Fees
Estimated city fees
Baseline for a simple permitted adu: $1,750–$6,500+ in city permit and trade-permit fees is a practical Nashville DADU planning range before overlay, survey, or site-work costs
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Metro building permit + plan review | $1,500–$5,000+ (estimated range) | A Nashville DADU is a full residential dwelling, so fees are much closer to small-house permit pricing than to shed pricing. Actual totals depend on valuation, size, and revisions. |
| Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) | $250–$1,500+ each depending on scope | Habitable DADUs need separate utility systems and inspections, which normally means separate trade permits after the main permit path starts. |
| Historic permit / overlay review | Varies | Historic Preservation Overlay and Neighborhood Conservation Overlay parcels can incur added review effort and project cost. |
| Survey, easement, and site-prep costs | Varies by parcel | Nashville's DADU process is site-sensitive. Easement verification, stormwater work, and lot-constraint work often matter as much as the core permit fee. |
Affiliate slot
Need a contractor?
Licensed contractor matching — contextual placement.
Conditions
The rules that apply
- Metro Nashville says applicants wanting to add a detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) must complete the permitting process with Metro Codes and Building Safety.
- A Nashville DADU is only allowed where the parcel's zoning district permits DADUs with conditions and where the parcel also satisfies one of Metro's location tests — Urban Services District, a DADU overlay in the General Services District, a UDO with DADU standards, or a Specific Plan (SP) with DADU standards.
- Only one DADU is allowed on a parcel, and only when one single-family principal structure is present. If there are two or more principal structures on the parcel, a DADU is not permitted.
- Metro's DADU page says the detached accessory dwelling must be owned by the same person as the principal structure and one of the two dwellings must be owner-occupied.
- Living-space limits are explicit: the DADU living area may not exceed 700 square feet on lots under 10,000 square feet, or 850 square feet on lots 10,000 square feet or larger, and it still cannot exceed the size of the principal structure.
- Nashville also applies footprint and height controls. The DADU footprint cannot exceed the footprint of the primary structure, the DADU cannot exceed the height of the principal structure measured to the eave line, and Metro caps eave / ridge heights under Section 17.16.030G and 17.16.060G.
- Setback rules are conditional: a DADU with a footprint of 850 square feet or less and located to the rear of the principal structure can use reduced side and rear setbacks, but larger DADUs must meet full zoning-district setbacks. DADUs cannot be built over easements, platted setbacks, or required corner-lot side-street setbacks.
- Historic Preservation Overlay and Neighborhood Conservation Overlay parcels have additional restrictions. Metro says setbacks, size limits, and design requirements in historic overlays are enforced by Historic, and a historic permit is required in addition to the Codes building permit.
- For parcels inside an SP or UDO with DADU development standards, Metro says the Planning Department determines the applicable DADU requirements and building permits still require Planning approval.
- A property owner is generally not allowed to self-pull the permit to build a new DADU or convert a garage into a new DADU — Metro says a registered contractor must pull the permit for that work.
Documents
What you'll need to file
- Residential permit application submitted by a registered contractor to Metro Codes / the Zoning Help Desk or through ePermits.
- Scaled site plan showing property lines, the principal structure, the proposed DADU location, distances to lot lines, existing structures, easements, and alley conditions where relevant.
- Elevations from all four sides showing height, roof form, and the DADU's relationship to the principal structure.
- Floor plan showing the interior layout, fixtures, appliances, and the proposed living area used to verify the 700 / 850 square foot limits.
- Any additional documents needed for Planning, historic review, or overlay compliance if the parcel is in a Historic Preservation Overlay, Neighborhood Conservation Overlay, SP, or UDO with DADU standards.
- Contractor registration / permit-issuance credentials required by Metro for DADU permit pulling.
- Trade-permit information for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical scopes once the building permit path is active.
Process
How the permit process works
Sequential — each step gates the next.
-
Confirm DADU eligibility in Parcel Viewer Use Nashville's Parcel Viewer to identify the base zoning and overlays. Metro's DADU page requires both an eligible zoning district and one of the location qualifiers such as the Urban Services District, a DADU overlay, an SP with DADU standards, or a qualifying UDO.
-
Screen the parcel against DADU use restrictions Verify that there is only one single-family principal structure on the parcel, that only one DADU is proposed, and that the same owner will own both dwellings with one of them owner-occupied. If that ownership / occupancy structure does not work, the project does not fit Metro's DADU path.
-
Lay out size, footprint, height, and setback compliance Design the DADU so it stays within Metro's living-area limits, footprint controls, height controls, and setback rules. This is where most Nashville DADU errors happen: owners underestimate how many dimensional limits stack together.
-
Check overlays, easements, and historic review early If the parcel is inside a Historic Preservation Overlay, Neighborhood Conservation Overlay, SP, or UDO with DADU standards, coordinate with Historic or Planning before locking the design. Metro also warns that DADUs cannot be built over easements or platted setbacks.
-
Prepare the permit package Assemble the residential permit application, site plan, elevations, floor plan, and any overlay-specific documents. Nashville's DADU page says these materials go to the Zoning Help Desk or through ePermits for registered contractors.
-
Submit through Metro Codes The permit application is assigned to a zoning examiner, who reviews use, setback, footprint, and height restrictions. Metro says the zoning examiner will also issue a checklist of other Codes divisions or Metro agencies that must sign off before permit issuance.
-
Complete checklist approvals and pay fees Follow the Metro checklist instead of guessing the required reviews. Historic, Planning, utility, or stormwater signoffs can all be part of the path depending on the parcel. Once the signoffs are complete, pay the permit fee.
-
Pull trade permits and build After the main permit is active, obtain the required electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits. Start construction only after issuance and keep the approved plans available.
-
Pass inspections and close the record Complete the inspections required by Metro Codes and any trade disciplines. Keep the final approvals because ownership, occupancy, and land-use compliance can matter later for resale and operations.
Affiliate slot
Tools & materials
ADU tools and supplies — Amazon affiliate block.
Provenance
Code basis & official sources
Last verified 2026-04-22.
Metro Nashville-Davidson County Code Title 17 (including Sections 17.04.060, 17.12.040E.1, 17.16.030G, and 17.16.060G as cited by Metro's DADU guidance); Metro Nashville detached accessory dwelling unit permitting guidance; Chapter 16 building-code adoption path using the 2018 IRC framework as enforced by Metro Codes.
Residential permit page: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/codes/construction-and-permits/building-permits-central/detached-accessory-dwelling-unit
If you skip the permit
- Metro Nashville can issue a stop-work order if you start a DADU without the required permit path.
- If the parcel is not actually eligible for a DADU under zoning, overlay, or ownership / occupancy rules, the project can fail even after design money is spent.
- Building across easements, platted setbacks, or historic-overlay limits can force redesign, relocation, or removal after construction starts.
- After-the-fact permitting for a habitable dwelling can require full plan review and opening concealed work for inspection.
- A noncompliant DADU can create long-term resale, insurance, financing, and occupancy issues because Nashville's rules are explicit and parcel-specific.
- If a new DADU violates the owner-occupancy or short-term-rental restrictions, the project can become a land-use problem even if the structure itself was built well.
FAQ
Common Nashville adu permit questions
Do I need a permit to build an ADU in Nashville, TN?
Yes. Metro Nashville says applicants wanting to build a detached accessory dwelling unit must complete the permitting process with Metro Codes and Building Safety. This is a full permit path, not a simple accessory-structure exemption.
Does Nashville require owner occupancy for a DADU?
Yes. Metro's DADU guidance says the detached accessory dwelling must be owned by the same person as the principal structure and one of the two dwellings must be owner-occupied.
How big can a Nashville DADU be?
Metro says the living space cannot exceed 700 square feet on lots under 10,000 square feet or 850 square feet on lots 10,000 square feet or larger, and it still cannot exceed the size of the principal structure. Footprint and height controls also apply separately.
Can I self-pull a permit for a new Nashville DADU?
Usually no. Metro's DADU page says a property owner is not permitted to pull a self-permit to construct a new DADU or to convert a garage into a DADU; a contractor must pull the permit in those cases.
Do historic overlays affect ADUs in Nashville?
Yes. Metro says parcels in Historic Preservation Overlay and related historic areas must satisfy historic controls for setbacks, size, and design, and a historic permit is required in addition to the Codes building permit.
Can I use a Nashville DADU as a short-term rental?
Metro's DADU guidance specifically says that on covered single-family and similar residential lots where a new DADU is built or newly established by conversion, owner-occupied short-term rental use is not permitted in the accessory dwelling unit.
What is the setback rule for a Nashville DADU?
A rear-located DADU with a footprint of 850 square feet or less can use Metro's reduced accessory-building setbacks, but larger DADUs must meet the full zoning-district setbacks. DADUs also cannot be built over easements, platted setbacks, or corner-lot side-street setback areas.
How long does it take to get a Nashville ADU permit?
For a clean parcel, many Nashville DADU projects move through review in a few weeks, but total project timing is usually several months because Metro's checklist approvals, overlay review, and site constraints drive the pace. Historic or Planning review can add meaningful time.
§ A More permits for Nashville
§ B Compare across cities
§ C Companion calculators
Disclaimer: Informational only — not legal advice. Rules change; verify with Nashville permitting staff before you build.