Knox County
Knox County Code Administration and Inspection Department
In short
Knox County Code Administration and Inspection Department issues 5 permits we publish for Knox County, last verified 2026-10-08. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.
What this agency issues
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Building Permit and Plans Review | Knox County Code Administration and Inspection Department | Building permit by valuation: up to $2,000 = $50; $2,001–$50,000 = $50 + $5 per additional $1,000 or fraction; $50,001–$100,000 = $290 + $4 per additional $1,000; $100,001–$500,000 = $490 + $3 per additional $1,000; $500,001–$1,000,000 = $1,690 + $2 per additional $1,000; over $1,000,000 = $2,690 + $1.50 per additional $1,000. Plans review: $50 (valuation up to $75,000), $100 (up to $500,000), $250 (up to $1,000,000), $500 (over $1,000,000). Commercial demolition $100; commercial gas permit $100; re-inspection $50. A $25 technology access fee is added to each permit type except temporary certificates of occupancy, re-inspections, cancellations, zoning verification letters, BZA, BCA and renewals. | per permit | 2026-10-08 |
| Sign Permitonly if it applies to you | Knox County Code Administration and Inspection Department | Sign valuation up to $2,000 = $50; above $2,000 = $50 + $5 for each additional $1,000; plus the $25 technology access fee | per permit | 2026-10-08 |
| Temporary Certificate of Occupancyonly if it applies to you | Knox County Code Administration and Inspection Department | $50 per temporary certificate of occupancy (the technology access fee does not apply) | temporary; per certificate | 2026-10-08 |
| Temporary Use Permitonly if it applies to you | Knox County Code Administration and Inspection Department | $75 per temporary use permit, plus the $25 technology access fee | per permit | 2026-10-08 |
| Zoning Verification Letteronly if it applies to you | Knox County Code Administration and Inspection Department | $60 per letter (the technology access fee does not apply) | one-time, per letter | 2026-10-08 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
About each permit
Commercial Building Permit and Plans Review
As published in the Knox County Code Administration and Inspection Department Schedule of Fees (Effective July 1, 2023), the county fee schedule linked under Documents & Downloads on the Codes home page, the nonrefundable building permit fee is based on the project valuation supplied by the applicant, which must be at least the ICC Building Valuation Data, and runs from $50 for valuations up to $2,000 to $2,690 plus $1.50 per additional $1,000 above $1,000,000. The same schedule sets plans review at $50, $100, $250 or $500 by valuation, commercial demolition at $100, a commercial gas permit at $100 and re-inspections at $50, and adds a $25 technology access fee (Resolution 09-10-902, 2009) to most permit types. The Codes home page notes that from July 1, 2024 one- and two-family R-3 dwellings are valued at a 60% factor of the Building Valuation Data; the schedule it links remains titled 'Effective July 1, 2023'. Ordinance O-18-10-101, adopted 19 November 2018, adopts the 2018 International codes for buildings 'within Knox County', and Code ch. 10 sets fees 'as adopted by resolution'. Apply through the Knox Permit Portal; for help call 865-215-2325.
Sign Permit
As published in the Knox County Code Administration and Inspection Department Schedule of Fees (Effective July 1, 2023), linked from the Codes home page, a sign permit costs $50 for a sign valued up to $2,000 and $50 plus $5 for each additional $1,000 above that. The schedule adds its $25 technology access fee (Resolution 09-10-902) to every permit type other than the listed exceptions, which do not include sign permits. A business putting up or replacing an exterior sign applies to Knox County Code Administration through the Knox Permit Portal; inside the City of Knoxville the city's own sign permit is a separate requirement on the Knoxville page. Contact Codes Administration at 865-215-2325, 400 Main Street, Suite 547.
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy
As published in the Knox County Code Administration and Inspection Department Schedule of Fees (Effective July 1, 2023), linked from the Codes home page, a temporary certificate of occupancy costs $50. The schedule lists temporary certificates of occupancy among the items excluded from its $25 technology access fee. A business that needs to occupy a new or remodelled space before every item of the permitted work is finished asks Knox County Code Administration for a temporary certificate under its building permit. Contact Codes Administration at 865-215-2325 or through the Knox Permit Portal.
Temporary Use Permit
As published in the Knox County Code Administration and Inspection Department Schedule of Fees (Effective July 1, 2023), linked from the Codes home page, a temporary use permit costs $75. Temporary use permits are not among the items the schedule excludes from its $25 technology access fee, so the fee is added. The permit is issued by Knox County Code Administration. Contact Codes Administration at 865-215-2325 to confirm whether a particular temporary activity needs one.
Zoning Verification Letter
As published in the Knox County Code Administration and Inspection Department Schedule of Fees (Effective July 1, 2023), linked from the Codes home page, a zoning verification letter costs $60, and the schedule lists zoning verification letters among the items excluded from its $25 technology access fee. A business, lender or buyer requests the letter from Knox County Code Administration to confirm the zoning of a site before leasing, buying or financing it. Contact Codes Administration at 865-215-2325, 400 Main Street, Suite 547, Knoxville.
Contact
- Jurisdiction
- Knox County
- Phone
- 865-215-2325
Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.
Sources
Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.
- Codes Administration — home page (Documents & Downloads; fee notices)Knox County Code Administration · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
- Knox County Code Administration and Inspection Department Schedule of Fees (Effective July 1, 2023)Knox County Code Administration · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
- Knox County Code, Chapter 10 — Buildings and Building RegulationsKnox County, Tennessee (Municode) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
- Ordinance O-18-10-101 adopting the building codes (Knox County Adopted Ordinance)Knox County Commission · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
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Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.