Electrical Inspections

Where you purchase an electrical inspection depends on where your property is located. Please refer to the following to ensure that you are contacting the correct office:

  • Properties located within the city limits of Bristol Tennessee are inspected by the Codes Enforcement Division of the City of Bristol Tennessee. The City is available to answer questions Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. by calling 423-989-5709. Their office is located in the Municipal Building at 801 Anderson Street, Bristol, TN. 
  • Properties located in Sullivan County, but are not within the city limits of Bristol Tennessee, are inspected by the State of Tennessee Deputy Electrical Inspector. Inspection permits may be purchased   at our office at 2470 Volunteer Parkway, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. If this is a new service, an application for service will need to be filled out at our office prior to the issuing of an inspection. 
  • Properties located in Washington County, VA are inspected by the Department of Building Inspection. Inspection permits may be purchased at their office located at the County Administration Building, 205 Academy Drive, Abingdon, VA, 276-676-6209. They are open from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Properties located in the Kingsport, TN area are inspected by the City of Kingsport. Inspection permits   may be purchased at their office located at 201 West Market Street, Kingsport, TN, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 pm. Their office number is 423-229-9393.

The State of Tennessee Deputy Electrical inspector is available to answer questions or set up appointments for inspections Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until 9 a.m. by calling 423-354-0303.

The following are examples of work that require electrical inspections

Upgrades to an existing electrical service

Relocation of a current meter base

Heat pump installation

Addition to an existing building

New home construction

Mobile home hook-up

The location of the property determines which entity is responsible for performing electrical inspections.

Following are the prices for inspections if they are in Sullivan County but are not within the city limits of Bristol, Tennessee. Prices are based on the amp size. There is also a $3 issuing fee that will be added to the total of the inspection price.

Rough-in Inspection $27.00
HVAC $27.00
Re-inspect $27.00
0-30 Amps $27.00
31-60 Amps $27.00
61-200 Amps $27.00
201-400 Amps $40.00
401-600 Amps $50.00
601-1000Amps $90.00
1001 Amps and above are negotiated directly with the Deputy Electrical Inspector.

A BTES engineer must look at new or relocated services to determine the location of the service entrance and meter base. BTES will provide the meter base, which must be used in order to pass the inspection. It is always best to talk with a BTES engineer before starting work.