Demolition permit in Memphis, TN
Yes — you need a permit for demolition work in Memphis.
You cannot tear down any house or building in Memphis without a permit from the commissioner of public service, and the commissioner is allowed to turn the request down. Taking out part of a structure counts too, because cutting away a wall or removing a load-bearing beam is not an ordinary repair. You also own the cleanup: the city will not haul off debris from construction, remodeling or demolition on private property, so you have to arrange that yourself.
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | You cannot tear down any house or building in Memphis wit… |
| Fee | The charter does not set a demolition permit fee. If the job disturbs asbestos, the health department charges $130.00 per asbestos demolition or renovation notice. |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | Charter Sec. 867 |
| Based on | Memphis City Charter, Article 77 |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the Memphis building department.
- Pay the permit fee when the permit is issued. Work done before that isn't covered.
- Book each inspection listed on the permit as the job reaches that stage.
If you skip it
Memphis's code doesn't set a specific fine for this work. In practice the department can issue a stop-work order, and unpermitted work tends to surface during a sale, when the buyer's inspector or the title company asks for it.
Nearby cities, same job
Rules stop at the city line. If your lot is near a boundary, or you work across several towns, this is where they differ.
| City | Distance | Permit? | Where the line falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | — | Yes | You cannot tear down any house or building in Memphis wit… |
| Franklin | 184 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Brentwood | 190 mi | Yes | 90-day waiting period before a permit issues if the struc… |
| Smyrna | 202 mi | Yes | Demolishing a structure or part of one needs a permit. De… |
| Hendersonville | 206 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Farragut | 330 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
Other work in Memphis
Questions people ask
How much does a demolition permit cost in Memphis?
The charter does not set a demolition permit fee. If the job disturbs asbestos, the health department charges $130.00 per asbestos demolition or renovation notice.. Valuation-based fees mean the number depends on what the job is worth, so the department quotes it when you apply.
I already built it without a permit. What now?
Memphis can issue a stop-work order and require you to apply after the fact, sometimes with an extra fee. Work that was covered up may have to be opened for inspection. Full walkthrough here.
Does unpermitted work cause problems when selling the house?
Often, yes. A buyer's inspector or the title company may flag it, and lenders can balk at financing a home with open or missing permits. What to do about it.