Planning guide · Franklin and Brentwood, TN
Permits for Outdoor Projects in Franklin and Brentwood, TN: A Checklist by Project
Deck, fence, patio, retaining wall, pergola, lighting and drainage. See what each city says, which office to ask, and what your HOA decides separately.
Quick answer
Franklin says fences and retaining walls “may need a building permit, depending on the height” [1] [2]. Brentwood reviews fences but issues no fence permit [4]. For decks, patios and pergolas, ask Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services or Brentwood Planning and Codes before you build. Your HOA approves separately.
Do I need a permit for my outdoor project in Franklin or Brentwood?
It depends on the project, its size and where your lot sits. The City of Franklin and the City of Brentwood each set their own rules, and your HOA may set more.
This page is general information. The city decides what your project needs. We only state a rule below when we read it on an official Franklin or Brentwood page. When we did not, the cell says “Ask the city” and names the office.
If you live outside both city limits, Williamson County has its own Building Codes Division. Its page says electrical permits for projects in the unincorporated county are available through the State of Tennessee [5].
The safest move is to ask before the work starts. A quick call or an online request gets you the answer for your lot.
Permit checklist by project: Franklin, Brentwood and your HOA
Franklin and Brentwood both say that some projects need review. The table shows what each city says in its own documents, and where you must ask.
| Project | City of Franklin | City of Brentwood | Your HOA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paver patio | Ask the city. Building and Neighborhood Services. | Ask the city. Planning and Codes. The manual lists a grading permit for more than 800 square feet of impervious surface or grading [4]. Ask if your patio counts. | Ask about size, paver color and location. |
| Deck | Ask the city. Building and Neighborhood Services. | Ask the city. Planning and Codes. Brentwood’s adopted residential code is the 2018 International Residential Code [4]. | Ask about stain color, railing and height. |
| Fence | “Fences and walls may need a building permit, depending on the height” [1]. Side or rear yard limit is 7 feet. Front yard limit is 3 feet. | Staff review, “no official permit is issued” [4]. | Ask about style, color, height and which side faces out. |
| Retaining wall | “Retaining walls may need a building permit, depending on the height” [2]. See the wall rules below. | The manual’s land disturbance plan standards call for a Tennessee licensed engineer on walls four feet or greater [4]. Ask Planning and Codes whether a plan applies to yours. | Ask about materials and any wall near a lot line. |
| Pergola or other accessory structure | Ask whether your pergola counts as an accessory structure. If it does, the ordinance sets district setbacks and bars it from platted or recorded easements [3]. | Accessory structures go through the building permit process, and “may require Board of Zoning Appeals approval” first [4]. Ask if a pergola counts. | Ask about style, color and placement. |
| Outdoor kitchen and gas line | Ask the city. Building and Neighborhood Services. | Ask the city. Planning and Codes. | Ask about placement and noise or smoke limits. |
| Outdoor lighting and electrical | Ask the city. Building and Neighborhood Services. | The manual lists the 2017 National Electrical Code, enforced by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, and a city publication of special electrical guidelines [4]. Ask Planning and Codes. | Ask about fixture color and glare. |
| Drainage and grading | Walls and fences may not block or divert natural drainage [2]. For a French drain, ask the city. | Grading permit listed at more than 800 square feet of impervious surface or grading, approved by the Engineering Department [4]. Ask if it applies. | Ask about easements and shared drainage. |
Sources: Franklin Zoning Ordinance, effective January 13, 2026 [1] [2] [3], and Brentwood Planning and Codes Process and Procedure Manual, effective February 19, 2026 [4]. We did not find an official page that gives a permit rule for the cells marked “Ask the city.”
When a cell says “Ask the city,” that is the honest answer. A phone call or an online permit request gets you the rule for your lot.
Fence and retaining wall rules we read in Franklin and Brentwood
Franklin sets numbers for fences and retaining walls in its zoning ordinance. Brentwood’s manual says fences get a review and points to a zoning section for the numbers.
Franklin fences
- Front yard height: 3 feet maximum [1].
- Side or rear yard height: 7 feet maximum for residential [1].
- Height is measured “from the lowest adjacent grade to the top of the fence or wall” [1].
- Fences in front yards can be at most 75 percent opaque [1].
- The finished side faces out, toward neighbors and the street [1].
- Chain link is prohibited, except in the LI and HI districts [1].
Franklin retaining walls
- A wall must sit back from a lot line by at least five feet, or by its own height if that is greater [2].
- Residential height: 2 feet maximum in the front yard and 6 feet maximum in the side or rear yard [2].
- Number of walls: 3 per lot maximum [2].
- Walls may not encroach into a utility easement without the easement holder’s written consent [2].
Brentwood fences and walls
Brentwood’s manual says: “Fences require a review by staff, but no official permit is issued” [4]. It names Zoning Code Sec. 78-10 as the fence rule. Ask Planning and Codes for the height and setback numbers for your lot.
For walls, the manual’s land disturbance plan standards call for a Tennessee licensed professional engineer to seal plans for walls four feet or greater, and to certify walls over four feet in height when they are done [4]. Ask Planning and Codes whether a plan applies to a wall on an existing home.
For prices, see our guides on fence installation cost and retaining wall cost.
Who to ask: offices and official links
In Franklin, ask Building and Neighborhood Services. In Brentwood, ask Planning and Codes. Outside city limits, ask the Williamson County Building Codes Division.
| Where your lot is | Office | Official link |
|---|---|---|
| City of Franklin | Building and Neighborhood Services | franklintn.gov, permit information |
| City of Brentwood | Planning and Codes Department | brentwoodtn.gov, Planning and Codes |
| Unincorporated Williamson County | Building Codes Division | williamsoncounty-tn.gov, Building Codes |
Brentwood’s page says permit requests go through its online permitting site. The Brentwood manual lists five items at the time of a building permit application: a zoning certificate, a building permit application, a storm water guidelines form, a site plan and building plans [4]. It also says “No work may begin prior to the issuance of a Building Permit” [4].
Not sure which jurisdiction your lot is in? Ask the city or the county before you plan. Our pages for Franklin and Brentwood show the areas we serve.
HOA approval is a separate yes from the city
A city permit and an HOA approval are two different things. You may need one, both or neither. A city yes does not replace your HOA, and an HOA yes does not replace the city.
Many Brentwood and Franklin neighborhoods have HOA rules for fences, decks, patios and outdoor features. Ask for the rules in writing before you design.
Questions to ask your HOA
- Which projects need an application?
- Which materials, colors and heights are allowed?
- Does the HOA need a drawing, a survey or a contractor name?
- How long does a review take?
- Can I start work before I hear back?
Send the HOA your design before you order materials. A review can take time, so it belongs at the start of your schedule.
Call 811 before you dig
Call 811 before any digging, including fence posts, deck footings and patio base work. Tennessee’s utility regulators say to contact 811 a few days before you dig, so locators can mark underground lines [6].
The call is separate from your city permit and your HOA review. Make it part of your schedule from day one.
How to check before you build: six steps
Start with the project itself, then the city, then your HOA. This order keeps your plan from changing three times.
- Define the project. Write the type, the size and the height. Add the address.
- Find your jurisdiction. Franklin, Brentwood or unincorporated Williamson County. The answer sets who you ask.
- Ask the city. Use the office in the table above. Ask if a permit, a plan review or a setback check applies.
- Get your HOA rules. Ask in writing. Send your design for approval if the HOA needs one.
- Plan for 811. Call a few days before digging, and wait for the lines to be marked.
- Write it all into the quote. Your contractor should name who handles each permit, approval and call.
Questions to ask the city
- Does my project need a building permit at this size and height?
- What setbacks or easements affect my lot?
- Does a grading or drainage review apply?
- Do I need a plan from an engineer?
- Who inspects the work, and when?
For help planning a project from start to finish, see our hardscaping services and fence installation in Franklin.
Build it right the first time
Pineda Properties builds decks, fences, patios and retaining walls across Franklin, Brentwood, Spring Hill, Nolensville, Thompson’s Station, College Grove, Fairview and Nashville. Pineda prices each project after a free site visit.
Get my free estimate Call (615) 899-5766Permit questions from Franklin and Brentwood homeowners
Do I need a permit for a deck in Franklin, TN?
We did not find an official Franklin page that states a deck permit rule. Ask the City of Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services before you build. Have the deck size and height ready.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Brentwood, TN?
Brentwood’s Planning and Codes manual says fences require a staff review, but no official permit is issued. The review checks that the fence meets the zoning code. Ask Planning and Codes for the height and setback numbers for your lot.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Franklin, TN?
Franklin’s zoning ordinance says fences and walls may need a building permit, depending on the height. It sets a 7-foot maximum in a residential side or rear yard and a 3-foot maximum in the front yard. Ask Building and Neighborhood Services about your fence.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Franklin or Brentwood?
Franklin says retaining walls may need a building permit, depending on the height. It also limits residential walls to 2 feet in the front yard and 6 feet in the side or rear yard. Brentwood’s manual calls for a Tennessee licensed engineer on walls four feet or greater when a land disturbance plan is required. Ask your city about your wall.
Do I need a permit for a patio in Franklin, TN?
We did not find an official Franklin page that states a patio permit rule. Ask Building and Neighborhood Services, and mention the size and any grading or drainage work. Check your HOA too.
Does my HOA approval replace a city permit?
No. The two are separate. The HOA reviews your design under its own rules, and the city reviews your project under its own codes. You may need both.
Do I need to call 811 for a fence or patio?
Yes, call 811 before any digging. Tennessee’s utility regulators say to contact 811 a few days before you dig, so locators can mark underground lines. That includes post holes and patio base work.
Sources
- City of Franklin, Tennessee, Zoning Ordinance, effective January 13, 2026, Section 13.1 (fences and walls: location, height, permitting) and the following page (fence and wall materials)
- City of Franklin, Tennessee, Zoning Ordinance, effective January 13, 2026, Section 13.2 (retaining walls)
- City of Franklin, Tennessee, Zoning Ordinance, effective January 13, 2026, Sections 5.2.3 and 5.2.4 (accessory structures)
- City of Brentwood, Planning and Codes, Process and Procedure Manual, 2nd Edition, effective February 19, 2026
- Williamson County, Tennessee, Building Codes Division
- Tennessee Public Utility Commission, “April is Safe Digging Month”, 2026