NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — As more people move to Nashville, so do many businesses. Metro Nashville Codes and Building Safety Administration issued more than 14,600 building permits in 2021 valued at nearly $5.5 billion.
More than $4 billion of the year’s valuation came from 2,499 commercial construction permits. Construction permits are for a number of project types, including new construction and renovation, as well as electrical and plumbing work.
Reggie Polk, a contractor, says he can bear witness to the many changes happening around Nashville.
It was in 2011 when he opened Polk & Associates Construction Inc — a general contracting and construction company.
"I mean, the landscape has completely changed. I think over the past couple of years I've been looking at the crane - watch all the cranes that are here in Nashville," Polk said.
Polk has had projects with the state of Tennessee, the Nashville International Airport and some private companies. He says his company has had a hand in more than a dozen projects since opening, and not just here in Nashville.
"We work in Alabama, we're in Florida, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana and also Illinois," Polk said.
Polk says he has already applied for another permit this year to help build a new project.
Assistant Director of Metro Codes Emily Lamb says these permits are everything from a permit for a homeowner to build a new deck to a million-dollar company wanting to move its headquarters to Nashville.
"Here we are, second year in a row having set records, that it's just not slowing down. Which, you know, sends the loud and clear message Nashville is and continues to be a booming city," Lamb said. "It continues to be a place where people want to come, whether that's to live and to work, or whether that's to come visit. But there's just a lot of development in Nashville and there's no signs of slowing."
Permit valuation for the 2020 calendar year was at $4.6 billion for 11,482 building permits.
This is the first time in Metro history the city has issued more than 14,000 permits in a single year.
The previous record was 12,561 permits in 2016.
