What do these permits involve in Wilson County?

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County Business License (Standard or Minimal Activity)

As published on the Wilson County Clerk's Business Tax page, a business in Wilson County takes either a minimal activity license (gross receipts of $3,000 to $99,999) or a standard license (larger businesses), and the county license costs $15 paid by cash or check, $15.59 by credit or debit card, or $16.36 online. The Tennessee Department of Revenue's June 2026 Business Tax Manual states that 'Each standard business license is $15', that each license is valid for one year and expires 30 days after the due date of the taxpayer's return, and that filing the return renews the license automatically at no additional cost; for the minimal activity license the manual says the business must pay a $15 fee to each county and, if applicable, city (T.C.A. § 67-4-723(b)(1)). The Clerk's page says a minimal activity license is renewed by phone, by mail or online. The $15 is the county license only: the Clerk's page states that 'if your business is located within Mt. Juliet, Lebanon or Watertown city limits you are required to also get a license with the city your business is located in'. Contact the County Clerk's Business Tax office at 129 S. College St., Lebanon, 615-444-0314 ext. 3.

Commercial Building Permit and Plan Review

As published on the Wilson County Commercial Fee Schedule (and repeated on the county's 2026 Commercial Checklist), the commercial building permit fee is a single rate per square foot for the whole building, chosen by the building's size bracket, from $0.90 per square foot up to 10,000 square feet down to $0.10 per square foot at 400,001 square feet and over; the sheet reads, for example, 'For a building of 10,001 to 30,000 square feet or less, the building permit fee shall be $0.60 per square foot.' Internal remodels and renovations are $0.15 per square foot, and plan review is half of the building permit fee. The sheet prints no adoption date. The Building Codes Division page lists the 2021 International Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas and Existing Building codes among the codes in force, takes applications through MGO Connect, accepts payment by check, cashier's check or money order, and issues permits only to the owner of record or a state-licensed contractor. The Commercial Checklist requires, before a permit, a site plan, a zoning compliance certificate, a storm water permit, approval from the Wilson County Fire Marshal, septic, STEP or sewer approval, an address, a copy of the contractor's state license and workers' compensation, structural plans and the project cost, with fees paid on separate checks. Call Building Codes at (615) 444-3025, option 1.

Building Re-Inspection Fees

As published on the Wilson County Building Codes Division's Inspection Process page, a re-inspection after the first failed inspection costs $75, after the second $150, and after the third $300 together with a stop-work order. The same page sets a $500 fee for moving into a building before it is approved and a $300 fee for an expired temporary certificate of occupancy. These charges apply to building projects under the county's building jurisdiction, on top of the building permit fee. Call Building Codes at (615) 444-3025, option 1, to schedule inspections.

Adequate Facilities Tax — New Commercial and Industrial Floor Area

Per Resolution 25-8-11 in the County Commission agenda of 18 August 2025, adopted that day according to the Commission's minutes, the Adequate Facilities Tax on new commercial and industrial development is '$0.50 per square foot', with 'no exception for minimum footage and no cap on maximum footage'; the resolution directs $0.40 of each $0.50 to a Road Improvement Fund and the remaining $0.10 to debt service and capital projects. Resolution 25-8-12, adopted the same day, separated the tax from building permit fees. The county's Commercial Fee Schedule and 2026 Commercial Checklist list the $0.50 rate as of 08/18/2025, and the Checklist states that commercial internal renovations and build-outs are exempt and that fees are paid on separate checks. The Building Codes Division page states that it collects the tax for Wilson County and the cities of Lebanon, Mt. Juliet and Watertown, so the county tax reaches a new restaurant, shop, clinic or other business building inside those cities as well as in unincorporated Wilson County. Call Building Codes at (615) 444-3025, option 1.

Zoning Compliance Certificate

As published on the Wilson County Zoning Division page, 'Effective September 21, 2026, a fee of $150.00 per certificate' applies to a Zoning Compliance Certificate, and the page asks applicants to allow 3 to 5 business days. The fee was set by Resolution 26-9-16 on the County Commission agenda of 21 September 2026, which lists the Zoning Compliance Certificate as a new fee at '$150 per certificate'. The county's 2026 Commercial Checklist lists a zoning compliance certificate among the documents needed before a commercial building permit is issued, so a new or altered business building in unincorporated Wilson County needs one first. Contact the Zoning Division at 233 East Gay Street, Lebanon, (615) 444-3025, option 2.

Sign Permit (unincorporated county)

As published on the Wilson County Zoning Division page, 'Signs – Fee $250.00', the figure set by Resolution 26-9-16 on the County Commission agenda of 21 September 2026 and effective that day. The Zoning Division's FAQ on the same page states that a sign permit expires after one year unless the sign is posted, that the work must be complete within two years, that fees are paid in full at application, and that permits are issued on site (there is no online permitting). A storefront business putting up a new or changed sign in unincorporated Wilson County needs this permit before installation; signs inside a city are handled by that city. Contact the Zoning Division at (615) 444-3025, option 2.

Board of Zoning Appeals — Variance or Use on Appeal

As published on the Wilson County Zoning Division page, a Board of Zoning Appeals variance costs $350 and a use on appeal costs $500, the figures set by Resolution 26-9-16 on the County Commission agenda of 21 September 2026 and effective that day. The page states that a use on appeal application needs 10 copies of a business plan and plot plan, and that a second or later deferral requested by the applicant costs $150 (Resolution 21-4-21). Under the Wilson County Zoning Ordinance (last revised 21 July 2026), a Day Care Center and a Dog kennel are uses permissible on appeal in the A-1 district (§ 5.20.03.1 K and L), so a child care center or boarding kennel on A-1 land needs Board approval; a veterinary clinic is a permitted use in the C-2 district (§ 5.31.02 QQ). Contact the Zoning Division at (615) 444-3025, option 2.

Site Plan Review

As published on the Wilson County Planning Review Process page, 'Prices effective October 21, 2026', a site plan is submitted with a fee of $600 and nine copies (five full size and four at 11x17). The fee was set by Resolution 26-10-6 on the County Commission agenda of 19 October 2026. The page cites Zoning Ordinance § 6.20.25, under which an approved site plan must be stamped within two years of approval. The county's 2026 Commercial Checklist lists a site plan among the documents needed before a commercial building permit, so a new commercial site such as a restaurant, store, daycare or shop in unincorporated Wilson County goes through site plan review first. Contact the Planning Office at 228 East Main Street, Room 5, Lebanon, 615-449-2836.

Land Disturbance Permit (stormwater)

Section 14-503(1) of the Wilson County Stormwater Management Ordinance (effective 17 June 2013), as published on the county website, states that 'Every person will be required to obtain a land disturbance permit (LDP)' and that 'No building permit shall be issued until the applicant has obtained a LDP', with the application accompanied by payment of land disturbance permit and other stormwater management fees 'as set by resolution'. The county's 2026 Commercial Checklist lists a storm water permit as 'Required for all new commercial construction'. No resolution setting the permit fee is published on the county website; contact the Wilson County Stormwater Department at 615-443-2120 for the current amount before applying.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
County Business License (Standard or Minimal Activity)only if it applies to you	Wilson County Clerk, Business Tax	$15 county license (county-only; $15.59 by credit or debit card and $16.36 online; a city license inside Lebanon, Mt. Juliet or Watertown is separate)	standard license: one year, renewed at no additional cost when the state business tax return is filed; minimal activity license: $15 each time it is applied for	2026-10-27
Commercial Building Permit and Plan Review	Wilson County Building Codes Division	One rate per square foot for the whole building, set by the building's size bracket (not marginal): up to 10,000 sq ft $0.90; 10,001–30,000 sq ft $0.60; 30,001–50,000 sq ft $0.46; 50,001–100,000 sq ft $0.30; 100,001–200,000 sq ft $0.18; 200,001–400,000 sq ft $0.12; 400,001 sq ft and over $0.10. Internal remodel or renovation: $0.15 per sq ft (the new-construction schedule applies above 200,001 sq ft). Plan review: one half of the building permit fee.	per project	2026-10-27
Building Re-Inspection Feesonly if it applies to you	Wilson County Building Codes Division	First failed inspection $75; second $150; third $300 plus a stop-work order; $500 for moving in before approval; $300 for an expired temporary certificate of occupancy	per failed inspection or violation	2026-10-27
Adequate Facilities Tax — New Commercial and Industrial Floor Areaonly if it applies to you	Wilson County Building Codes Division	$0.50 per square foot of new commercial or industrial floor area, with no minimum footage and no cap	one-time, per new building or addition	2026-10-27
Zoning Compliance Certificate	Wilson County Zoning Division	$150 per certificate (effective September 21, 2026)	per project; allow 3 to 5 business days for issue	2026-10-27
Sign Permit (unincorporated county)only if it applies to you	Wilson County Zoning Division	$250 per sign permit, paid in full at application (effective September 21, 2026)	expires after 1 year unless the sign is posted; work must be complete within 2 years	2026-10-27
Board of Zoning Appeals — Variance or Use on Appealonly if it applies to you	Wilson County Zoning Division	Variance $350; use on appeal $500; $150 for a second or later deferral requested by the applicant	one-time, per application	2026-10-27
Site Plan Reviewonly if it applies to you	Wilson County Planning Office	$600 per site plan (effective October 21, 2026)	one-time, per plan; the approved plan must be stamped within 2 years of approval	2026-10-27
Land Disturbance Permit (stormwater)	Wilson County Stormwater Department	The land disturbance permit fee is set by resolution under § 14-503(1) of the Stormwater Management Ordinance; no fee resolution is published on the county website. Contact the Stormwater Department at 615-443-2120 for the current amount.	per project	2026-10-27

Business licenses and permits in Wilson County, Tennessee

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Permits that apply to every type of business in Wilson County