Building permits in Memphis, TN

Short answer: In Memphis, permits are issued by Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement (Division of Planning and Development); of the 6 common projects we checked, 3 always need a permit, 1 do not, and 2 depend on the details.

Permitting authority: Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement (Division of Planning and Development). Construction Enforcement serves Memphis, Arlington, Germantown, Lakeland, Millington and unincorporated Shelby County. Based on the local amendments to the 2021 residential and plumbing codes.

Permit rules in Memphis
Project	Answer	Verified
Deck	Depends on your project No permit for a detached deck up to 200 sq ft and no more than 30 in above grade that does not serve the required exit door. Other decks nee…	2026-10-19
Fence	Permit required Likely yes. The local code deleted the model fence exemption (now "Reserved"), so fences are not exempt.	2026-10-19
Interior / bathroom remodel	Depends on your project Tiling, cabinets, counters and similar finish work need no permit. Replacing or altering plumbing, electrical or mechanical systems needs a …	2026-10-19
Roof replacement	No permit required No permit to reroof a detached single-family house when no decking, structure or equipment supports are modified.	2026-10-19
Shed	Permit required Likely yes. The local code deleted the model small-shed exemption (now "Reserved"), so sheds are not exempt.	2026-10-19
Water heater replacement	Permit required Yes. Replacing plumbing or gas systems needs a permit, pulled by a licensed and registered contractor (owners only where state and local law…	2026-10-19

Fee schedule: https://www.develop901.com/construction-enforcement

Other cities in Tennessee

Nashville, TN

All Tennessee cities · All cities · Permit guides

Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.