Commercial Building Permit (Renovation, Addition or New Construction): Nashville restaurant guide

Metro Codes & Building Safety

What it is

Approval to build out or alter the space: walls, ceilings, kitchen hood work, doors, fixture relocation and so on. Plans are reviewed by Codes, the Fire Marshal and other Metro agencies.

When a restaurant needs it

Any renovation work when moving a new business into an existing space, or any new construction or addition.

How to apply

Email the Commercial Permit Application to the Zoning Help Desk to get a temporary application number, then upload plans through ePlans. After all agency approvals, the licensed contractor pays and gets the permit issued in ePermits.

Documents you’ll need

Commercial Permit Application with scope of work
Construction plans per Metro's Commercial Plan Requirements
Site plan / parking survey if the use changes
Contractor license information

Fee

Commercial: $40.39 up to $2,000 valuation, sliding to $2,326.84 for the first $500,000 + $2.79 per additional $1,000. Plan review is one-half the building permit fee up to $275,000 valuation. A Codes tech fee of 10% applies.

Processing time

Varies — several weeks or more depending on agency reviews

Renewal

None (permit expires if work is not started/continued)

Who files

The application can be started by the owner or architect, but the permit is issued to the licensed contractor of record.

Good to know

Only registered licensed contractors can hold ePermits accounts. Owners without a contractor must work in person with Codes.

Official source

Metro Codes — Commercial renovation permit · Metro Codes fee schedule (PDF)

Get your personalized Nashville permit plan

Answer a few questions about your space and get every permit in order, with a timeline, a cost range, walkthroughs, and every application filled in for you to sign with Open.

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Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Guidance only, not legal advice.