Building Codes Department
**At their May 14, 2026 meeting, the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt the 2024 editions of the International Codes. This adoption became effective immediately upon approval.**
These updated codes will govern the review, permitting, and inspection of applicable construction projects within Rutherford County.
To view a list of the adopted codes, including applicable amendments, please visit our Building Code Adoption & Updates page.
For additional information, please contact the Rutherford County Building Codes Department.
Please be patient as we work on updating our website to reflect the new code adoption.
The Rutherford County Building Codes Department is a service department providing construction inspections by certified building inspectors to protect the public's life, health and welfare in the built environment. Zoning and Code Enforcement policies encourage preservation and protection of neighborhood values. The protection is provided through the adoption and enforcement, by state and local governments, of the performance-based provisions contained in the International Building Code Series and Rutherford County Zoning Ordinance.
The Building Codes Department is responsible for:
- Collection of the School Facilities Tax or Development Tax
- Plans review services for residential and commercial construction
- Review, issuance, inspection and approval of all residential and commercial building permits
- Preparation and processing of complaints, inspections and other legal notifications for violations of various County adopted Ordinances such as:
- Rutherford County Zoning Ordinance
- Vacant & Dilapidated Structure Act
- Tall Weeds & Grass Ordinance
- Noise Ordinance
- Property Maintenance enforcement regulated by the currently adopted 2018 International Property Maintenance Code