Driveway permit in Memphis, TN
It depends — some driveway work in Memphis needs a permit, some doesn't.
The slab sitting on your own lot is exempt: sidewalks and driveways are on the statewide no-permit list. The part between the curb and your property line is a different story. Memphis makes it a misdemeanor to lay, build or repair a sidewalk or driveway in that strip, or to hire anyone to do it, without first getting a work permit from the city engineer. So a new curb cut, a widened apron or a repaired apron needs a permit. The permit has to be posted at the site until the city engineer inspects the finished work, concrete workers must be under bond to the city, and once the permit is issued you have three days to start. New driveway openings for a single-family or duplex lot must be at least six inches thick.
| Permit needed? | Depends on size |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | The slab sitting on your own lot is exempt: sidewalks and… |
| Fee | The work permit costs $0.24 per square foot of sidewalk and driveway next to residential property, or $0.48 per square foot next to commercial or industrial property. Either way the minimum charge is $20.00 per permit. |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | 12-28-1, with driveway opening standards in 12-28-8 |
| Based on | Memphis Code Chapter 12-28, with the building permit exemption from Tennessee-adopted IRC 2018 (R105.2) |
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.
Your contractor pulls this one, not you. Ask to see the permit before work starts.
If you skip it
Doing sidewalk or driveway work between the curb and the property line without a permit is a misdemeanor, and that applies whether you do the work yourself or hire someone. If the city ends up laying the walk and billing you, the permit cost is added to the bill.
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 | — | Depends | The slab sitting on your own lot is exempt: sidewalks and… |
| Jackson | 74 mi | Depends | driveway slab itself is exempt; a curb cut or driveway ap… |
| Franklin | 184 mi | Yes | A driveway entirely on private property is exempt from a … |
| Brentwood | 190 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Springfield | 198 mi | Yes | driveway/curb-cut work in or adjoining a public right-of-… |
| Goodlettsville | 202 mi | Depends | if the driveway joins or cuts a public right-of-way (curb… |
Other work in Memphis
Questions people ask
My driveway is right at the limit. Does that count?
The exemption has to fit exactly — if the code says a size or height, being at or under it keeps you exempt, and going a single inch over doesn't. When you're close to the line, measure before you buy materials, and call the department if the number is borderline.
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.
Do I pull the permit or does my contractor?
Your contractor does. A licensed contractor pulling their own permit is the normal arrangement — if one asks you to pull it in your name, treat that as a warning sign, because it moves the liability to you.