Building Permits in Memphis

Memphis requires a building permit for most construction, alteration, and repair work affecting structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems. A key fact for anyone building in Memphis: permits are not issued by a standalone city building department. Instead, Memphis and Shelby County jointly operate the Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement (MSCCE) — a single agency that enforces the jointly adopted technical codes for the entire county, including the City of Memphis.

This joint arrangement means that whether your project is inside the city limits or in unincorporated Shelby County, you work with the same office, the same codes, and the same permit portal.

The Joint City-County Structure

Memphis and Shelby County adopted a unified set of construction standards — the Memphis and Shelby County (MSC) Technical Codes — which are based on the 2021 ICC International Codes with locally negotiated amendments. The joint codes became effective January 1, 2022 and cover building, existing building, mechanical, fuel gas, fire, and electrical (using the 2020 NEC with local amendments).

Oversight is provided by the Memphis and Shelby County Building Code Board, which adopts rules for contractor licensing under the joint technical codes and hears proposed changes to the codes.

Permit appeals go to the Joint Board of Appeals of Memphis and Shelby County, not to a city-only body.

Develop901 — The Online Portal

Develop901 (develop901.com) is the unified online citizen portal for the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development. Through Develop901 you can:

• Create a personal or contractor account
• Submit building permit applications
• Upload construction documents for electronic plan review
• File zoning and land use applications
• Pay permit fees
• Track permit and application status

The portal consolidates construction enforcement, planning, and zoning functions in one place. For phone assistance, contact the MSCCE directly at (901) 222-2300.

The MSCCE office is located at 6465 Mullins Station Rd, Memphis, TN 38134.

When You Need a Permit

You generally need a Memphis building permit for:

• New construction, additions, and accessory structures (including ADUs)
• Structural alterations, load-bearing wall changes, and foundation work
• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical (HVAC) changes
• Reroofing and window or door openings in exterior walls
• Swimming pools, spas, and retaining walls above a height threshold
• Demolition of any habitable structure
• Change of occupancy or use in an existing building

Minor cosmetic work (painting, floor coverings, cabinetry without plumbing or electrical changes) is typically exempt. Contact the MSCCE before starting work if you are unsure whether a permit is required.

Permit Costs

MSCCE permit fees are set by the jointly adopted fee schedule. Fees typically scale with project valuation and may include:

• Building permit fee — based on project valuation or scope
• Plan review fee — a percentage of the building permit fee
• Trade permit fees — separate fees for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work
• Demolition permit fee — varies by structure size

Do not rely on third-party estimates. Obtain the current fee schedule directly from the MSCCE or the Develop901 portal before budgeting for your project.

Typical Timeline

Actual timelines vary with MSCCE workload, project complexity, and the number of correction cycles required. Second and later review cycles are generally shorter if the applicant fully addresses all comments.

The Process

1. Pre-submittal: Confirm the zoning district and use classification for your parcel; verify any overlay, flood zone, or historic district requirements
2. Plans: Prepare construction documents; projects above certain thresholds require drawings stamped by a Tennessee-licensed architect or engineer
3. Submit via Develop901: Create an account, start a permit application, and upload documents for electronic plan review
4. Plan review: MSCCE reviewers check plans for compliance with the MSC Technical Codes across building, structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire, and zoning disciplines
5. Corrections: Respond to review comments and resubmit revised plans through Develop901
6. Permit issuance: Pay remaining fees and receive the issued permit
7. Post permit on site: The permit and approved plans must be available at the job site during construction
8. Inspections: Schedule required inspections at each construction phase
9. Final: Pass final inspection and, where required, receive a Certificate of Occupancy

Inspections

Typical inspection stages for a residential project include:

• Footing / foundation
• Underground plumbing and electrical
• Framing
• Rough plumbing, electrical, and mechanical
• Insulation
• Drywall
• Final building and trade inspections

Schedule inspections through the Develop901 portal or by contacting the MSCCE at (901) 222-2300. Keep your permit number available when requesting inspections.

Contractor Licensing

Contractors working in Memphis must be licensed by the State of Tennessee and registered with both Shelby County and the City of Memphis. The MSCCE Licensing Section can be reached at (901) 222-8390. Unlicensed or unregistered contractor work can result in permit denial or stop-work orders.

Common Reasons for Denial or Corrections

• Plans do not comply with the 2021 MSC Technical Codes or local amendments
• Missing structural calculations, energy compliance documentation, or design-professional stamps
• Zoning conflicts (setbacks, height, lot coverage, use)
• Missing flood zone compliance documentation (FEMA floodplain requirements)
• Historic district or overlay zone review not completed
• Contractor not licensed or registered with the county and city
• Incomplete submittal or missing documents in Develop901

Official Sources

Always verify current requirements with the Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement and the Develop901 portal before starting your project. See the sources in the frontmatter for direct links to the MSCCE office, Develop901, the Building Code Board, and the City of Memphis municipal code.

Disclaimer: This guide summarizes publicly available information from official Memphis and Shelby County sources and is provided for general orientation only. It does not constitute legal or engineering advice. Building code and permitting requirements change — always confirm current rules with the Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement before submitting plans or starting construction.