Franklin, TN

Franklin, in brief

Franklin is the county seat of Williamson County, about 20 miles south of Nashville. The city was founded on October 26, 1799, and named for Benjamin Franklin.

The city says it covers about 42 square miles, and that the 2020 Census counted 83,454 people.

The city's own guide points visitors to downtown Franklin, a 15-block historic district, and to the Cool Springs Galleria. Those are the two areas the city names on that page.

Which office permits the job

Inside the Franklin city limits, Building and Neighborhood Services takes the permit. The office is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Monday through Friday. Call 615-794-7012.

The mailing address is 109 3rd Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37064. Residential plans go in as a PDF through the permitting portal, and the city says those applications are processed in 7 working days or less.

A building permit is required for all new construction, additions, renovations, decks, pools, and most repair work. That permit does not cover plumbing, mechanical, electrical, or low-voltage work.

Contractors licensed in those trades pull their own permits.

When the work costs more than $25,000, a State of Tennessee licensed contractor has to pull the permit. The city asks for a copy of the license and a certificate of insurance before it will issue one.

A homeowner may pull a building permit. For a new home, it has to be your primary residence, the city will issue that permit only once every two years, and you need a notarized homeowner affidavit.

The city warns that scam emails impersonate local offices and ask for payment. Franklin will not ask for payment by an unsolicited email or a wire transfer.

Pay plan-review fees in the portal, and call 615-794-7012 if an invoice looks wrong.

A mailing address in Franklin or Brentwood can still be unincorporated Williamson County. Codes Compliance enforces zoning in the unincorporated areas, including building permits and swimming pool fence inspections.

The office is at 1320 West Main Street, Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-5736, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. File a county building permit through the electronic plan review system, and call Building Codes at (615) 790-5718 if you need help.

Call with the street address before anyone applies, so the permit goes to the right office.

Hiring a roofer

Tennessee requires a contractor's license before someone contracts, bids, or negotiates a price on a project of $25,000 or more as the prime contractor, the person who contracts with the owner.

A roofing subcontractor needs a license when the roofing portion alone is $25,000 or more, including materials, equipment, and labor. The Board also says a licensed contractor carries general liability insurance and workers' compensation, unless they have an exemption.

Look the company up at verify.tn.gov.

A separate home improvement license covers some residential work from $3,000 to $24,999, and only in Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford, and Shelby counties. Williamson County is outside that list.

On a smaller job here, ask to see a certificate of insurance.

The city requires a permit for most repair work, and it says to call 615-794-7012 to find out whether a specific project needs one. Make that call before a roof starts.

On a property inside a Historic Preservation Overlay, the city will not issue a construction permit until the applicant has contacted the Historic Preservation Planner in the Planning and Sustainability Department. Roofing alterations need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Zoning Commission.

In-kind repair is outside that review. The city still asks you to contact preservation staff before any repair or replacement, so the work is documented.

Ask the staff whether your address is inside the overlay before you sign a roof contract. Downtown's 15-block historic district is a separate description on the city's visitor page.

Hiring a pool company

The city's swimming pool procedures say a permit is required for a swimming pool, hot tub, spa, or similar product that can hold water 24 inches deep or more. Excavations, footings, and slabs are inspected.

All electrical wiring needs its own permit and inspections. When the plumbing connects to the City of Franklin water system, a licensed plumber installs it and it is inspected.

When it does not connect to the city system, the city says a separate plumbing inspection is not required.

An in-ground pool needs a temporary safety fence during construction. Water stays out until the permanent fence or barrier is in place.

If rain fills the hole before the pool goes in, the excavation has to be drained.

For a residential pool 36 inches or more deep, the handout requires a pool alarm under Tennessee Code Annotated §68-14-801 through 807. The permit application has to include an invoice showing the alarm will be installed.

The city says that rule has been in effect since January 1, 2011.

The barrier drawings in that handout follow an older code section labeled AG105, and the file is a 2015 revision. Separately, the city's adopted codes include the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, effective January 1, 2026.

Plans submitted before that date were reviewed under the 2018 codes. Ask Building and Neighborhood Services which barrier measurements apply to a permit you pull now.

More trades

Pages for pest control, house cleaning, heating and air, plumbing, and landscaping and lawn care list the companies checked for this town.

Questions people ask

Sources

Checked October 25, 2026. Listing counts come from MyTownIsHere.

• City of Franklin, About Franklin (county seat, 2020 Census, founding)
• City of Franklin, Our City (downtown historic district, Cool Springs Galleria)
• City of Franklin, residential and commercial construction
• City of Franklin permitting portal
• City of Franklin, adopted codes (effective January 1, 2026)
• City of Franklin, swimming pool procedures
• City of Franklin, Certificate of Appropriateness
• Williamson County Codes Compliance
• Williamson County building permits
• Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, contractor license
• Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, home improvement license
• Tennessee license lookup (verify.tn.gov)