Fees, valuation & enforcement
Permit fees are a project input. Enforcement exposure is a project risk. Use the official schedule where available, then confirm valuation, trade permits, plan review, and inspection charges with the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
Official fee pathway
The final charge may depend on declared construction value, occupancy classification, square footage, plan review, state surcharges, trade permits, technology fees, and inspection activity. Do not use a neighboring city’s fee table as a substitute for this jurisdiction.
Fee desk contact
901-222-8300; Building 901-222-8394; Develop901 portal assistance 901-636-7384
Ask the counter to confirm current charges before submitting a project with multiple trades or a change of use.
Financial exposure
Plan for building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire, energy, zoning, septic, right-of-way, or other reviews that the project scope triggers. The lowest initial permit fee is not always the lowest project cost.
Enforcement exposure
When work begins without authorization, the agency may halt the site, require corrective plans, impose additional fees, withhold inspection release, or require concealed work to be exposed for review.
Closeout exposure
A missing final inspection or certificate can complicate occupancy, refinancing, sale, insurance, and utility connection. Preserve the approved plans and signed inspection record through closeout.
Professional field note
Even when a cosmetic or minor project does not require a building permit, zoning, floodplain, shoreline, historic, utility, fire, or right-of-way controls may still apply. Confirm the full jurisdictional picture before work starts.
Source trail
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development / Construction Code Enforcement is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 901-222-8300; Building 901-222-8394; Develop901 portal assistance 901-636-7384.
N/A; no current general county review timeline published.
Apply and schedule inspections through the Develop901 Citizen Portal. For portal/application assistance call 901-636-7384; for Construction Code Enforcement call 901-222-8300 or Building at 901-222-8394. Keep work accessible for required inspections and obtain final inspection/occupancy approval before use.
Memphis and Shelby County adopted the 2021 edition of the ICC International Building Code with local amendments and the 2021 Memphis and Shelby County Energy Conservation Code; verify the specific technical code and local amendments for the project. The joint CCE program handles county/unincorporated work and Memphis, while Bartlett and Collierville use separate municipal offices. No single consolidated minor-work exemption list was exposed in the accessible official sources. Most construction, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, occupancy changes, and regulated electrical/gas/mechanical/plumbing work require permits under the adopted codes; verify minor finish-work exceptions with CCE. Municipal rules vary: Develop901 covers Memphis, Arlington, Germantown, Lakeland, Millington, and unincorporated Shelby County, while Bartlett and Collierville require their own offices.
Why permit costs vary
Building departments commonly calculate charges from valuation, occupancy, floor area, project type, plan review effort, trade scope, state surcharges, and inspection activity. A remodel that appears small on paper may still trigger structural, energy, fire, or utility review. Ask the permit counter which disciplines apply before you finalize the construction budget.
The same discipline applies to enforcement. Correcting unpermitted work after finishes are installed can require demolition, revised plans, additional inspections, and schedule disruption. Authorization is usually the less expensive project-management decision.