Building Setbacks & Zoning in Shelby County, TN (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Shelby County, Tennessee.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
The Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code sets minimum front, side, and rear setbacks by zoning district for unincorporated Shelby County, and accessory structures must sit at least five feet from side and rear property lines.
Building Setbacks in Shelby County
Some RestrictionsMemphis & Shelby County UDC Sub-Section 2.7.2A
No accessory structure shall be located closer than five feet to any side or rear property lines. No accessory structure shall be located closer than five feet to any other building or manufactured home on the same tract or lot.
Structure Height Limits
The Unified Development Code caps single-family building height at 40 feet in most residential districts of unincorporated Shelby County, and an accessory structure may not exceed the height of the principal structure it serves.
Structure Height Limits in Shelby County
Some RestrictionsMemphis & Shelby County UDC Sub-Section 2.7.2B
In Relation to the Principal Structure... the height of an accessory structure shall not exceed the height of the principal structure. Any portion of an accessory structure over 20 feet in height shall be located at least 20 feet from all side and rear property lines that do not abut an alley.
Lot Coverage Limits
In unincorporated Shelby County the Unified Development Code caps cumulative accessory-structure footprint at 75 percent of the principal structure, and sets a 40 percent building-coverage limit for manufactured-home-park residential lots.
Lot Coverage in Shelby County
Some RestrictionsMemphis & Shelby County UDC Sub-Section 2.7.2C
The cumulative square footage of accessory structures on any given tract or lot shall not exceed 75% of the total square footage of the principal structure on the same tract or lot except for in the CA district, where no limitation applies.
Building Setbacks & Zoning by City in Shelby County
1 cities in Shelby County have their own building setbacks & zoning rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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