City Building Permits
Lakeland, TENNESSEE Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Lakeland, Tennessee. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Lakeland states the Planning Department coordinates city review for accessory structures, fences, signs, and tree removal. For swimming pools, detached garages, additions, and similar work, Shelby County permits are required in addition to Lakeland permit requirements.
- Department
- City of Lakeland Planning Department for city permits, with Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement for Shelby County building permits on covered projects
- Address
- Lakeland City Hall, 10001 Highway 70, Lakeland, TN 38002
- Phone
- Planning Department (901) 867-2716; general city line (901) 867-2717; Shelby County Construction Enforcement (901) 222-8300
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Cityworks • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Determine whether the project is a city-only permit item or also requires a Shelby County building permit.
- For city permits, create a Cityworks account and submit online, or use the paper permit forms listed on the Lakeland permit page and return them to City Hall in person.
- For pools, detached garages, additions, and similar structural work, also apply through Shelby County Construction Enforcement after confirming the adopted code and local Lakeland permit requirements.
- Submit any engineering permit if the work involves land disturbance or retaining walls.
- Pay city permit fees from Lakeland's fee schedule and any separate Shelby County construction fees.
- Obtain inspections and final approvals from the relevant city department and Shelby County as applicable.
Typical processing time: No public general processing-time estimate found.
General Requirements
Lakeland's permit page specifically covers accessory structures, fences, signs, tree removal, special events, pools, demolition, and engineering permits. Shelby County permits are additionally required for swimming pools, detached garages, additions, and similar building-code work.
Required Documents
- Permit-specific applications
- Plans
- Supporting documents for accessory structures, fences, pools, signs, temporary signs, tree removal, and demolition
- Shelby County plan and submittal requirements where applicable
- Permit validity
- Lakeland's permit page does not publish a citywide expiration rule. Shelby County permit expiration rules still apply for the construction permit.
- Building code
- Lakeland directs applicants to Develop901 to determine the adopted code that relates to the project; Shelby County Construction Enforcement publicly states it enforces the 2021 I-Codes and 2020 NEC.
- Owner-builder
- No dedicated Lakeland owner-builder page was found; confirm directly with Lakeland and Shelby County for homeowner self-permit rules.
- Contractor requirements
- Public-facing Lakeland page does not spell out a separate city contractor-license rule for all permit types; Shelby County and Tennessee state licensing rules apply where Shelby County issues the permit.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- See the current Lakeland fee schedule by permit type; no single citywide minimum was summarized on the permit landing page.
- Plan check fee
- No separate Lakeland plan-check fee summary found on the permit landing page; Shelby County plan review fees apply where county permits are required.
- Permit fee formula
- Lakeland uses listed city permit fees by permit category, while Shelby County construction fees are valuation-based under the county schedule.
- Reinspection fee
- Not clearly summarized on the city permit page.
- Payment note
- Paper permit applications must be returned to City Hall in person; the page states paper applications will not be accepted by email or other electronic delivery unless otherwise approved through the Planning Department.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the City of Lakeland Planning Department for city permits, with Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement for Shelby County building permits on covered projects to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- City department for city permits and Shelby County procedures for county building permits (other)
Typical inspection sequence: Depends on whether the permit is city-only, engineering-related, or a Shelby County building permit; city review occurs first for local overlays and county inspections follow county permit issuance.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Lakeland directs applicants to Develop901 to determine the adopted code that relates to the project; Shelby County Construction Enforcement publicly states it enforces the 2021 I-Codes and 2020 NEC.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Land Development Regulations
- Zoning Maps
- Construction Enforcement
- License lookup guide: Tennessee Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Tennessee Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Tennessee hub: Tennessee Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the City of Lakeland Planning Department for city permits, with Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement for Shelby County building permits on covered projects before applying.
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