Permit Required? Required
Typical Fee Range $500–$1,500 Typically based on the total project value.
Fee Method Valuation-based
Apply Online Apply at Shelby County Department of Construction Code Enforcement →

What's Required in Memphis

  • Permit required for changes to layout, structural, or systems.
  • Electrical permit required for new circuits and outlets.
  • Plumbing permit mandatory for relocating sinks or gas lines.
  • GFCI protection required for all countertop receptacles.
  • Detailed floor plan showing structural changes.
  • All work must be inspected before closing walls.

Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Kitchen in Memphis?

It depends on what you're changing, not on the word “remodel.” Memphis lists kitchen remodels as permit-required work, and in practice the permit attaches to the plumbing, electrical, and structural scope — not to cosmetic swaps. Permit fees typically run $500–$1,500 (valuation-based), issued by the Shelby County Department of Construction Code Enforcement. A remodel that moves the sink, adds circuits, relocates the range, or opens a wall is firmly in permit territory — and often means separate trade permits rather than one ticket.

Kitchen Work That Usually Doesn't Need a Permit

The cosmetic layer is generally yours to change freely: swapping cabinets in the same footprint, new countertops, flooring, backsplash, paint, and replacing appliances that use existing hookups. The moment the project touches what's behind the finishes — supply lines, drains, gas, new circuits, walls, or venting — it stops being cosmetic in the city's eyes. If your remodel straddles the line, describe the full scope to the Shelby County Department of Construction Code Enforcement up front; retrofitting a permit onto half-finished work is the expensive path.

How to Get a Kitchen Remodel Permit in Memphis

1

Step 1: Detailed Design

Create plans showing existing and proposed kitchen layout.

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Step 2: Submit Portal

Upload plans to the Memphis permit application site.

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Step 3: Trade Sub-permits

Ensure electrician and plumber file their own permits.

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Step 4: Rough-in Inspections

Verify all hidden systems before installing cabinets/drywall.

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Step 5: Final Walkthrough

A final inspection of all fixtures and safety devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Usually no for projects under $1,000 that don't change layout.
Expect approximately two weeks for permit approval.
Yes, for their primary residence if they perform the work.
Only if the work goes beyond cosmetic scope. Plumbing, electrical, or structural changes require permits in Memphis; cabinet, countertop, and flooring swaps generally don't. Fees typically run $500–$1,500.
Not usually — like-for-like cabinet and countertop replacement without moving plumbing or wiring is cosmetic work. Add or move fixtures and the permit requirement kicks in.