Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-10-15
94 of Tennessee's 95 counties — 99% — let an owner build their own home without a licensed contractor. That is the 9th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Fentress County (91/100). Every entry below cites the county’s own official source.
Rules change, and cities inside these counties set their own — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All 2952 counties nationwide → Tennessee: no building codes → Tennessee: no zoning → Tennessee: no codes, no zoning → Tennessee: rv living → Tennessee: tiny homes → Tennessee: no minimum home size → Full Tennessee profile →
94 of 95 Tennessee counties · sorted by Index score
Tennessee allows a homeowner to build their own primary residence (not for sale/lease) under the state residential permit program's homeowner provision.
Tennessee State Fire Marshal Residential Permits ↗Statewide rule. An owner constructing a single residence for the owner’s individual use in Pickett County, Tennessee. The owner may construct one single residence once every two…
Residential Permit FAQs ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Unincorporated Lewis County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plum…
Zoning | Lewiscountytn ↗Unincorporated Humphreys County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, …
Residential Jurisdictions & Inspectors ↗Tenn. Code Ann. §62-6-103(a)(2) exempts an owner building a single residence for personal use (not for resale/rent) on their own property, limited to one such residence every tw…
Tennessee Code §62-6-103 (Contractor License - Owner Exemption) ↗Under the state residential program a homeowner may self-build if the home will not be sold or leased and they have not received a homeowner permit in the prior 24 months.
TN State Fire Marshal - Residential Permits ↗Tennessee allows a property owner to construct a single residence once every two years for their own use, not for resale/lease/rent, without being a licensed contractor.
Tennessee State Fire Marshal - Residential Permit FAQs ↗Unincorporated Houston County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, pl…
Residential Jurisdictions & Inspectors ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Unincorporated Overton County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, pl…
Permits & Zoning - Overton County, Tennessee ↗Unincorporated Johnson County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, pl…
Newcomer Information ↗Unincorporated Scott County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plum…
Moving to Scott County ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Under the state residential program a homeowner may self-build if the home will not be sold or leased and they have not received a homeowner permit in the prior 24 months.
TN State Fire Marshal - Residential Permits ↗Unincorporated Henry County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plum…
Property Subdivision and Codes Enforcement – Henry County ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A person who owns property and constructs their own home in Tennessee, including Obion County. The owner is allowed one permit every two years. The home must not…
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Tennessee allows a homeowner to build/permit their own residence as their own residence (not for sale or lease), with no homeowner permit issued in the prior 24 months.
TN State Fire Marshal - Residential Permits ↗Under Tennessee law (T.C.A. 62-6-103), a property owner may build a single residence once every two years for their own use (not for resale, lease or rent) without a contractor …
Tennessee State Fire Marshal - Residential Permit FAQs (owner-builder) ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗An owner-occupant performing work on a single residence under a Cumberland County homeowner building permit. The owner must occupy the property. The work must be for the owner's…
Homeowner’s Affidavit for Building Permit ↗Statewide rule. A property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's own use in Tennessee, including Warren County, subject to applicable local permitting and other …
Residential Permits ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Homeowner construction of a primary residence. The homeowner may perform work on a primary residence once every two years, subject to verification and applicable law. If total c…
dekalbtennessee.com ↗Unincorporated McMinn County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plu…
McMinn County Commission Resolution 18-114 ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. An owner constructing the owner's home in Smith County, Tennessee, including unincorporated areas where Smith County issues building permits outside the three ci…
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗A property owner applying for a building permit for a private residence, outbuilding, or addition. The owner assumes legal responsibility for liability and workers' compensation…
Adopting State Building Codes Resolution October 20 2020 Change 1 ↗Owner-builder construction by an owner constructing an individual-use structure in Marion County. The owner must acquire proper permits. The structure must be for individual use…
Owner/Builder Agreement ↗An owner constructing a single residence under the county residential permit process. The owner may construct one single residence once every two years. The residence must be fo…
Residential Building Permit Important Notices ↗A person building a structure in Cocke County without a contractor, including a person building the structure themselves. If the applicant does not have a contractor, an affidav…
Zoning Department — Cocke County, Tennessee ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗A homeowner constructing a residence in Hardeman County under the state residential permit program. The construction must be the homeowner's residence and not be sold or leased.…
Residential Permits | Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Unincorporated Sequatchie County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical,…
General – Assessor of Property ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Under Tennessee law (T.C.A. 62-6-103), a property owner may build a single residence once every two years for their own use (not for resale, lease or rent) without a contractor …
Tennessee State Fire Marshal - Residential Permit FAQs (owner-builder) ↗A permit applicant acting as owner/contractor. A copy of the deed is required when acting as owner/contractor. The source does not establish a complete exemption from permits or…
2026 Building Permit Application & Fees ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. An owner of property constructing a single residence for the owner's own use in Fayette County, Tennessee, under Tennessee's owner-builder licensing exemption. T…
Residential Permit FAQs ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗A land owner applying for a Dickson County building permit as owner rather than through a contractor. The permit is issued to the land owner or contractor only. The deed must be…
How to Obtain a Building Permit in Dickson County, Tennessee ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Homeowner-performed residential construction in Madison County. The structure must not be open to the public. The property must not be intended for sale, lease, or rent.
Homeowner Permits ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. An owner constructing a single residence in Tennessee, including Marshall County, when the state residential-permit and licensing rules apply The residence must …
Residential Permit FAQs ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Building permit applications in Wilson County. The property owner of record may apply directly. A state-licensed contractor may also apply.
Building Codes Division ↗An unlicensed owner pulling a permit for the owner's personal residence. Proof of workers compensation coverage or an exemption is required. The property must be the applicant's…
Apply for a Building Permit ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗A homeowner building the homeowner's own house. Homeowners are allowed one permit every two years. The homeowner must act as general contractor and supervise all phases.
Building Department ↗Homeowners seeking to act as their own contractor in the Loudon County residential permit process. The homeowner must comply with T.C.A. 62-6-103. A residential permit applicati…
Residential Permit Information ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗An owner building the owner's own home. One permit every two years. The home must not be for sale, lease, or rent.
Contractor License Required ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. An owner constructing a single residence in Tennessee for the owner's own use. The owner may construct only one single residence once every two years. The reside…
Residential Permit FAQs ↗An owner constructing a single residence for the owner's own use. Only one residence once every two years. The residence must be for the owner's use and not for resale, lease, o…
Building Inspection Department Owner Permit FAQ ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗Statewide rule. A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use. The owner may have one permit every two years. The residence must not …
Can I build my own home without a license? ↗An owner constructing a single residence under the Knox County homeowner-permit affidavit. The owner may construct only one single residence every two years. The residence must …
Homeowner's Affidavit for Building Permits ↗Property owners obtaining their own building permits for minor construction projects on their property. The owner becomes the permit holder and own contractor. The owner is sole…
Residential Building Codes and Inspections ↗Tennessee's state contractor-licensing law exempts an owner building/improving a residence for personal use (not for sale), so a Shelby County homeowner may pull an owner-builde…
Tennessee Code § 62-6-103 - Owner Exemption ↗A permit applicant performing or directly supervising work on the applicant's own property in the applicant's own county of residence. The applicant must sign the department's a…
Metro Nashville Codes Administration, Affidavit of Exemption ↗Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the Tennessee state page for all 95 counties ranked, or go back to the national list.
Off-grid gear
Building on land in one of these Tennessee counties? The kit we'd start with:
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General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
