Roof Replacement Permit in Memphis, Tennessee
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
When the reroof involves repairing, altering or replacing roof decking, structural members or equipment supports
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
A straight reroof on a detached single family house in Memphis needs no permit. Joint Ordinance 569 adds a local exemption item to the 2021 International Residential Code for all detached single family reroofing projects where no decking, structural and/or equipment supports are modified, and the department's own Policy for Roof Installations answers the question directly: a permit is not required unless the decking is to be repaired or altered. Construction Enforcement still enforces all of IRC Chapter 9, with the single local change that no ice barrier is required, so drip edge, valley linings and underlayment rules apply whether or not a permit is pulled. If the deck has gaps averaging more than a quarter inch it must be filled or overlaid, and that work does need a permit.
Typical threshold: whether decking, structural members or equipment supports are modified.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
When a permit is usually needed
When the reroof involves repairing, altering or replacing roof decking, structural members or equipment supports
What a roof replacement permit costs in Memphis
How Memphis compares in Tennessee
No Tennessee jurisdiction we have verified sets a size threshold for this permit, so what actually differs between them is the fee.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Memphisthis page | It depends | No residential roofing line item. |
| Nashville | No permit needed | Roof work beyond normal maintenance (repairs over 33 percent of roof area) is... |
| Williamson County | No permit needed | No permit or fee |
How to apply in Memphis
A residential reroof permit application is lighter than for structural work: you state whether the scope is a full tear-off (roof replacement) or an overlay (roof recover), describe the covering material and its manufacturer instructions, and note the condition of the existing deck, since those facts determine which code path applies.
What most roof replacement permit applications include:
- State on the application whether the job is a roof replacement, which strips all existing layers down to the bare deck, or a roof recover, which leaves the old covering in place under specific conditions, since the two scopes are governed differently (IRC R908.3).
- A recover is only an option where the new covering follows the roof covering manufacturer's approved instructions or is a self-supporting system, such as standing-seam metal, that does not rely on the existing roof for support (IRC R908.3.1).
- Full tear-off must be scoped on the application instead of a recover when the existing roof is water soaked or deteriorated, is slate, clay, cement, or asbestos-cement tile, or already carries two or more layers of roof covering (IRC R908.3.1.1).
- The materials and installation methods described on the application must comply with the reroofing requirements of the roof-assemblies chapter (IRC R908.1).
- If the scope reuses existing slate, clay, or cement tile, damaged or broken pieces cannot be listed for reinstallation, and any rusted or deteriorated flashings, edgings, outlets, or vents uncovered during tear-off must be scoped for replacement (IRC R908.5).
General submittal guidance from IRC Section R908 Reroofing (text as adopted in the 2020 Residential Code of New York State, based on the 2018 IRC). Source. Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, Office of Construction Code Enforcement (Construction Enforcement) sets the exact checklist for Memphis.
Where to apply in Memphis:
Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, Office of Construction Code Enforcement (Construction Enforcement)
- 6465 Mullins Station Road, Memphis, TN 38134
- Phone: 901-222-8300
- Email: develop901@memphistn.gov
Inspections and closing out your permit
Most residential reroofs get two to three field inspections keyed to the scope of work: a deck or nailing check when sheathing is exposed or replaced, a final on the completed covering and flashings, and in some high-wind regions a dedicated check of mitigation measures added during tear-off.
- Where the covering is fully removed and the sheathing is exposed, replaced, or added, inspectors check the deck and its nailing before any new roofing goes down, since the structural framework must be able to carry the new covering's loads (IRC R908.2).
- An overlay is only approved where it meets one of the code's listed recover conditions, such as installation in accordance with the covering manufacturer's approved instructions (IRC R908.3.1).
- Flashings disturbed or replaced during the job are checked against the approved manufacturer's installation instructions, and metal flashing that will receive bituminous material must be primed before installation (IRC R908.6).
- A final inspection confirms the completed roof covering and its fasteners were installed as required for that material and per manufacturer instructions before the permit is closed (IRC R905).
- In some regions with strengthened wind provisions, reroofing an older single-family home also triggers inspection of supplemental deck-nailing and a secondary water barrier added during tear-off, on top of the base reroofing requirements (Florida Building Code, Residential R908.7 Mitigation).
- Reinstalled existing slate, clay, or cement tile is checked against reuse limits at inspection, and any rusted, damaged, or deteriorated flashings, edgings, outlets, or vents found during tear-off must be replaced rather than reinstalled (IRC R908.5).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Memphis permit portal or by phone at 901-222-8300.
Inspection sequence from IRC Section R908 Reroofing and Section R905 Roof Coverings (2021 International Residential Code). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Roof Replacement Permit checklist for Memphis
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: whether decking, structural members or equipment supports are modified. Usually needed: When the reroof involves repairing, altering or replacing roof decking, structural members or equipment supports.
- Budget the fee. No residential roofing line item. A reroof that does touch the deck is billed as ALTERATION/REPAIR at $5.00 per $1,000 of valuation with a $50.00 minimum and a $325.00 maximum, plus the APP. FEE for ALTERATIONS, REPAIRS, ACCESSORY of $25.00, per the 2022 Fee Schedule, Building Section, Residential Fees. The schedule's separate COMMERCIAL ROOFING line at $5.00 per 1,000 does not apply to a house. All fees exclude an administrative charge of $4.00 and a residential surcharge of $1.00, so $5.00 is added to the residential total, per the 2022 Fee Schedule. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. A residential reroof permit application is lighter than for structural work: you state whether the scope is a full tear-off (roof replacement) or an overlay (roof recover), describe the covering material and its manufacturer instructions, and note the condition of the existing deck, since those facts determine which code path applies. Start at the Memphis permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, Office of Construction Code Enforcement (Construction Enforcement). Phone: 901-222-8300. Address: 6465 Mullins Station Road, Memphis, TN 38134.
- Plan for inspections. Most residential reroofs get two to three field inspections keyed to the scope of work: a deck or nailing check when sheathing is exposed or replaced, a final on the completed covering and flashings, and in some high-wind regions a dedicated check of mitigation measures added during tear-off.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a roof replacement permit in Memphis?
- A straight reroof on a detached single family house in Memphis needs no permit. Joint Ordinance 569 adds a local exemption item to the 2021 International Residential Code for all detached single family reroofing projects where no decking, structural and/or equipment supports are modified, and the department's own Policy for Roof Installations answers the question directly: a permit is not required unless the decking is to be repaired or altered. Construction Enforcement still enforces all of IRC Chapter 9, with the single local change that no ice barrier is required, so drip edge, valley linings and underlayment rules apply whether or not a permit is pulled. If the deck has gaps averaging more than a quarter inch it must be filled or overlaid, and that work does need a permit. Whether decking, structural members or equipment supports are modified. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a roof replacement permit cost in Memphis?
- No residential roofing line item. A reroof that does touch the deck is billed as ALTERATION/REPAIR at $5.00 per $1,000 of valuation with a $50.00 minimum and a $325.00 maximum, plus the APP. FEE for ALTERATIONS, REPAIRS, ACCESSORY of $25.00, per the 2022 Fee Schedule, Building Section, Residential Fees. The schedule's separate COMMERCIAL ROOFING line at $5.00 per 1,000 does not apply to a house. All fees exclude an administrative charge of $4.00 and a residential surcharge of $1.00, so $5.00 is added to the residential total, per the 2022 Fee Schedule. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a roof replacement permit in Memphis?
- You can apply through the Memphis permit portal or contact the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, Office of Construction Code Enforcement (Construction Enforcement) directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a roof replacement permit themselves in Memphis?
- Under Tennessee law (T.C.A. 62-6-103; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-23-.01(1)(i), -.05(3), -.05(4)(b)2.; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-01-.05(2)(a)): Tennessee lets a homeowner act as their own builder. Under T.C.A. 62-6-103, as the State Fire Marshal's Office explains it, an owner may construct a single residence once every two years for personal use without a contractor's license, so long as the home is not for resale, lease, or rent, and anyone the homeowner hires whose portion of the work is $25,000 or more must be a licensed contractor. In state permit areas the owner pulls a property owner's permit, limited by rule to one per 24 month period, and the work is subject to the same inspections and fees as a contractor's job; proof of licensure is waived at permit purchase only when the owner personally performs the work. For electrical work, a homeowner may wire their own residence only after obtaining a residential property owner's electrical permit, which covers only the applicant and immediate family, does not authorize help from anyone unlicensed, and is limited to one per 12 month period unless the owner lost the home to fire or windstorm. Confirm how Memphis applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Memphis
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | 200 square feet of deck area, taken with a 30 inch height above grade at any point, no attachment to the dwelling and no service to the exit door required by Section R311.4 | CONSTRUCTION/REPAIR/ALTERATION TO DECKS, SPAS AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES $50.00, plus the APP. |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | E-0 fee issuance cost per permit $20.00, E3.1 minimum fee $15.00, E-6.2 EXISTING... |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | Not specified | RESIDENTIAL FENCE PERMIT 400 LINEAR FT OR LESS $25.00 and RESIDENTIAL FENCE PERMIT 401... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | M-0 fee issuance cost per permit $20.00, M-3.1 fee for the first $1,000 valuation $15.00... |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | whether the work only stops a leak or clears a stoppage without replacing, rearranging or removing pipe, valve or fixture components | Permit issuance $20.00, plus $4.00 for issuing each permit (data processing) and a $1.00... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | prefabricated swimming pools, measured by the depth of the pool | POOL OR RETAINING WALL $5.00/1,000 (NO MAX) with a $70.00 minimum, per the 2022 Fee... |
| Shed Permit | Permit required | Not specified | DETATCHED ACCESSORY BUILDINGS 400 SQ. |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | No solar line item. |
Roof Replacement Permit in other Tennessee localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Memphis documents; the office above sets the local rules.
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, Office of Construction Code Enforcement (Construction Enforcement). Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Roof Replacement Permit requirements across Tennessee localities
Permit office
Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, Office of Construction Code Enforcement (Construction Enforcement)
901-222-8300Permit portalTennessee rule changes
- Metro Nashville posts a current codes fee schedule, replacing the 2010 sheet
BL2022-1215 (Metro Fee Schedule Legislation) ·