Inside the city
City of Murfreesboro Building and Codes
The city says residential permits are required for alterations, renovations and additions to single-family houses and duplexes, and it has an Addition and Remodel application for work on an existing house. Applications go in by email or in person at City Hall, 111 West Vine Street, and the city allows up to two weeks to process one.
The city's pages do not spell out foundation repair by name, or say when it wants an engineer's stamped drawing or letter with the application. Those are questions for the department, and the number for residential permit questions is 615-893-3750. Its inspectors are in the office first thing in the morning, from 8:00 to 8:45, before they leave for site visits.
A homeowner may take out a permit for a primary residence. If the house is a rental, the city requires a Tennessee licensed contractor to obtain it.
Outside the city
Rutherford County Building Codes
Houses outside any city limit come under the county's Department of Building Codes at One Public Square, Room 101, in Murfreesboro. Its building FAQ cites the residential code's rule that a permit is needed to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move or demolish a structure. The phone number is 615-898-7734.
The county also warns that work begun without a permit can be charged a doubled fee. If your address says Murfreesboro but you pay no city property tax, you are probably in the county's jurisdiction.
Nearby towns
Who issues building permits around Murfreesboro
| Where the house is | Office | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| City of Murfreesboro | Building and Codes Department | 615-893-3750 |
| Rutherford County, outside city limits | Department of Building Codes | 615-898-7734 |
| Town of Smyrna | Building Safety Department | 615-355-5704 |
| City of La Vergne | Codes Department | 615-213-2624 |
| City of Eagleville | City Hall | 615-274-2922 |
| City of Lebanon | Building Inspection and Permitting | 615-444-3647 |
These are government offices for permit questions. They do not repair foundations or recommend companies.
Before work starts
Permit questions to settle with the company
- Does this repair need a permit at my address, and have you confirmed that with the office?
- Will you apply for it, and is the fee inside your price?
- Does the office want an engineer's letter or drawing, and who pays for it?
- Does your start date allow for the time the permit takes?
- Will I get a copy of the permit and the final inspection record?
Keep those papers with the warranty. A buyer's inspector will ask for them one day, and a repair that was permitted and inspected is far easier to explain than one that was not.
One phone call
Speak with a foundation repair company near Murfreesboro
Mention the crack, the dip or the lean, name the room, and give the month you first spotted it. Whoever picks up belongs to a Middle Tennessee foundation outfit whose only tie to this website is the referral. They can pencil in an inspection and follow it with a written price.
A house that is cracking as you listen, a wall on the point of failing, gas in the air: everybody outside first, then 911 and the gas company.
Expect the call to be recorded. Two short pages cover the rest: who pays for referrals and what becomes of call details.