Memphis Building Permits 2026

By Marcus Reeves, Head of Permit Research at PermitGrab · Updated daily from official city records · Last permit filed: recently

719
Active Contractors
545
Phone Numbers
0
Code Violations
0
Property Owners
Live data · View Memphis permit database →

Memphis is one of the larger Mid-South construction markets, and its permit data is publicly available — though the city makes it harder to access than you'd expect. This guide covers Memphis building permits in 2026: what work requires a permit, how to pull one, who's actively building, and how to use code enforcement data as a lead source.

What Work Requires a Permit in Memphis?

The City of Memphis Office of Construction Code Enforcement requires permits for new construction, additions, alterations, repairs, demolitions, and changes of use. Permits are also required for accessory structures, electrical service upgrades, plumbing rough-ins and fixture replacements, HVAC equipment, roofing, signs, fences, and pools. Cosmetic interior work — paint, flooring, cabinets that don't move plumbing or electrical — typically does not require a permit.

Memphis Code Enforcement actively patrols for unpermitted work. Citations carry fines and stop-work orders, which is why most reputable contractors pull permits even for borderline work.

How to Apply for a Memphis Building Permit

Memphis uses an Accela Citizen Access portal for permit applications. Many trade permits — electrical service, water heater, HVAC — can be pulled the same day by a contractor with a valid Memphis Department of Construction Code Enforcement contractor registration. Plan-review permits for new construction, additions, and commercial work go through a multi-stage review and typically take 2-6 weeks depending on complexity.

For the latest in-person service: the Permit Office is at 6465 Mullins Station Road. Phone 901-222-8300.

How Many Contractors Are Pulling Permits in Memphis?

PermitGrab tracks 719 active contractor profiles in Memphis — a live database updated daily from permit records, not a static directory. Of those, 545 have direct phone numbers sourced from Tennessee state licensing records and business registrations.

Memphis has a smaller licensed contractor pool than Nashville or Atlanta, which means top builders here are pulling a disproportionate share of permits. Identifying those high-frequency contractors is the highest-ROI use of this data.

Permits Filed in the Last 90 Days

8,944 building permits have been filed in Memphis in the last 90 days. The top permit types:

Permit TypeCount
Residential Mechanical Permit2,169
Residential Electrical Permit1,597
Residential Plumbing Permit792
Commercial Electrical Permit553
Residential Alteration Permit337
Commercial Plumbing Permit214
Commercial Alteration Permit210
Commercial Mechanical Permit210
Certificate of Occupancy202
Safety Inspection Only (Non-Contractors Only)176

Most Active Contractors in Memphis

These contractors have pulled the most permits in the last 6 months:

ContractorPermits
AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL SERVICES111
C CHOATE110
BROWN REFRIGERATION COOLING HEATING PLUMBING62
BEST CARE HOME SERVICES, LLC49
ACUFF ENTERPRISES, INC49
S PLUMBING SERVICES LLC35
ANDREW COOK26
AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL SERVICES, LLC23
EXPERT ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR LLC21
VINCE BEARD18
MAJOR MECHANICAL LLC18
MS NEWCON LLC18
NATION HOME BUILDERS15
MENDOZA PLUMBING LLC15
HARDCO, INC15

Phone numbers available for 545 contractors. View the full Memphis contractor database →

Memphis Code Violations

Memphis Code Enforcement is unusually active — Tennessee's largest code enforcement division by case volume, in fact. PermitGrab tracks the open and resolved violation cases. For contractors doing remediation, restoration, or compliance work, the violation list is essentially a pre-qualified lead pipeline: every entry is a property owner who is legally required to address the cited issue.

The most common Memphis violations are exterior structural decay (siding, soffit, fascia), unsecured vacant structures, and overgrowth/property maintenance. These map directly to roofing, exterior carpentry, and lot-clearing trades.

Search Memphis violations by address →

Memphis Property Owner Records

We've matched 0 Shelby County property owners to addresses in our Memphis database. When a permit is filed or a violation is issued, you can pull the registered owner — including their mailing address from Shelby County Assessor records. That's the data outreach campaigns are built from.

Tennessee Contractor Licensing — Phone Number Sources

Tennessee requires state licensing for general contractors on projects over $25,000 (Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors / BC License). HVAC, electrical, and plumbing all require separate state licenses through the Department of Commerce and Insurance. The state's licensee export feeds our phone enrichment for those trades. General contractor phone coverage uses a mix of state license data, business registrations, and web search.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often is the data updated?

Our collector pulls new Memphis permit data every few hours from official records. The most recent permit in our database was filed on recently.

Where does the data come from?

Permits and violations come from the City of Memphis Accela Citizen Access portal. Property owner data comes from Shelby County Assessor records. Contractor licenses come from the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.

Can I search by contractor name?

Yes — search by contractor business name, property address, permit type, or date range on the Memphis permits page.

Are there fees for searching?

Browsing is free. To unlock all contractor phone numbers and download CSV exports, the Pro plan is $149/month with full database access.

Get the Full Memphis Database

Every contractor. Every permit. Every violation. Every property owner. Updated daily.

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