Electrical Permit in Nashville, TN
Permit Summary
Who Can Do the Electrical Work?
Homeowner Eligibility Rules
Metro Code §16.20.040 allows a resident homeowner to perform qualifying electrical repairs/additions personally at the owner's principal dwelling after obtaining a homeowner electrical permit. Only one homeowner electrical permit may be obtained in a 12-month period. Work must be within the owner's competence, not commercial, and performed by the owner (the city's affidavit allows immediate-family assistance); the owner may be asked to show proof of residency/ownership and knowledge/ability, including written or oral examination. Metro may void an improperly obtained or noncompliant permit. Homeowners must apply at the Codes office, not through contractor-only ePermits.
Contractor Rules
For the ordinary contractor pathway, Metro issues electrical permits to properly registered metropolitan electrical contractors; registered licensed contractors can obtain electronic accounts and apply for trade permits through ePermits. State contractor licensing and bonding rules also apply as appropriate. A qualified resident homeowner is a narrow exception; registered equipment installers or low-voltage installers have limited pathways for specified branch-circuit work. Metro's 2026 emergency-reconnect guidance requires a licensed electrical contractor to repair damaged customer-side electrical service. When a contractor changes before completion, the prior contractor must notify Codes in writing and the replacement must obtain a new permit for unfinished work under the amended §16.20.345.
Permit & Plan Review
Electrical Work Covered
Metro Code §16.20.160 generally covers new electrical installations and systems, wiring additions or alterations, installation of electrical equipment, fixtures, outlets and devices, and connections to power supplies. The city application expressly provides for temporary service; meter and service sizes; outlets; appliances; motors, generators and electrical HVAC equipment; low-voltage systems; and subpanels. Solar photovoltaic systems use an Electrical Photovoltaic (CAEP) permit subtype.
Plan Review Rules
Under Metro Code §16.20.210, Codes may require detailed scaled plans and specifications when needed to define the electrical scope and equipment. The department reviews applications and any submitted plans for compliance and may request corrections. Solar PV permits require additional review: roof/site layouts and structural capacity information for residential projects, and plan layouts, electrical diagrams, component information and professional design documentation for applicable commercial installations.
Quick / No-Plan Permit Rules
Registered licensed contractors may use Metro's ePermits system to apply for and self-issue eligible electrical trade permits, pay fees and schedule inspections online. This is not a universal no-review approval: projects needing plan review or other approvals, including photovoltaic work, require those steps. Homeowners and applicants without a registered contractor ePermits account apply in person using the city's electrical permit application.
Service, Panel & Utility Requirements
Service / Panel Rules
Installation, replacement with altered wiring, service increases, new meter service, relocation, subpanels and added electrical loads are within Metro's electrical permit/inspection program. Metro Code §16.20.290 requires evidence that existing installations have enough capacity for added loads before additional wiring/equipment can be permitted. Nashville Electric Service (NES) requires a change-meter order for panel-size/load changes, service relocations or conductor replacements and an electrical release from Codes for new service, customer-owned conductor replacement, added load or relocation. NES identifies limited same-size meter-base and breaker replacements that do not by themselves require a utility electrical release; that utility-release exception is not a blanket exemption from Metro electrical permit rules.
Service Reconnect Rules
For storm, fire and other damage to customer-owned service equipment, Metro instructs the owner to hire a licensed electrical contractor. After repair, the contractor requests an inspection from Metro's on-duty electrical inspector (615-862-6560 during office hours or 615-693-1742 after hours). Metro conducts a virtual inspection for this emergency process and, on approval, sends a release number to NES to authorize restoration. NES separately requires a Codes release for new service, upgraded/relocated service, new customer-owned conductors, and service de-energized for more than one year; limited like-for-like changes may not need a utility release.
Low-Voltage Rules
Metro Code §16.20.170 exempts maintenance or repair of low-voltage wiring, regulated communications utility installations subject to federal/state oversight, and a limited class of new low-voltage installations in existing one- or two-family dwellings involving ten or fewer active/current-utilization devices, subject to the ordinance's fire-separation qualification. Outside these exemptions, low-voltage work such as alarms, telephone/data, sound and similar systems may need a separate low-voltage trade permit and inspection; the Metro electrical application includes low-voltage device categories. Registered low-voltage contractors' permitted branch-circuit work is limited by §16.20.190.
Utility Coordination Rules
Contact Nashville Electric Service early for new permanent or temporary service, upgrades, meter changes, relocation, underground service or renewable interconnection. NES has separate builder/developer service applications and engineering/service standards, and its 2026 Electric Service Guidelines require a Metro Codes electrical release before energization when specified. NES requires two ditch inspections for underground utility service. Solar PV interconnection also requires a separate NES application/approval; ordinary interior branch-circuit work generally does not require separate utility coordination.
Inspections & Permit Life
Electrical Inspection Stages
For covered work, Metro inspects installed wiring/systems for compliance, ordinarily including an electrical rough-in inspection before concealed wiring is covered and electrical final inspection when the installation is complete. Service work may need a service/feeder inspection and a Codes release before NES energizes or reconnects supply. Metro's project inspection checklist determines which stages apply; for new/renovated buildings electrical trade final approval precedes the final building approval. Registered contractors schedule online, or inspections can be requested by phone at 615-862-6560 with the Metro permit number.
Permit Expiration / Inspection Interval
Metro Code §16.20.330 makes an electrical permit invalid if work is not commenced within six months after issuance or if work is suspended/abandoned for one year after commencement; the director may grant justified extensions of up to 90 days each. The current electrical application additionally instructs that nondemolition permit work be completed within two years of issuance, with possible written 90-day extensions. Photovoltaic permits likewise have a six-month start rule and a one-year suspension/abandonment rule.
What You Need Before Applying
Requirements
Obtain Metro's electrical trade permit before covered electrical installation, alteration or new conductor work, and pay applicable fees before work starts. The work must conform to Metro's adopted 2023 National Electrical Code and applicable local amendments and 2024 residential-code electrical provisions. Permits are normally obtained by Metro-registered licensed electrical contractors; eligible resident homeowners may apply in person under the limited homeowner-permit pathway. Obtain a building permit and related approvals where the broader construction project requires them, and request required Metro electrical inspections.
Exemptions
Metro Code §16.20.160(B) exempts normal maintenance and minor repairs to existing electrical systems that do not install new conductors. Section 16.20.170 additionally exempts maintenance/repair of low-voltage wiring, certain limited low-voltage installations in existing one- or two-family dwellings subject to the section's device-count and fire-separation limitations, work of regulated communications utilities under other agency inspection, and qualifying public right-of-way electrical work by public agencies' qualified maintenance electricians. A homeowner permit is not an exemption from permit fees or inspections.
Required Documents
Metro's Electrical Trade Permit Application requests the property address and description; property-owner/contact details; related building permit number where applicable; contractor company, registration number and job-value indication; and quantities/sizes of services, meters, panels, outlets, equipment and low-voltage devices in the scope. Eligible homeowners may need proof of ownership and residence and to demonstrate ability to perform the work. When directed by Codes, submit scaled electrical plans and specifications; solar PV projects have additional site/roof plans, structural capacity information and, for commercial work, electrical diagrams and product data.