Spring Hill permits, zoning and the sewer moratorium: where to apply, which forms, when the Planning Commission meets. Development Services: 931-451-0940.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Sources: the city’s Development Services, applications and permits, Building Codes, Planning, Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals pages.
Permits, inspections, zoning and code enforcement in Spring Hill all run through the city’s Development Services Department. The biggest thing to know in 2026 is the sewer moratorium: most new projects that need new sewer capacity cannot get a permit without an allocation from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
Who to call
- Development Services: 931-451-0940, 8060 Station Hill Drive, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays
- Building permits and inspections: permits@springhilltn.org; Chief Building Official Victor Woods, 931-451-0162
- Zoning and land use: planning@springhilltn.org; Senior Planner Gilles Morin, 931-451-0967
- Engineering, driveways, right-of-way: engineering@springhilltn.org
Which projects need a permit
The city’s applications and permits page has a form for each of these:
- New homes (the residential building permit and its construction checklist)
- Decks, fences, sheds, swimming pools and retaining walls
- Patio covers, screened porches, pergolas and gazebos
- Plumbing, mechanical and gas work, and backflow devices
- Sewer and water taps
- Driveway extensions, land disturbance and work in the right-of-way (engineering permits)
- Signs and banners (no sign of any kind may go in the public right-of-way)
- Backyard hens and short-term rentals, which each have their own application
Commercial plans go to permits@springhilltn.org as a completed application with a full digital set including mechanical, electrical and plumbing drawings. Inspection requests go to the same address. The city enforces the 2018 International Residential Code, according to the Building Codes page, which also posts the city’s 2026 notice of the annual impact fee increase.
The sewer moratorium
On Aug. 5, 2025, the board accepted a consent order from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation after the city self-reported 29 effluent violations at its sewer treatment plant from 2023 to 2025. The order put a moratorium on new sewer connections for projects without vested sewer rights. It stays in place until the plant meets the order’s standards for 12 months in a row.
On Jan. 5, 2026, the board passed Ordinance 25-29, which sets out how the remaining capacity is shared and lifted the earlier pause on development applications. Every project that gets an allocation must install a sewer flow meter. A new business moving into an existing commercial space can skip the allocation if a licensed engineer shows its sewer demand is no higher than the previous tenant’s, under the city’s commercial tenant guidelines. The city keeps a list of projects with vested rights.
Building permits over the years
The Codes office’s monthly permit report shows how the city grew: 35 permits in 1990, a peak of 1,451 in 2005, a low of 180 in 2009 and a second boom that reached 1,082 in 2020. The report was last posted in September 2024, so 2024 is incomplete and not charted.
Zoning, rezoning and the Planning Commission
Zoning in Spring Hill is set by the Unified Development Code, adopted in 2018 and last revised in November 2025, and shown on the adopted zoning map. The long-range plan is “Spring Hill Rising,” the 2040 comprehensive plan. To confirm a property’s zoning in writing, file a zoning verification letter request.
Rezonings, subdivisions, site plans and planned developments start with the Planning Division, which schedules the public hearings. Use the city’s land use application, the fee schedule and the 2026 application review schedule for filing deadlines.
| Board | When it meets | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Planning Commission (seven members) | 5:30 p.m., second and fourth Mondays (voting meeting, then work session) | City Hall Boardroom, 199 Town Center Parkway |
| Board of Zoning Appeals (five members) | 5:30 p.m., third Tuesday, as needed | City Hall Boardroom |
| Board of Mayor and Aldermen | Takes up land use applications after the Planning Commission | City Hall |
The Board of Zoning Appeals hears variances, special uses and appeals of staff decisions; use the BOZA application. Agendas are posted in advance in the city’s Agenda Center.
What this means for you
If you are adding a deck, fence or pool to an existing home, the moratorium does not stop you; file the permit and book your inspections. If you are buying land to build, or planning a business in a new building, ask the Planning Division about sewer capacity before you spend money on plans.
Related guides: property taxes, road construction and who to call at City Hall.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a fence in Spring Hill?
Yes. The city’s Codes office issues fence permits, and also requires permits for decks, sheds, pools, retaining walls, patio covers, pergolas and gazebos.
Where do I get a building permit in Spring Hill?
From the Development Services Department, 8060 Station Hill Drive, 931-451-0940, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Forms are on the city’s applications and permits page.
When does the Spring Hill Planning Commission meet?
At 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month in the City Hall Boardroom. The first meeting of the month is the voting meeting; the second is a work session.
Is there a sewer moratorium in Spring Hill?
Yes. Since August 2025, under a state consent order, new sewer connections are limited to projects with vested rights or a capacity allocation from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
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