Nashville Kitchen Remodel Permit

What's Required in Nashville

• Building permit required for structural elements (joists, studs) or layout changes
• Electrical permit required for relocating fixtures, switches, or outlets
• Plumbing permit mandatory for moving sinks, gas lines, or dishwashers
• Mechanical permit required for ducted cooktops or range hood exhaust fans
• Cabinet installation without electrical or plumbing changes does NOT need a permit
• GFCI protection mandatory for all kitchen countertop outlets per current code

Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Kitchen in Nashville?

It depends on what you're changing, not on the word “remodel.” Nashville lists kitchen remodels as permit-required work, and in practice the permit attaches to the plumbing, electrical, and structural scope — not to cosmetic swaps. Permit fees typically run $300–$800 (project-based), issued by the Metro Nashville Codes Department. A remodel that moves the sink, adds circuits, relocates the range, or opens a wall is firmly in permit territory — and often means separate trade permits rather than one ticket.

Kitchen Work That Usually Doesn't Need a Permit

The cosmetic layer is generally yours to change freely: swapping cabinets in the same footprint, new countertops, flooring, backsplash, paint, and replacing appliances that use existing hookups. The moment the project touches what's behind the finishes — supply lines, drains, gas, new circuits, walls, or venting — it stops being cosmetic in the city's eyes. If your remodel straddles the line, describe the full scope to the Metro Nashville Codes Department up front; retrofitting a permit onto half-finished work is the expensive path.

How to Get a Kitchen Remodel Permit in Nashville

Frequently Asked Questions