Top Places in Tennessee to Build a Home in 2024

The best places in Tennessee to build a home include the Memphis suburbs of Cordova, Collierville and Germantown, Memphis itself, Nashville and its suburbs Franklin and Brentwood, Murfreesboro, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Jackson. Each one handles building permits through its own city or county office, and that local process shapes your timeline as much as the lot does. This guide, updated for 2026, compares the top spots, explains how building a home in Tennessee works step by step, and covers where to live while construction wraps up. When it’s time to move in, Spyder Moving and Storage TN can handle the move and any storage in between.

What are the best places in Tennessee to build a home?

There is no single best place to build a house in Tennessee; the right choice depends on your job, your budget for land and the kind of community you want. The table below lists each area in this guide with its county and the office that issues residential building permits, so you know who to call before you buy a lot.

Outside city limits, permits usually come from the county, and in areas with no local code enforcement the State Fire Marshal’s Office issues residential permits for one- and two-family homes.

Cordova

Cordova is a large, mostly suburban part of eastern Memphis, so building permits go through the Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement. It gives you parks, shopping and quick access to I-40 and Germantown without suburban price tags. Families like it because daily errands are close by and Memphis jobs are a short drive away. When the house is ready, our movers in Cordova TN know the neighborhoods well.

Collierville

Collierville is a top choice for families and professionals who want upscale neighborhoods, a historic town square and its own school district, Collierville Schools. The Town’s Building and Codes Division at Town Hall, 500 Poplar View Parkway, issues permits, reviews plans and inspects construction. Depending on the scope of work, homeowners may pull their own building permit, but a licensed contractor is required for all mechanical, plumbing and electrical work. When you’re ready to move in, our Collierville TN moving crews can help you settle in.

Germantown

Germantown suits people who want a peaceful, established suburb with mature trees, quiet streets and its own municipal school district. Building here is a two-step process: the City of Germantown handles the grading and foundation permits first, and the building permit itself comes from the Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement. Germantown also requires a sprinkler permit for homes with 5,500 square feet of heated space or more. A moving company in Germantown TN like ours can move you in once the certificate of occupancy is issued.

Memphis

Memphis is a good fit if you want to build in a city full of music history, museums, theaters and live music. Infill lots in older neighborhoods and larger parcels on the edges of the city give you more options than most metros, and land is generally cheaper than around Nashville. Permits come from the Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement, which also serves several suburbs. When the house is done, our Memphis TN movers can handle the move from our New Getwell Road office.

Nashville

Nashville, the state capital, is one of the fastest-growing areas in Tennessee and attracts young professionals, artists and business owners. It has the largest job market in the state, but also the highest land prices. Residential permits in Davidson County go through Metro’s Department of Codes and Building Safety, which coordinates zoning and other reviews; registered contractors apply online through ePermits. If you’re relocating within the state, see our guide to moving from Memphis to Nashville, and buyers relocating from the West Coast can read about the best Tennessee cities for Californians.

Franklin

Franklin mixes a historic downtown, full of preserved buildings and antique shops, with newer suburban neighborhoods, shopping centers, parks and schools. The City of Franklin’s Building and Neighborhood Services department reviews residential plans electronically and says it processes residential permit applications in seven working days or less. The city moved to the 2024 International Codes on January 1, 2026, so make sure your plans are drawn to the current edition.

Knoxville

Knoxville is one of the best places in Tennessee to build a home if you love nature and a lively city. It sits within driving distance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the University of Tennessee brings football Saturdays, concerts and cultural events. Inside city limits, the Plans Review and Inspections Division reviews plans and issues permits, and it offers a free preliminary plan review before you submit. Its university crowd is one reason Knoxville also appears on lists of popular Tennessee spots for European expats.

Chattanooga

Chattanooga is a strong choice if you love the outdoors, with ridges, rivers and trails for hiking, biking and kayaking right around the city. Inside city limits, the Land Development Office at 1250 Market Street handles new single-family permits through an online portal. The contractor needs a Tennessee contractor’s license, and a property owner can pull an owner’s permit only for a home that won’t be sold, leased or rented, and only if they haven’t had one in the past 24 months. If a job offer is what’s bringing you here, this guide to moving to Tennessee for work helps you weigh it.

Brentwood

Brentwood is one of the top places to build if you want larger lots and a suburban feel close to Nashville. It’s in Williamson County, just south of the city, with upscale neighborhoods, parks and well-regarded schools. The City of Brentwood’s Planning and Codes Department accepts permit applications and plans electronically, and every application needs a state contractor’s or home improvement license, proof of workers’ compensation and a Brentwood business tax license.

Jackson

Jackson, halfway between Memphis and Nashville on I-40, is a good choice for a first build because land usually costs less than in either metro. The City of Jackson’s Building and Codes Department at 119 East Main Street handles permits inside city limits. If you’re moving from Mississippi to Tennessee and want room to grow, Jackson belongs on your list, and Spyder’s Jackson TN movers serve the area.

Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro is a popular choice for young families and professionals who commute to Nashville but want a more relaxed suburban life. The city’s Building and Codes Department at 111 W. Vine Street issues permits for new single-family homes and says processing can take up to two weeks. New construction needs a signed and stamped surveyor’s plot plan and a floor plan, and electrical, plumbing, gas and HVAC work each need separate permits.

How do you build a house in Tennessee?

Building a home in Tennessee follows the same basic order almost everywhere, but the details depend on who has jurisdiction over your lot. Here is the typical sequence:

1. Check zoning before you buy land. Zoning decides what you can build, how close to the property line and whether you need a variance. Call the city or county planning office with the parcel number.
2. Find out who issues your permit. Inside most cities it’s the city codes office; outside city limits it’s the county; in areas with no local enforcement it’s the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Some counties and cities have opted out of statewide residential codes entirely, which means no permits or inspections, but you can still request a state inspection.
3. Hire a licensed contractor. Tennessee requires a state contractor’s license before anyone bids or contracts on a project whose total cost is $25,000 or more, which covers nearly every new house.
4. Submit plans and get the permit. Expect a site plan, foundation plan, floor plan and framing details. Separate trade permits are usually needed for electrical, plumbing and HVAC.
5. Pass inspections. Inspectors check the footing, framing, trades and final work at set stages.
6. Get the certificate of occupancy. You can’t legally move in until it’s issued, so book your movers for a date after the final inspection.

Can you build your own house in Tennessee?

In many places, yes, but with limits. Collierville lets homeowners pull their own building permit depending on the scope of work, while still requiring licensed contractors for mechanical, plumbing and electrical work. Chattanooga allows an owner’s permit only for a home you won’t sell, lease or rent, and only once every 24 months. Rules differ in every jurisdiction, so ask your permit office before you commit to being your own general contractor.

How much does it cost to build a house in Tennessee?

Costs vary widely by location, so get local bids rather than relying on a statewide average. Land is the biggest variable: lots around Nashville and in Williamson County cost far more than in West Tennessee. On top of land, budget for site work and utility connections (or a well and septic system on rural land), materials, labor, permit and inspection fees, and the size and finish level of the house. Ask at least three builders for itemized bids on the same plans so you can compare them line by line.

Permitting and regulations

Building codes and zoning rules differ in each place. They control what kind of building is allowed, setbacks, height and the safety standards you must meet. If your lot is in an area without local code enforcement, you’ll buy a residential permit and schedule inspections through the state’s permitting process run by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Knowing who has jurisdiction before you close on land saves you weeks of back-and-forth later.

Choosing the right builder

Choosing the right builder matters more than any other decision on the project. Check the builder’s license, look at homes they’ve finished and call past clients. Read the contract terms carefully before signing, including the payment schedule, allowances, change-order pricing and warranty. Plan the move at the same time: if you’re moving into the new home right away, book packing services in Memphis TN early so you aren’t packing at the last minute while you’re also scheduling the final walkthrough.

Where should you live while your house is being built?

Construction schedules slip because of weather, inspections and backordered materials, so plan a flexible place to stay. Most people choose one of three options:

• A month-to-month rental near the build site, so you can stop by often and the kids can stay in the same school zone.
• Staying with family, which saves money if the timeline is short.
• A furnished short-term rental, combined with putting your furniture in storage.

A two-step move works well: our crews pack and load your current home, keep everything in secure storage until the certificate of occupancy is issued, then deliver it to the new house. That way you only coordinate one company, and you’re not paying rent on a bigger place just to hold furniture.

Where can you build a home on land in Tennessee?

If you want acreage instead of a subdivision lot, look at the rural counties around the big metros. Near Memphis, Fayette County (including Somerville and Oakland) and Tipton County offer more land for the money, and our Somerville TN movers and Oakland TN movers work there regularly. Before you buy, confirm road access, whether public water and sewer reach the property, and what a soil test means for a septic system. Also check whether the county enforces residential building codes, since a few opt-out areas have none. You can confirm a builder’s license on the state’s contractor license lookup before you sign anything.

Ready to move into your new Tennessee home?

Tennessee has great places for every kind of build, from big-city lots in Nashville and Memphis to quiet suburbs like Collierville and Germantown and acreage in Fayette County. When you choose where to build, think about your commute, your budget for land and how the local permit office works, and give yourself a buffer for construction delays.

When the keys are in your hand, Spyder Moving and Storage can pack, store and move everything into your new house with our own crews and trucks. Call our Memphis office at 901-329-9064 or get a free moving estimate for your move into one of these places in Tennessee to build a home.