities like Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, and Eagleville maintain their own independent building and planning departments. Applicants must verify jurisdiction based on property address, as municipal boundaries dictate which office reviews plans and issues permits. Floodplain development permits are required for all construction within designated FEMA flood zones regardless of jurisdiction.
Rutherford County imposes impact fees on new residential development to fund infrastructure and school capacity improvements.
How this fits with the state
The state authority here is Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.
Source · Rutherford County Building Codes DepartmentLast verified · 05 / 2026