Paver patio with a lit round stone fire pit and seat wall at blue hour behind a brick home

Davidson County · 12 miles from downtown Nashville

Patios, walls, decks and fences in Goodlettsville

Hardscapes, decks and fences on both sides of the Davidson and Sumner county line, 12 miles north of downtown Nashville.

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Building in Goodlettsville

Goodlettsville sits in both Davidson and Sumner counties and had 17,789 residents at the 2020 Census. It runs its own permits through Codes and Building Safety at 318 North Main Street, separate from Metro Nashville even on the Davidson County side.

Fences in Goodlettsville

Section 14-208 of the city code lets a fence reach 8 feet beside and behind the house, as long as it doesn’t pass the front of the house. Forward of that line, an open fence can be 6 feet and a solid one 4 feet. At a corner, the sight triangle runs 50 feet along each street, so a fence or hedge near the intersection stays low.

Steep lots and retaining walls

The city treats a lot with slopes over 20 percent as critical, and building on one takes plans from an engineer. On those lots a retaining wall or terraced patio is designed with the engineer from the start, since the wall is usually what makes the flat ground for the patio.

Pavilions, sheds and driveways

An accessory building such as a pavilion or pool house can be up to 70 percent of the size of the house and up to 18 feet tall. A new or widened driveway takes a Public Works permit under section 16-204.

Sources

What we build in Goodlettsville

Everything for a Goodlettsville yard

  1. 01 Paver & Brick Patios
  2. 02 Retaining Walls
  3. 03 Decks
  4. 04 Fences
  5. 05 Fire Pits & Outdoor Fireplaces
  6. 06 Brick & Stone Walls
  7. 07 Walkways & Steps
  8. 08 Driveways
  9. 09 Outdoor Kitchens
  10. 10 Pergolas, Pavilions & Patio Covers
  11. 11 Outdoor Lighting

Answers

Goodlettsville questions

How tall can a fence be in Goodlettsville?

Up to 8 feet beside and behind the house, as long as it doesn’t pass the front of the house. Forward of that line, Goodlettsville’s code allows an open fence up to 6 feet and a solid one up to 4. At corners, a 50-foot sight triangle keeps fences and hedges low.

Does Goodlettsville follow Metro Nashville’s building rules?

No. Goodlettsville issues its own permits through Codes and Building Safety on North Main Street, even for homes on the Davidson County side of town. Its fence, accessory building and driveway rules come from the Goodlettsville code, not Metro’s, so the numbers differ from what applies a few miles south in Nashville.

What is a critical lot in Goodlettsville?

A lot with slopes steeper than 20 percent. Goodlettsville requires plans from an engineer to build on one, so a retaining wall, terraced patio or deck on that kind of hillside is designed with the engineer from the start rather than after the city asks for it.

How big can a pavilion be in Goodlettsville?

Up to 70 percent of the size of the house and 18 feet tall, under Goodlettsville’s accessory building rules. That leaves room for a good-sized pavilion or pool house on most lots. A new or widened driveway to reach it needs a Public Works permit under section 16-204.

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