Building & Codes
1517 Tombras Avenue
East Ridge, TN 37412
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Building & Codes Department is responsible for ensuring that all construction and property maintenance activities within the City of East Ridge comply with adopted local and state codes.
The department oversees residential and commercial plan reviews, building permits, site inspections, and code compliance. In addition to new construction and renovation oversight, the department enforces property maintenance standards to promote safe, healthy, and well-maintained neighborhoods.
Through consistent enforcement and public education, the Building & Codes Department supports responsible development and helps preserve the quality of life for residents and businesses in East Ridge.
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As the Building Inspection and Code Enforcement team for the City of East Ridge, our mission is to implement the codes necessary to provide a safe and healthy neighborhood environment for our residents while maintaining the high property values that have made East Ridge a desirable area for residential and commercial development.
The Building & Codes Department is now using a new software program called OpenGov. This software allows citizens to submit applications for permits, requests for inspections, or complaints for code enforcement violations electronically.
» Apply for Permits
» How to Navigate the City's OpenGov System
The City of East Ridge requires building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, street cut, storm water, sign, house moving, and demolition permits. Each permit requires on going inspections of the work until completion of the job. At this time a final inspection is performed. Each area mentioned above has a standard code in which the Chief Building Official must uphold. The Chief Building Official is available to help answer any questions and/or concerns to the business owners and residents regarding building of residential and commercial property.
Our staff receives reports and complaints from neighborhoods on a daily basis. Each report/complaint is investigated, evaluated, and then prioritized. This system helps ensure that critical issues are handled immediately and other, less severe complaints are handled in a timely manner.
All employees of the City of East Ridge have been instructed that if they see any serious code violations to report it to the code enforcement staff. This effort has been initiated in order to prevent long-term code violations that may become dangerous life-safety issues for the residents as well as the surrounding neighbors.
After a report/complaint is filed with our office, an initial drive-by site inspection is performed. During a site inspection, the officer may take pictures of the code violation and document any existing problems. If the property is found to be in violation of city code, a citation is issued to the owner and/or tenant of the property.
Upon receipt of this notice, we advise the owner or tenant to contact our department to speak with the officer who issued the citation. This will give the owner or tenant a chance to discuss this matter and set a compliance date for cleanup. If the property owner or tenant fails to correct the violation before the compliance date, they will be summoned to appear before the Administrative Hearing Officer for the City of East Ridge on the date listed in the citation.
The City of East Ridge is committed to maintaining clean, safe, and attractive neighborhoods through proactive code enforcement. The Code Enforcement team, operating under the Chief Building Official, includes one full-time Residential Inspector and two full-time Code Enforcement Officers. Together, they enforce the City's municipal codes and the adopted International Property Maintenance Code to ensure that all properties meet health, safety, and aesthetic standards.
» Building Code Awareness
» Access FEMA's Preliminary Flood Hazard Data
East Ridge