Memphis Detached Garage Permit Site Plan: Setbacks, Easements and Driveway Access

A detached garage can provide secure parking, storage or workshop space without altering the main house. Before construction begins, however, the proposed garage must fit within the property’s zoning restrictions and maintain appropriate distances from property lines, alleys, easements and other structures.

A clear Memphis detached garage permit site plan shows reviewers exactly where the garage will be built and how vehicles will reach it. It can also reveal placement problems before money is spent on foundations, materials or driveway construction.

Which Rules Apply in Memphis?

The Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code, commonly called the UDC, serves as the zoning code and subdivision regulations for the City of Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County.

The UDC contains standards for accessory structures, including detached garages. The applicable requirements can depend on:

• The property’s zoning district
• The size and height of the garage
• The location of the garage on the lot
• Whether the garage faces an alley
• The lot’s side and rear setback requirements
• Recorded easements or subdivision restrictions
• Historic-district or overlay requirements
• Whether driveway or curb work is proposed

Do not assume that a garage location used elsewhere in Memphis will comply on your property. Confirm the zoning district and current requirements before finalizing the design.

Does a Detached Garage Require a Permit?

A permanent detached garage generally requires a construction permit and zoning review. The permit process allows officials to review both the garage’s structural plans and its placement on the property.

The site plan is only one part of the application. Separate construction drawings may be required to show:

• Foundation and slab construction
• Wall and roof framing
• Building height
• Exterior elevations
• Doors and windows
• Electrical or plumbing work, when included

Applicants can obtain current submission information from the City of Memphis Permits Office. Confirm whether additional trade permits are needed if the garage will have electrical service, plumbing, heating or other utilities.

What Should the Garage Site Plan Show?

The site plan should provide an overhead view of the complete property. Existing and proposed features must be labeled clearly so reviewers do not have to guess which work is part of the application.

A useful detached-garage site plan should show:

• The project address and parcel information
• All property lines and lot dimensions
• The existing house
• Existing garages, sheds and accessory structures
• The proposed garage footprint and exterior dimensions
• Measured distances from the garage to property lines
• The distance between the garage and the house
• The driveway or alley serving the garage
• The garage-door location
• Known utility, drainage or access easements
• Adjacent streets and alleys
• A north arrow and drawing scale

If the project changes the driveway, show the existing and proposed pavement separately. Labels such as “existing driveway,” “proposed driveway extension” and “proposed detached garage” make the scope of work easier to review.

For a broader checklist, see the USA Site Plans guide to permit site plan requirements.

Memphis Detached Garage Setbacks

Memphis and Shelby County publish an official Accessory Structures in a Nutshell guide summarizing several important placement rules.

According to that guide:

• An accessory structure may be as close as 5 feet to the rear property line.
• The structure must follow the required side setback for its zoning district.
• The guide states that most districts require a 5-foot side setback.
• The accessory structure must be lower than the principal dwelling.
• Any portion of an accessory structure higher than 20 feet must be at least 20 feet from the rear lot line.

These figures are useful starting points, but the side setback must still be verified for the specific zoning district. Corner lots, planned developments, overlay districts and properties with previous zoning approvals may have different requirements.

Setbacks should be measured from the applicable legal property line to the closest regulated part of the garage. Do not automatically use a fence, hedge, pavement edge or utility pole as evidence of the boundary.

Learn more about measuring and documenting these distances in Property Setbacks Explained for Homeowners.

The Special Rule for Garages Facing an Alley

Memphis has an important placement rule for a garage whose vehicle entrance faces an alley. The official accessory-structure guide states that the garage must be either:

• 5 feet from the alley, or
• At least 20 feet from the alley.

The purpose of this arrangement is to prevent parked vehicles from extending into and obstructing the alley. A garage placed between those two positions may create a space that appears large enough for parking but is too short to keep an entire vehicle out of the alley.

The site plan should clearly identify:

• The alley-side property line
• The edge and direction of the alley
• The garage-door location
• The garage-to-alley setback
• The apron between the garage and alley
• Any gates, fences or utility equipment affecting access

The published guide notes that accessory garages built before January 1, 2011, may be closer than 5 feet to an alley and may be modified or expanded under applicable UDC provisions. Owners of older garages should confirm eligibility before relying on this exception.

Driveway Access From the Street

When the detached garage is reached from a street rather than an alley, the site plan should show the complete vehicle route from the public roadway to the garage door.

Important driveway details include:

• Existing and proposed driveway width
• The curb cut or roadway connection
• The driveway’s distance from side property lines
• The location of sidewalks
• Existing utility poles, hydrants and drainage structures
• Gates or fences across the driveway
• The garage entrance and available maneuvering area

A garage permit does not necessarily authorize work within a public street or road right-of-way. A new curb cut, culvert or driveway approach may require separate engineering or public-works approval.

For properties under Shelby County road jurisdiction, the official Shelby County driveway permit guidance explains that driveway forms involving curb or gutter must be inspected before concrete is poured. When a culvert is needed, the owner should contact the County Engineering Office for specifications.

Properties inside Memphis may follow a different access-permit process. Confirm the responsible road authority before applying because a Memphis address does not always establish which department controls the adjoining roadway.

Why Easements Must Be Checked Early

An easement gives another party a legal right to use a defined part of the property. Utility, drainage, sewer and access easements commonly affect the rear or side areas where homeowners want to place detached garages.

An easement may not be visible in the yard. It might appear only on:

• A recorded subdivision plat
• A boundary survey
• A title report
• A deed or separate recorded document
• A previously approved development plan

Do not assume a garage can be constructed within an easement simply because no pipe, pole or utility box is visible. The easement holder may require permanent access, and building placement could be restricted.

If a known easement is near the garage, show its location and width on the site plan. When its position cannot be determined reliably, obtain the recorded document or consult a licensed surveyor or title professional.

Property Lines: GIS Information Versus a Survey

Online parcel maps can be helpful when preparing an initial garage layout, but GIS boundary lines are generally intended for reference. They do not independently locate legal property corners on the ground.

A survey may be appropriate when:

• The garage will be close to the minimum setback
• Property corners are missing or cannot be located
• The fence does not match parcel information
• The lot has an irregular shape
• A neighbor disputes the boundary
• An easement cannot be located
• The permit office requests certified boundary information

USA Site Plans prepares drafted site plans from available records and customer-provided information. These drawings are not boundary surveys and do not legally establish property lines.

Garage Height and Building Separation

The Memphis accessory-structure guidance requires an accessory structure to be lower than the principal dwelling. It also requires any portion higher than 20 feet to maintain a 20-foot rear setback.

Show the garage’s overall height on the elevation drawings and make sure it agrees with the dimensions used for zoning review. If attic storage, a steep roof or a second-level space is proposed, ask whether additional zoning or building-code requirements apply.

The site plan should also show the shortest distance between the detached garage and the house. Building separation can affect fire-resistance requirements, roof projections and permitted openings even when both buildings satisfy the property-line setbacks.

Is the Project Really a Detached Accessory Garage?

The UDC’s treatment of a building may change if it is connected to the house. The official guide explains that a structure connected to the principal dwelling by an enclosed room or enclosed breezeway is not treated as a detached accessory structure. It is treated as an addition to the principal dwelling and must follow the applicable principal-building setback.

An open connection, covered walkway or breezeway should therefore be discussed with zoning staff before the project is classified and drawn.

A garage containing permanent facilities for living, sleeping, cooking, eating and sanitation may also be treated as an accessory dwelling unit rather than a basic garage. ADUs have additional standards and should not be submitted as ordinary vehicle-storage buildings.

Historic Districts and Special Zoning Areas

Some Memphis properties are located within historic districts, planned developments or zoning overlays. These designations can add requirements beyond the standard accessory-structure setbacks.

A detached garage in a regulated historic district may require design review or a Certificate of Appropriateness. Reviewers may consider the garage’s materials, roof form, visibility from the street and relationship to the historic house.

Use the Develop 901 Land Use and Development Services resources to check zoning, overlays and historic-preservation information before completing the plans.

Common Reasons Garage Site Plans Need Corrections

• The side or rear setback is missing
• The garage is measured from a fence instead of the property line
• The drawing does not show whether the garage faces an alley
• The alley setback falls between the specified placement options
• The proposed driveway or apron is not shown
• Existing sheds and accessory structures are omitted
• An easement crosses the proposed garage footprint
• The garage size differs between the site plan and construction drawings
• Existing and proposed conditions use the same line style
• The plan lacks a scale, north arrow or lot dimensions

Steps Before Submitting Your Application

1. Confirm jurisdiction. Determine whether the property and roadway are controlled by Memphis or unincorporated Shelby County.
2. Check the zoning district. Review the applicable side, rear, height and coverage standards.
3. Review property documents. Gather surveys, plats, title documents and recorded easements.
4. Choose the garage location. Consider setbacks, building separation and vehicle access.
5. Check the alley rule. If the garage faces an alley, document the required 5-foot or 20-foot-and-greater placement.
6. Plan the driveway. Identify any curb, culvert, sidewalk or right-of-way work requiring separate approval.
7. Prepare the site plan. Show property lines, dimensions, structures, setbacks, access and easements.
8. Prepare construction plans. Include the foundation, floor plan, elevations and framing information requested by the permit office.
9. Submit for review. Respond to correction comments before beginning construction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far must a detached garage be from the rear property line in Memphis?

The official accessory-structure guide says an accessory structure may be as close as 5 feet to the rear property line. Additional requirements apply when part of the structure exceeds 20 feet in height or when a garage faces an alley.

What is the side setback for a Memphis detached garage?

The garage must follow the side setback for the property’s zoning district. The City and County guide notes that most districts require 5 feet, but the exact requirement must be confirmed for the parcel.

How far must an alley-facing garage be from the alley?

According to the official guidance, a garage facing an alley must be either 5 feet or at least 20 feet from the alley. The rule is intended to prevent parked vehicles from blocking alley traffic.

Can I build a garage over an easement?

Do not assume construction is allowed. Review the recorded easement and obtain guidance from the easement holder and applicable permitting department before designing the garage within that area.

Does a drafted site plan replace a boundary survey?

No. A drafted site plan illustrates the property and proposed project using available information. A licensed surveyor is needed when legal boundary location or certification is required.

Official Resources

• Develop 901: Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code
• Memphis and Shelby County: Accessory Structures in a Nutshell
• City of Memphis Permits Office
• Shelby County Driveway Permit Guidance
• Develop 901: Land Use and Development Services

Disclaimer: This article provides general information and is not legal, surveying, architectural or engineering advice. Requirements can change and may vary by property, zoning district and project scope. Confirm current requirements with the appropriate Memphis or Shelby County department before construction.