Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in Collierville?
It depends. Whether shed or accessory structure needs a permit in Collierville comes down to the details of your project.
Collierville treats a detached storage building, garage, arbor, pergola, or pool house as an accessory structure, and a building permit is generally required to build one; confirm whether a small shed qualifies for the adopted-code exemption for one-story accessory structures with the Building and Codes Division before building. Zoning rules apply on top of the building permit: an accessory structure must stay out of the front and required side yards, sit at least as far from a property line as it is tall and never closer than five feet, and residential lots under two acres are limited to two accessory structures, with a garage over 150 square feet required to match the home's style. Tennessee requires a state contractor license for residential work at 25,000 dollars and above, with Shelby County Home Improvement licensing for smaller jobs, so verify licensing if a contractor builds a larger structure. A shed that will have electricity, plumbing, or a permanent foundation falls outside the usual small accessory building exemption, which generally covers simple unpowered structures only. Electrical and plumbing work each normally require their own permit and inspection even when the structure itself would have been exempt, and many jurisdictions require a licensed electrician or plumber to pull them. Zoning setbacks, height limits, and lot coverage are reviewed separately from the building permit, so confirm placement with your local department before the shed is delivered or poured. Tennessee does not set one statewide shed threshold, and the 200 square foot figure from the model International Residential Code does not govern here. Who enforces residential construction depends on your address: where a city or county has neither taken on residential code enforcement itself nor opted out by a two-thirds vote of its legislative body, the State Fire Marshal's Office runs the residential permit and inspection programme using state-contracted inspectors. So the first question is not the size of the shed but which authority covers you. Confirm whether your city or county enforces its own code, has opted out, or falls under the State Fire Marshal programme, then ask that office for the size threshold. Zoning setbacks apply regardless, and a separate permit is needed for any electrical service run to the shed.
Documents you may need
- Building permit application for the accessory structure filed with the Town of Collierville Building and Codes Division for a storage building, detached garage, pergola, or pool house that is not exemptLikely required
- Site plan showing the structure location, size, and distance to property linesLikely required
- Elevation or materials detail where the structure must match the home's architectural styleSometimes required
- Permit applicationLikely required
- Site plan showing setbacks and structure sizerequired
- Foundation/anchoring and construction details for larger structuresSometimes required
Possible inspections
- Footing or foundation inspection where a permanent foundation is used, scheduled through the Collierville Building and Codes Division
- Final building inspection where a permit is issued
- Setback / footing inspection where a permit is issued
- Final inspection
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in Collierville?
- It depends. Whether shed or accessory structure needs a permit in Collierville comes down to the details of your project. Collierville treats a detached storage building, garage, arbor, pergola, or pool house as an accessory structure, and a building permit is generally required to build one; confirm whether a small shed qualifies for the adopted-code exemption for one-story accessory structures with the Building and Codes Division before building. Zoning rules apply on top of the building permit: an accessory structure must stay out of the front and required side yards, sit at least as far from a property line as it is tall and never closer than five feet, and residential lots under two acres are limited to two accessory structures, with a garage over 150 square feet required to match the home's style. Tennessee requires a state contractor license for residential work at 25,000 dollars and above, with Shelby County Home Improvement licensing for smaller jobs, so verify licensing if a contractor builds a larger structure. A shed that will have electricity, plumbing, or a permanent foundation falls outside the usual small accessory building exemption, which generally covers simple unpowered structures only. Electrical and plumbing work each normally require their own permit and inspection even when the structure itself would have been exempt, and many jurisdictions require a licensed electrician or plumber to pull them. Zoning setbacks, height limits, and lot coverage are reviewed separately from the building permit, so confirm placement with your local department before the shed is delivered or poured. Tennessee does not set one statewide shed threshold, and the 200 square foot figure from the model International Residential Code does not govern here. Who enforces residential construction depends on your address: where a city or county has neither taken on residential code enforcement itself nor opted out by a two-thirds vote of its legislative body, the State Fire Marshal's Office runs the residential permit and inspection programme using state-contracted inspectors. So the first question is not the size of the shed but which authority covers you. Confirm whether your city or county enforces its own code, has opted out, or falls under the State Fire Marshal programme, then ask that office for the size threshold. Zoning setbacks apply regardless, and a separate permit is needed for any electrical service run to the shed.
- Who issues the permit in Collierville?
- The local building department for Collierville handles permitting. This page lists its contact details and online portal. Your mailing city is not always the permitting authority, so confirm the jurisdiction before you apply.
- How do I find out the exact requirements for my project?
- Run the free PermitRoadmap check for your specific project and answers. It returns the likely permits, documents, inspections, and next steps, each linked to its official source.
PermitRoadmap is an independent informational service and is not affiliated with any city, county, state agency, or permitting authority. Results are informational and do not replace confirming requirements with the local permitting authority.