Environmental Rules 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
Stormwater Management
Unincorporated Shelby County bans dumping oil, antifreeze, paint, pesticides, pool backwash and 27 other contaminants into the county storm sewer system (MS4) under Code Sec. 36-58. Any unauthorized discharge is declared a public nuisance under Sec. 36-57 that must be corrected or abated, with violations prosecuted through the county's general sessions environmental court.
Shelby County Stormwater Illicit Discharge Ban
Significant RestrictionsShelby County Code Sec. 36-58(b)
It shall be unlawful for any person to improperly dispose any contaminant into the county MS4. Contaminants include, but are not limited to the following: (1) Trash or debris; (2) Construction materials; (3) Petroleum products including, but not limited to oil, gasoline, grease, fuel oil, or hydraulic fluids; (4) Antifreeze and other automotive products... (16) Swimming pool backwash, including...
Erosion Control
Any construction disturbing one acre or more in unincorporated Shelby County needs a state stormwater discharge permit before work starts, with notice of intent copied to the County Engineer's Stormwater Management Section. The County Engineer approves erosion and sediment control measures and can halt work that lacks them.
Shelby County Construction Erosion Control Permit
Some RestrictionsShelby County Code Sec. 36-84(a)
It shall be unlawful for any person to permit any discharge of stormwater from a construction activity originating from land owned or controlled by them on a total land area of one or more acres disturbed by construction activity or less than one acre if part of a larger common plan of development of at least one acre, without a general permit for stormwater discharges associated with construct...
Flood Zones
Shelby County allows development in the floodplain, but the County Engineer can require the developer to prove no adverse impact on upstream or downstream facilities, uses, residences or structures before approving it. All stormwater infrastructure standards apply countywide in unincorporated areas.
Shelby County Floodplain Development Policy
Some RestrictionsShelby County Code Sec. 36-108(6)
(6) Development shall be permitted in the floodplain; however, the developer may be required by the manager to demonstrate no adverse impact on upstream or downstream facilities, uses, residences, or related structures. For example, this may be shown by modification of the USACOE/FEMA model by applying full upstream development criteria and new cross sections reflecting the development and depi...
Environmental Rules by City in Shelby County
1 cities in Shelby County have their own environmental rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Shelby County ordinances
See every category we cover for Shelby County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Shelby County Ordinance Hub →