Building permits and zoning in Memphis

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from Develop901, the site of the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, its contact page, calendar and pending applications page, and the City of Memphis Permits Office page.

Building permits and zoning in Memphis are run by a joint city-county agency, the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development (DPD), known online as Develop901. Building permits come from its Construction Enforcement office, 901-222-8300. Zoning changes, subdivisions and other land use applications go through Land Use and Development Services, 901-636-7384. Both take applications and fees online through the Develop901 Citizen Portal.

Who to call

• Building permits and inspections: Construction Enforcement, 901-222-8300, 6465 Mullins Station Road, Memphis, TN 38134, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays
• Zoning, rezoning, historic districts: DPD downtown office, 901-636-7384 or 901-636-6601, 125 N. Main St., Suite 477, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays
• Email: develop901@memphistn.gov
• Special events, beer and liquor permits, street closures: City of Memphis Permits Office, 901-636-6711
• Apply online: Develop901 Citizen Portal

Building permits

Construction Enforcement reviews plans, issues construction permits and inspects new buildings and building components to state building codes. One office serves Memphis, Arlington, Germantown, Lakeland, Millington and unincorporated Shelby County, so the rules and the portal are the same across most of the county.

How to apply:

1. Register for a Citizen Portal account. DPD’s account video walks through it.
2. Submit the application and plans and pay the fees online. A step-by-step video shows how.
3. Schedule inspections as the work goes on, and keep the permit until the final inspection passes.

Fees are set in DPD’s fee schedule, linked from the Land Use and Development Services page. If your project needs a zoning action first, the building permit waits for it; DPD’s FAQ on the Land Use and Development Services page covers how long that takes.

Zoning

Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County share one zoning code, the Unified Development Code (UDC), which is also the subdivision rulebook. DPD publishes a two-page summary of the most-used sections.

To find your zoning, look the parcel up on the Zoning Atlas for Memphis and Shelby County. Historic overlay districts carry an “(H)” suffix on the zoning layer; work on a building in one needs a certificate of appropriateness from the Memphis Landmarks Commission. The maps page also links FEMA flood maps.

Land Use and Development Services also handles short-term rental registration, sign permits and zoning enforcement, and landscape and tree removal permits.

Boards and meeting dates

All three boards meet in person in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 125 N. Main St. Agendas post on the Friday before each meeting, and DPD posts every new application on its pending applications page.

Staff reports for each case are on Shelby County’s site for the Land Use Control Board, Board of Adjustment and Landmarks Commission.

Other city permits

The City of Memphis Permits Office, 2714 Union Ave. Extended, Suite 100, handles special events (public assemblies, parades and street closures), beer and liquor-by-the-ounce permits, wrecker and towing companies, vehicles for hire, scrap dealers and public art, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Call 901-636-6711 or email permits@memphistn.gov.

What this means for you

• Look up your zoning on the atlas before you buy a lot or plan an addition.
• Apply for permits online through the Citizen Portal.
• Neighbors of a proposed rezoning can follow it on the pending applications page and speak at the Land Use Control Board.

More guides: property taxes, who to call at City Hall and moving to Memphis.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I get a building permit in Memphis?

From the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development’s Construction Enforcement office, 6465 Mullins Station Road, 901-222-8300. Applications and fees are handled online through the Develop901 Citizen Portal.

How do I find the zoning of my property in Memphis?

Look the parcel up on the Zoning Atlas for Memphis and Shelby County, linked from Develop901’s maps page. Historic overlay districts carry an “(H)” suffix on the zoning layer.

How do I apply to rezone property in Memphis?

File the application with Land Use and Development Services (901-636-7384) through the Develop901 Citizen Portal. Rezoning and subdivision applications are heard by the Land Use Control Board, and every new case is posted on DPD’s pending applications page.

When does the Memphis Land Use Control Board meet?

Monthly in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The next meeting is 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026.

What zoning code does Memphis use?

The Unified Development Code, which serves as the zoning code and subdivision regulations for the City of Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County.