Goodlettsville is a small city with an unusual split: part of it is in Davidson County and part is in Sumner County. Building permits come from the City of Goodlettsville either way, but almost everything after that depends on which county line your house sits on. Get this right at the start and you'll avoid a stalled certificate of occupancy at the end.
One city, two sets of steps
The city's Codes and Building Safety office handles the building permit and building inspections for the whole city. Applications go through the city's online permitting portal. Here's how the rest differs:
| Step | Davidson County side | Sumner County side |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit and building inspections | City of Goodlettsville | City of Goodlettsville |
| Fire inspections | City | City |
| Plumbing and gas/mechanical permits and inspections | Metro Nashville Codes | City of Goodlettsville |
| Electrical permit and inspections | Metro Nashville Codes | State Electrical Inspector (Hendersonville office) |
| Adequate facilities tax | Not applicable | Sumner County tax on new development, paid in Gallatin before the city permit is reviewed |
| Certificate of occupancy | Held until all Metro trade permits pass final | Held until the State electrical final passes |
On the Davidson side, then, your plumber, HVAC contractor and electrician deal with Metro, while the builder deals with the city. On the Sumner side, the city inspects plumbing and mechanical, and the State inspects electrical. Plan schedules accordingly, because a missed trade final holds up the whole job.
The city also lists a permit bond requirement for contractors working within city limits.
The license rule changes at the county line
Tennessee's Home Improvement license, required for residential remodeling jobs from $3,000 to $24,999, applies only in counties that have adopted it: Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby. Davidson is on the list and Sumner isn't. So:
- On the Davidson side, a contractor doing a $3,000 to $24,999 remodel needs a state Home Improvement license.
- On the Sumner side, the state Home Improvement license law doesn't apply, but a state contractor's license is still required at $25,000 and up statewide, and trade work still needs the right trade licenses and permits.
Either way, ask for license numbers and check them on the state's Verify search. Our Tennessee contractor license guide explains the license types.
Housing and the projects that fit
Goodlettsville's housing runs from older homes near the historic downtown along Main Street to postwar ranches and newer subdivisions on the edges of town. The common projects follow the housing:
- Roofs and gutters on 1970s through 2000s houses reaching the end of their second shingle roof. See roofing.
- HVAC replacement, often moving from a gas furnace to a heat pump. Check who your electric provider is, then look at TVA EnergyRight rebates for heat pumps, duct sealing and HVAC tune-ups. See HVAC.
- Kitchen and bath updates in houses with original builder finishes. See kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodeling.
- Decks and screened porches on larger suburban lots. See decks and porches.
- Crawl-space moisture fixes in older ranches. See basements and crawl spaces.
Timing a project around inspections
Because two or three agencies can be involved, sequencing matters more here than in a single-jurisdiction town. A typical remodel with new wiring and plumbing moves like this: the city issues the building permit; the trades pull their own permits from Metro (Davidson side) or the city and the State (Sumner side); rough-in inspections happen before any insulation or drywall goes up; and the city's final comes only after every trade final is signed off. Ask your contractor who is responsible for scheduling each inspection, and get that in writing. A job where the general contractor assumes the electrician called the State, and the electrician assumes the reverse, is how a two-week punch list turns into two months.
If you're acting as your own general contractor, keep a simple log of each permit number, the agency that issued it and the date of each passed inspection. You'll need those numbers to request inspections and to close out the job.
HOAs
Newer subdivisions often have HOAs with architectural review. Get HOA approval for fences, decks, roofing color and additions before you apply for the city permit.
Before you start: a checklist
- Confirm which county your parcel is in using the property record or tax bill.
- Apply for the building permit with the city.
- Line up the trades: on the Davidson side they'll pull Metro trade permits, and on the Sumner side the electrician pulls a State permit.
- If the project is new construction on the Sumner side, pay Sumner County's adequate facilities tax first and keep the receipt.
- Verify every contractor's state license.
Services we match in Goodlettsville
- Roofing & Storm Repair — Roof replacement, wind and hail damage, tarping.
- Kitchen Remodeling — Bungalow kitchens, open layouts and new finishes.
- Bathroom Remodeling — Shower conversions, primary baths and updates.
- Decks & Porches — Covered porches, screened porches and decks.
- HVAC — Heat pumps, furnaces and AC.
- Siding — Fiber cement, vinyl and storm-damaged siding.
- Window Replacement — Replacement windows and historic window repair.
- Basements & Crawl Spaces — Basement finishing, waterproofing and crawl space repair.
Goodlettsville homeowner questions
Who inspects electrical work in Goodlettsville?
On the Davidson County side, Metro Nashville Codes. On the Sumner County side, the State Electrical Inspector based in Hendersonville.
Do contractors need a Home Improvement license in Goodlettsville?
On the Davidson side, yes, for remodeling jobs from $3,000 to $24,999. Sumner County hasn't adopted the Home Improvement license law, but a state contractor's license is required statewide at $25,000 and up.
Where do I apply for a building permit?
With the City of Goodlettsville, through its online permitting portal, on either side of the county line.
Why can't I get my certificate of occupancy?
The city won't issue it until every trade final is complete, from Metro on the Davidson side or from the State electrical inspector on the Sumner side.
Nearby areas
Inglewood and Madison · Hendersonville · Springfield · Gallatin
Sources
Checked by the Nashville Home Projects editorial team on October 20, 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm details with the agency or your contractor before you sign.