Building permits and zoning in Murfreesboro

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Murfreesboro’s Permit Center, Building and Codes, residential permits, building FAQ, Planning and Zoning, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and Historic Zoning Commission pages, and the city’s 2025 building permits report.

Building permits in Murfreesboro come from the Building and Codes Department at City Hall, 111 W. Vine St. (615-893-3750). Zoning, rezoning and site plans go through the Planning Department in the same building (615-893-6441). Both are open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays; Building and Codes stops taking payments at 4 p.m.

Who to call

• Building and Codes (permits, inspections, code questions): 615-893-3750. Inspectors are in the office from 8 to 8:45 a.m. to answer questions.
• Planning Department (zoning, rezoning, variances, historic district): 615-893-6441
• Rutherford County Building Codes (if you live outside the city limits): county site
• Call before you dig: 811 or Tennessee 811

When you need a permit

The city requires a permit to build, alter, convert, repair, enlarge, move or demolish any building or structure, including fences, storage buildings, pools, decks and finishing out an expandable bonus room. You do not need one for normal maintenance such as painting, wallpaper, window glazing, floor finishing or minor repairs to chimneys, porches or roofing.

Inside the historic zoning district along East Main Street, call the Planning Department before any exterior change; the Historic Zoning Commission must approve it first with a certificate of appropriateness.

How to apply

1. Pick the form from the Permit Center: new one- and two-family homes, additions and remodels, fences and accessory structures, pools and hot tubs, demolition, or electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical sub-permits.
2. For a fence, shed or addition, include a plot plan or a GIS map showing where it will go.
3. Email the application (the address is on the Permit Center page) or bring it to City Hall. Put your email address on the form.
4. Allow up to two weeks. When it is approved, the city tells you the fee and how to pay.
5. Call 615-893-3750 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to book each inspection, with your permit number in hand.

Commercial plans go through the city’s electronic plans portal.

Homeowners may pull permits for their own primary residence. A rental property needs a Tennessee licensed contractor. A permit lapses if work does not start within six months, or if work stops for a year.

Fees and impact fees

Fees follow the city’s permit fee schedule effective June 1, 2026. New homes are charged by heated and unheated square footage; additions, fences and accessory buildings by construction cost; pools a flat fee by type. New houses, additions and accessory buildings may also owe the Rutherford County school facilities tax (a receipt is required before a new house is permitted) and the city’s development impact fees. The city adopted the 2024 building codes.

What zone am I in?

Search your address on the city GIS map, tick the Zoning layer and zoom in. The land use chart shows what each district allows, and the full zoning ordinance is online. The Planning Department also writes zoning verification letters.

Who decides

All meet in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Coming up: the Planning Commission holds public hearings at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, including a request to rezone about 2.51 acres on Brinkley Avenue from commercial highway to a planned unit district (notices). The BZA meets Wednesday, Oct. 28, then Thursday, Nov. 19, and Thursday, Dec. 17, all at 1 p.m.

How much Murfreesboro is building

The city issued 1,057 permits for new single-family homes in 2025, about the same as 2024 and well below the 1,821 of 2020. It also permitted 540 apartment and other multifamily units and 81 new commercial buildings in 2025. In September 2026 alone, it issued 667 permits of all kinds.

Watch out for fake fee emails

The Planning Department warns of scam emails posing as planners and demanding wire transfers. The city never asks for a fee by phone or wire; pay in person or through its project portal. If in doubt, call 615-893-6441, not a number in the email.

What this means for you

• Fences and sheds need a permit here; include a plot plan with the application.
• Budget two weeks for review before work starts.
• Living near a proposed rezoning? Public hearing notices are posted on the city’s hearings page.

More guides: property taxes, home prices and who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for a fence in Murfreesboro?

Yes. The city requires a building permit for fences, storage buildings, pools, decks and other accessory structures. There is no setback for fences, but they cannot sit on a neighbor’s land, an easement or the public right of way.

How long does a Murfreesboro building permit take?

The city says to allow up to two weeks for review. Once an application is approved, staff contact you with the fee and how to pay.

Can a homeowner pull their own building permit in Murfreesboro?

Yes, for your primary residence. If the property is a rental, a Tennessee licensed contractor must get the permit, and the city may ask for proof that you live there.

How do I find my zoning in Murfreesboro?

Search your address on the city’s public GIS map and turn on the Zoning layer. The Planning Department at 615-893-6441 can also tell you.

When does the Murfreesboro Planning Commission meet?

It meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. and the third Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 111 W. Vine St.