Bolthole Index

Shelby County, Tennessee

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Shelby County, Tennessee

53Index Score / 100
#94 of 95 in Tennessee

Shelby County, Tennessee requires local building permits for new construction and alterations through the Memphis & Shelby County Construction Enforcement office12. The Unified Development Code supplies the zoning and subdivision rules for unincorporated Shelby County34. Septic systems and private wells go through the Shelby County Health Department's Water Quality & Septic Tank Program56.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued locally by Memphis & Shelby County Construction Enforcement, not the state's residential permit program1
Zoning
Yes, under the Unified Development Code, covering Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County3
Septic permit
Required through the Shelby County Health Department's Water Quality & Septic Tank Program7
Owner-builder exemption
Yes; Tennessee lets an owner take one building permit every two years for their own home, not for sale or rent89
Well permit
Required through the same Health Department office that permits septic systems10
New single-family home permit fee (minimum)
$125 minimum, plus $0.07 per square foot and a small administrative charge and surcharge11
Septic-suitable soils
About 14.7% of the county's soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field12
Property tax
About 1% effective rate; median bill around $2,376/year1314

Who to call

Building permits

Memphis & Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, Construction Enforcement Office

Reviews plans, issues building/electrical/mechanical/plumbing permits and inspects construction for Memphis, Arlington, Germantown, Lakeland, Millington and unincorporated Shelby County

(901) 222-8300

6465 Mullins Station Rd, Memphis, TN 38134

Codes & inspections

Memphis & Shelby County Construction Enforcement (coverage area)

Confirms which jurisdictions the county's local construction-permitting program covers

Building permits

Shelby County Building Permit Fee Schedule (Construction Enforcement)

Publishes Shelby County's own local residential and commercial building-permit fee schedule, distinct from Tennessee's statewide residential permit fee table

Planning & zoning

Memphis & Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, Downtown Office

General contact point for the Division of Planning and Development, including Land Use and Development Services and Comprehensive Planning

(901) 636-7384

125 N Main St #477, Memphis, TN 38103

Planning & zoning

Land Use and Development Services (Memphis & Shelby County Division of Planning and Development)

Processes zoning-change and subdivision applications and other land development actions throughout Memphis and Shelby County

Zoning

Unified Development Code (Memphis & Shelby County zoning and subdivision code)

Serves as the zoning code and subdivision regulations for the City of Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County

Septic permits

Shelby County Health Department, Water Quality & Septic Tank Program

Permits construction, alteration, extension or repair of subsurface sewage disposal (septic) systems in Shelby County

901-222-9572

1826 Sycamore View Road, Memphis, TN 38134

Well permits

Shelby County Health Department, Water Quality & Septic Tank Program (Water Well Permitting)

Permits installation, modification, repair or abandonment of private water wells in Shelby County

901-222-9572

1826 Sycamore View Road, Memphis, TN 38134

Roads & driveways

Shelby County Engineering

Directs applications for driveway, floodplain-development and right-of-way construction permits in unincorporated Shelby County

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 27, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Shelby County, Tennessee?

Yes, for new construction and most alterations, but the permit isn't Tennessee's statewide residential permit; Shelby County runs its own local program through Construction Enforcement, covering Memphis, Arlington, Germantown, Lakeland, Millington and unincorporated Shelby County alike12. Tennessee's State Fire Marshal residential building permit only applies in jurisdictions that haven't adopted local codes, and Shelby County has adopted and enforces its own state-mandated building codes locally, so the state's separate permit process and fee table don't apply here1516. Detached garages, sheds, barns and other detached structures not used for living purposes are exempt from the state's residential permit program, but confirm with Construction Enforcement whether that exemption also applies to Shelby's own local permit before you build without one1716.

Who issues building permits in Shelby County, and how do you reach them?

Construction Enforcement, part of the Memphis & Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, is the office to call: 6465 Mullins Station Rd, Memphis, TN 38134, (901) 222-830016. Before you apply, confirm your zoning district and whether the project needs a zoning approval letter; that's handled by Land Use and Development Services, reachable at the division's Downtown Office, 125 N Main St #477, Memphis, TN 38103, (901) 636-73841819. Budget using Shelby County's own local fee schedule rather than a statewide number: a new single-family home or duplex carries a $125.00 minimum permit fee plus $0.07 per square foot, on top of a small administrative charge and surcharge11. If the property needs a septic system or a private well instead of public utilities, that's a separate office entirely: the Shelby County Health Department's Water Quality & Septic Tank Program, 1826 Sycamore View Road, Memphis, TN 38134, 901-222-95722010.

Does Shelby County have zoning?

Yes: the Unified Development Code serves as the zoning code and subdivision regulations for both the City of Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County, so the same rulebook governs district, use, setback and subdivision questions whether or not the parcel is inside city limits34. Land Use and Development Services processes the zoning-change and subdivision applications that this code requires, and county zoning authority for the unincorporated area comes from a specific state delegation, Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 13-7-101 through 13-7-119, under which the General Assembly gave county legislative bodies the power to enact zoning regulations and create a board of zoning appeals1921. If your land is unincorporated and used for agriculture, a building incidental to that agricultural enterprise can be exempt from county zoning regulation, though that exemption doesn't apply to municipalities, doesn't cover land in the hundred-year floodplain, and doesn't apply near state or federal-aid highways, public airports or public parks22.

How do septic permits work in Shelby County?

Any construction, alteration, extension or repair of a subsurface sewage disposal system in Shelby County needs a permit from the Health Department's Water Quality & Septic Tank Program520. Tennessee also requires a Septic System Construction Permit before installation or repair; statewide review generally takes about 10 days and must be completed within 45 days23. A new conventional system costs $400 up to 1,000 gallons per day of design flow, plus $100 for each additional 1,000 gallons per day23. Only about 14.7% of Shelby County's soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field, so arrange the site and soil evaluation early rather than assuming a conventional system will fit12. A private well requires a separate application to the same Water Quality Branch and Septic Tank Program for installation, modification, repair or abandonment610.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Shelby County?

We could not confirm a countywide rule for living in an RV or tiny home on an individually owned Shelby County lot. The Unified Development Code governs land use in unincorporated Shelby County, but the answer may depend on the parcel's zoning district and the proposed type of dwelling34. Before buying land or placing a unit, ask Land Use and Development Services how the specific zoning district treats an RV, tiny home or manufactured home as a residence; that office processes zoning and other land-development applications throughout Shelby County1918.

What are the steps to build a home in Shelby County?

  1. Confirm the zoning district and any required zoning approval with Land Use and Development Services before finalizing a design19.
  2. If public sewer is unavailable, apply for a Septic System Construction Permit through the Health Department's Water Quality & Septic Tank Program523.
  3. Apply to the same Health Department program if the project needs a private well6.
  4. Apply for the building permit through Construction Enforcement; a new single-family home or duplex has a $125.00 minimum fee plus $0.07 per square foot1611.
  5. An owner-builder may receive one permit every two years for a personal residence that is not for sale, lease or rent; anyone paid more than $25,000 is treated as a prime contractor and must be licensed9.
  6. Complete the inspections required by Construction Enforcement2.
  7. For unincorporated land, driveway, floodplain-development and right-of-way construction permit applications go through the Develop901 Citizen Portal2425. A driveway on state highway right-of-way separately requires a TDOT Highway Entrance Permit26.

What should you check before buying land in Shelby County?

Get a soil evaluation early: only about 14.7% of Shelby County's soils lack severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, so a parcel may need a different system design before the Health Department will approve it1220. Confirm whether an agricultural building on unincorporated land qualifies for Tennessee's agricultural zoning exemption, which does not apply within the hundred-year floodplain or near state or federal-aid highways, public airports or public parks22. The nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 10 miles from the county center, while county population density is about 1,197 people per square mile2728. For unincorporated land, county driveway and floodplain-development permits are applied for online through the Develop901 Citizen Portal2425. A driveway on state highway right-of-way also needs a TDOT Highway Entrance Permit26. The effective property-tax rate is about 1%, with a median annual bill near $2,3761314.

Watch-outs

  • Don't use Tennessee's statewide residential permit fee table for Shelby County; the county runs its own local Construction Enforcement program with its own fee schedule instead1129.
  • We could not confirm countywide rules for RV, tiny-home or manufactured-home occupancy on an individually owned lot; ask Land Use and Development Services about the parcel and proposed use before moving a unit onto the land19.
  • The septic-soils figure (14.7%) is a countywide average; get a site-specific evaluation from the Health Department rather than assuming every parcel needs the same system design12.

Sources

  1. DEVELOP 901 - Construction Enforcement (2026 county census)
  2. Memphis & Shelby County Construction Enforcement (coverage area) (develop901.com)
  3. DEVELOP 901 - Unified Development Code (2026 county census)
  4. Unified Development Code (Memphis & Shelby County zoning and subdivision code) (develop901.com)
  5. Septic Tank Permitting Process, quoted and re-checked
  6. Water Well Permitting Process, quoted and re-checked
  7. Septic Tank Permitting Process (2026 county census)
  8. Tennessee Code § 62-6-103 - Owner Exemption (2026 county census)
  9. Can I build my own home without a license? (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Shelby County Health Department, Water Quality & Septic Tank Program (Water Well Permitting) (shelbytnhealth.com)
  11. Shelby County Building Permit Fee Schedule (Construction Enforcement) (shelbycountytn.gov)
  12. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  13. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  14. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  15. Residential Permit FAQs (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Memphis & Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, Construction Enforcement Office (develop901.com)
  17. Residential Permits (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Memphis & Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, Downtown Office (develop901.com)
  19. Land Use and Development Services (Memphis & Shelby County Division of Planning and Development) (develop901.com)
  20. Shelby County Health Department, Water Quality & Septic Tank Program (shelbytnhealth.com)
  21. Tennessee Attorney General Opinion No. 10-108 (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Exemption from County Zoning Regulation for Buildings on Land Used for Agriculture, Opinion No. 22-07 (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Septic System Construction Permit (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. County Engineering, quoted and re-checked
  25. Shelby County Engineering (shelbycountytn.gov)
  26. Highway Entrance Permits (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Distance to the nearest metro area: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Residential Building Permit Fees (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written September 27, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Found land here? Start a Property Hunt →

County locator

Shelby County in Tennessee

53
County map
Shelby County highlighted among the Tennessee counties · colored by Index score

How Shelby County scores

Seclusion23100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency66100% ev.
Admin Boringness45100% ev.
Durability58100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost80100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$222kTypical home
1%Property tax
$5,264Land / acre
55.4"Annual rain
6.6% of yrsSevere drought
18.2 / yr (+16.2)Mid-century 100°F days
17.9 daysMid-century dry spell
2.59" (+6.5%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.53×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,118Home insurance / yr
0.8% / yrInsurance growth
1.76%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
739,237People within 30 min
2,706,305People within 2 hr
640,921Radius comparison (15 mi)
1,196.6People / sq mi
1.2%Federal land
82.3%Land at 15% slope or less
14.7%Septic soil without severe limits
65,950 acWorkable land screen
73.8 tonsBiomass / forest ac
61.9°FAvg temp

Scout Shelby County

Camp here before you commitBook a few nights nearby on Hipcamp →Already own land here?Earn money hosting campers — get $100 when you become a Hipcamp host →

Some links are affiliate or referral links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Search live inventory elsewhere, then cost and vet each candidate here. No copied listings, account, or paid data feed.

Each button opens a current land search for Shelby County. Listing sites control their own results and filters.

Analyze a property
Add setup-cost allowances

Use rough quotes or placeholders. Blank fields count as $0.

Working estimate

—land + entered setup costs
Asking $ / acre
—
Setup allowance
—
All-in $ / acre
—

A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

Before an offer

Parcel due diligence

0/8 checked

Saved properties and checklist progress stay on this device. Bolthole Index does not receive them.

Answers from the rulebook for Shelby County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Shelby County rules

  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Subsurface sewage disposal systems and waste-removal work within Shelby County.

    • The Shelby County Health Department Water Quality Branch and Septic Tank Program administers the cited permit process.
    “within Shelby County must secure a permit from this office”
  • Well permitRequired

    Installation, modification, repair, or abandonment of a water well or other type of well in Shelby County.

    • An application must be made to the Water Quality Branch and Septic Tank Program.
    • The official page links a well application and Final Well Code.
    “shall make an application to the Water Quality Branch and Septic Tank Program.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building and development permitting in Shelby County through the Develop901 Citizen Portal and applicable technical-code procedures.

    • The official county engineering page directs applicants to register for an account and apply online for driveway, floodplain-development, and right-of-way construction permits.
    • Building-code applications include permit valuation, fee payment, plan review, inspections, and certificates as applicable.
    “apply online at the Develop901 Citizen Portal.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    The Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code (UDC) serves as the zoning code and subdivision regulations for the City of Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County, administered by the Office of Planning and Development / Land Use Control Board.

    DEVELOP 901 - Unified Development Code ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Tennessee rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    State residential building permits for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses in Tennessee jurisdictions where the State Fire Marshal's Office administers the residential building permit program.

    • The state permit is required only in some areas because other jurisdictions may enforce local residential building codes.
    • A county legislative body may remove unincorporated areas from the state program or a city legislative body may remove the city by a two-thirds vote.
    • The state permit does not replace grading or fill approval, floodplain compliance, septic or sewer permits, electrical permits, or zoning approval.
    • Local governments remain responsible for locally adopted codes and other requirements.
    “Why is the state residential building permit only required in some areas of the state?”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use.

    • The owner may have one permit every two years.
    • The residence must not be for sale, lease, or rent.
    • If the owner hires a contractor, the contractor is a prime and must be licensed and obtain the building permit for inspections.
    • Contracts may not be split into phases to circumvent the licensing law.
    • Anyone paid more than $25,000 by the owner is considered a prime and must be licensed.
    • The exemption is based on TCA 62-6-103 and Rule 0680-1-.22.

    owner permits: per 1 permit per two years · contractor payment threshold: > 25000 USD (Anyone paid in excess of this amount is considered a prime and must be licensed.)

    “one permit every two years to build their home as long as it is not for sale, lease, or rent (individual use).”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Certificates of occupancy for one- and two-family dwellings in Tennessee opt-out or non-code jurisdictions when the State Fire Marshal's Office inspects the dwelling during construction.

    • The owner or contractor may obtain a state building permit to request the inspection.
    • The Certificate of Occupancy is released only if the dwelling is determined to meet statewide building construction safety standards.
    • The source describes this process for opt-out or non-code jurisdictions and for new construction or additions to existing homes.
    “determined to meet the statewide building construction safety standards, the State Fire Marshal’s Office will release a Certificate of Occupancy”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation of a subsurface sewage disposal system on property in Tennessee, and repair of an existing faulty system.

    • A Septic System Construction Permit is required before installation or repair.
    • The application requires site and system information; soils maps may be required and large conventional or alternative systems require a licensed-engineer design.
    • The review generally takes 10 days and must be completed within 45 days.
    • New conventional permit fee is $400 up to 1,000 gallons per day, plus $100 for each additional 1,000 gallons per day.
    • New alternative permit fee is $500 up to 1,000 gallons per day, plus $150 for each additional 1,000 gallons per day.
    • Experimental SSDS permit fee is $500.
    • Repair permits have no permit fee; repair construction inspection fee is $100.
    • Contract counties Blount, Davidson, Hamilton, Jefferson, Knox, Madison, Sevier, Shelby, and Williamson may require an additional permit.

    new conventional SSDS permit fee: 400 USD up to 1000 gallons per day design flow ($100 for each additional 1000 gpd flow) · new alternative SSDS permit fee: 500 USD up to 1000 gallons per day design flow ($150 for each additional 1000 gpd flow) · experimental SSDS permit fee: 500 USD · repair permit fee: No permit fee

    “Any individual or property owner who desires to have a subsurface sewage disposal (septic) system installed on their property or requiring repair to an existing faulty system must get a Septic System Construction Permit.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Residential, commercial, or industrial buildings on lots or parcels abutting a street or other public way containing a sanitary sewer, where the applicable Tennessee utility system has issued bonds payable for sewer services.

    • The cited Tennessee statute grants qualifying utility systems authority to require connection.
    • The building must exist on the abutting lot or parcel.
    • The owner, tenant, or occupant may be required to cease using other means for disposal of sewage, sewage waste, or other polluting matter.
    • This source describes authority to require sewer connection; it does not establish that every Tennessee property has sewer available.
    “Utility systems within the State of Tennessee that have issued bonds payable for sewer services are granted authority in TCA § 7-35-201 (1) to "require the owner tenant or occupant of each lot or parcel of land that abuts upon a street or other public way containing a sanitary sewer and upon which lot or parcel a building exists for residential, commercial or industrial use, to connect the building with the sanitary sewer and to cease to use any other means for the disposal of sewage, sewage waste or other polluting matter."”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Buildings or structures on land used for agricultural purposes and subject to county zoning regulation in Tennessee.

    • The building or structure must be located on lands devoted to agricultural uses.
    • The building or structure must be incidental to the agricultural enterprise.
    • The exemption does not apply to agricultural lands adjacent or in proximity to state or federal-aid highways, public airports, or public parks.
    • The exemption does not apply to land located within the one-hundred-year flood plain.
    • The Attorney General opinion states that the provision applies to counties only and has no application to municipalities.
    • There is no blanket exemption for cotton gins, grain elevators, slaughterhouses, processing plants, or milk bottling plants; those structures qualify only when the statutory conditions are met.
    “it must be located on lands “devoted to agricultural uses;” and (2) it must be “incidental to the agricultural enterprise.””
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Construction, modification, revision, or change in use of a driveway on Tennessee state highway right-of-way.

    • The requirement applies to state highway right-of-way and does not establish a permit requirement for every driveway on every road.
    • Property owners must obtain the permit from TDOT.
    • County or municipal land-use regulations may also apply.
    “Under state law, a permit is required before construction of a driveway on state highway right-of-way, including the modification, revision, or change in use”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Residential building permits administered by Tennessee's State Residential Building Code Enforcement Program for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses where the state program applies.

    • The state program does not apply where a local government enforces local building codes under an exemption or where the city or county has opted out by a two-thirds vote.
    • For construction costs above the maximum listed in the table, an additional fee of $50.00 applies for each additional $50,000 or fraction thereof.
    • The construction cost cannot be less than $60.57 per heated square foot of construction.
    • An HVAC and Plumbing Inspection is required for all new construction.
    • A slab other than Monolith Pour Inspection is required when slab and footing are cast separately.

    permit fee for construction cost $0 to $5,000: 100 USD · permit fee for construction cost $5,001 to $100,000: 350 USD · additional fee for plumbing and HVAC inspection: 100 USD (Applicable as stated in the fee table.) · additional fee for slab other than monolith pour: 100 USD (Applicable when slab and footing are cast separately.)

    “$0 to $5,000 | $100 | $100 | $100 $5,001 to $100,000 | $350 | $100 | $100”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    County legislative bodies adopting zoning regulations for portions of Tennessee counties outside municipal corporations.

    • The authority is exercised under the conditions and procedures in Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 13-7-101 through 13-7-119.
    • The grant applies to portions of counties outside municipal corporations.
    • County zoning authority does not authorize county building permits or regulation of buildings or structures on agricultural land when the building or structure is incidental to the agricultural enterprise, except on agricultural lands adjacent or in proximity to state federal-aid highways, public airports or public parks.
    • The agricultural-land limitation applies to counties only and has no application to municipalities.
    “Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 13-7-101, et seq., the General Assembly has expressly delegated the authority to county legislative bodies to enact zoning regulations and create a board of zoning appeals.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size requirements under the UDC in unincorporated Shelby County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size requirements under the UDC in unincorporated Shelby County.
  • Setbacks — Setback requirements under the UDC in unincorporated Shelby County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot-coverage requirements under the UDC in unincorporated Shelby County.
  • Building height — Building-height requirements under the UDC in unincorporated Shelby County.
8 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Water rights & wells in Shelby County

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from Tennessee’s water agency.

Managed area

Groundwater is actively managed here, but a small household well is generally still available.

Household wellExempt — no permit or water right

Statewide a domestic well needs no water-use permit (file a Notice of Intent with TDEC and use a licensed driller). Shelby County is the only TN county that additionally requires a local groundwater/well permit.

Limit: no state water-use permit for a domestic well; register >=10,000 gpd

TDEC Division of Water Resources — Well Water ↗
  • Shelby County Ground Water Quality Control Board area (Memphis Sand aquifer)

    Every new well in Shelby County — including private domestic wells — must be permitted by the Shelby County Ground Water Quality Control Board and carries an annual well-permit fee, on top of the state Notice of Intent. Shelby is the only TN county with delegated authority to manage groundwater (Memphis Sand aquifer beneath the whole county).

    Shelby County Government — Groundwater Control Board ↗

Riparian state (water rights tied to land). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the Tennessee state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in Shelby County, Tennessee

Is Shelby County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Shelby County scores 53/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop. Watch-outs: about 739,237 people within a 30-minute drive.

Do you need a building permit in Shelby County, Tennessee?

Shelby County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Shelby County Health Department, Water Quality & Septic Tank Program. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Shelby County, Tennessee?

Land in Shelby County runs about $5,264 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Shelby County?

Shelby County gets about 55.4" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 6.6% of years. On water rights, Shelby County lies in the Shelby County Ground Water Quality Control Board area (Memphis Sand aquifer) — Every new well in Shelby County — including private domestic wells — must be permitted by the Shelby County Ground Water Quality Control Board and carries an annual well-permit fee, on top of the state Notice of Intent. Shelby is the only TN county with delegated authority to manage groundwater (Memphis Sand aquifer beneath the whole county)..

How remote is Shelby County?

A representative private-land location has about 739,237 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,706,305 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Shelby County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

How Shelby compares in Tennessee

Compare side-by-side →See all 95 Tennessee counties ranked →