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§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Shelby County
Permits are required for regulated construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, demolition, occupancy change, and system installation or alteration in unincorporated Shelby County.
Playhouses, treehouses, and similar uses not over 120 square feet
Retaining walls 3 feet high or less unless supporting surcharge or impounding listed liquids
Free-standing walls 4 feet high or less if not supporting surcharge
Private one- and two-family sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not part of an accessible route
Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
Small above-ground prefabricated pools under the code threshold
Swings and playground equipment
Detached single-family reroofing where no decking, structural members, or equipment supports are modified
- Exempt Playhouses, treehouses, and similar uses not over 120 square feet
- Exempt Retaining walls 3 feet high or less unless supporting surcharge or impounding listed liquids
- Exempt Free-standing walls 4 feet high or less if not supporting surcharge
- Exempt Private one- and two-family sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not part of an accessible route
- Exempt Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
- Exempt Small above-ground prefabricated pools under the code threshold
- Exempt Swings and playground equipment
- Exempt Detached single-family reroofing where no decking, structural members, or equipment supports are modified
Required documents
- Application
- Plans
- Valuation
- Contractor registration documents
- Project-specific submittal items required by the county quick-reference guides and plan-review standards
- Building code
- Develop901 publicly states it enforces the 2021 I-Codes and 2020 National Electrical Code beginning January 1, 2022.
- Permit validity
- Applications are generally abandoned after 180 days if not pursued, and issued permits generally expire if work does not begin within 180 days or is suspended or abandoned for 180 days.
- Owner-builder
- Public materials confirm homeowner scenarios are addressed by Construction Enforcement FAQs, but the public-facing county material reviewed did not publish a full standalone owner-builder summary.
- Contractor requirements
- State contractor licensing rules apply where required, and county contractor registration materials require state license certificate, qualifying-agent affidavit, and local business license documentation.
§ 03
Application process
Typical processing: No public countywide issuance SLA found.
- 01 Verify zoning, floodplain, subdivision, and other land-use issues under the Shelby County side of the Unified Development Code.
- 02 Create an account in the Accela Citizen Portal and start the appropriate building or trade application.
- 03 Upload plans and required supporting documents using the county quick-reference guidance.
- 04 Pay the plan review fee and respond to review comments.
- 05 Obtain permit issuance after approvals and payments are complete.
- 06 Request inspections and complete all finals before occupancy or closeout.
Typical processing time: No public countywide issuance SLA found.
Source: Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement ↗
§ 04
Fee schedule
Shelby County building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
See current county schedule; plan review fee sheet starts at $80.
02
Plan check fee
$80 up to $25,000 valuation, increasing by tier from there.
03
Permit fee formula
Valuation-based for building permits, with separate listed fees for reroofing, parking lots, and other specialized items.
04
Reinspection fee
No single standalone county reinspection page was located in the reviewed material.
Portal payment occurs through the Accela citizen-access workflow.
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- Through the county permit workflow and instructions provided with permit issuance (online)
- Inspection hours
- Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Typical sequence: Permit-specific staged inspections from rough work through finals and occupancy closeout where applicable.
Source: Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement ↗
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about unincorporated Shelby County permits
01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Shelby County, TN? ▸
Permits are required for regulated construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, demolition, occupancy change, and system installation or alteration in unincorporated Shelby County.
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Shelby County, TN? ▸
Building permit fees in unincorporated Shelby County, TN are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is See current county schedule; plan review fee sheet starts at $80.. Fees are calculated as: Valuation-based for building permits, with separate listed fees for reroofing, parking lots, and other specialized items.. Plan check fee: $80 up to $25,000 valuation, increasing by tier from there..
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Shelby County, TN? ▸
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Shelby County, TN, follow these steps: 1. Verify zoning, floodplain, subdivision, and other land-use issues under the Shelby County side of the Unified Development Code. 2. Create an account in the Accela Citizen Portal and start the appropriate building or trade application. 3. Upload plans and required supporting documents using the county quick-reference guidance. 4. Pay the plan review fee and respond to review comments. 5. Obtain permit issuance after approvals and payments are complete. 6. Request inspections and complete all finals before occupancy or closeout.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Shelby County, TN? ▸
Building permit processing times in unincorporated Shelby County, TN typically run No public countywide issuance SLA found.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Shelby County, TN? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Shelby County, TN. The following work is generally exempt: Playhouses, treehouses, and similar uses not over 120 square feet; Retaining walls 3 feet high or less unless supporting surcharge or impounding listed liquids; Free-standing walls 4 feet high or less if not supporting surcharge; Private one- and two-family sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not part of an accessible route; Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work; Small above-ground prefabricated pools under the code threshold; Swings and playground equipment; Detached single-family reroofing where no decking, structural members, or equipment supports are modified. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Shelby County, TN? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Shelby County, TN via: Through the county permit workflow and instructions provided with permit issuance.
last verified April 2026
source Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement ↗
entry id permits/tennessee/shelby/unincorporated
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.