Function & Authority

The Memphis Landmarks Commission (MLC) was created by Ordinance No. 2276, passed by the Memphis City Council on July 15, 1975 (now codified as Chapter 14-24 of the Memphis Code of Ordinances). The MLC is responsible for preserving and protecting the historic, architectural and cultural landmarks in the City of Memphis. As such, the MLC reviews zoning requests and work that is visible from the street, including new construction, demolition, relocation of structures, and different types of exterior alterations in the historic districts. Originally staffed by the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development, Land Use and Development Services (OPD) has provided staff support to the Commission since 1996.
 

Meetings and Location*

• Commission: 4:00 PM on the fourth Thursday of the month.  Meetings can be viewed on the Division of Planning and Development's YouTube channel here.
• City Council Chambers, 125 N. Main St., Memphis TN 38103
• Design Review Meeting: 8:30 AM on the first Thursday of the month.
• Conference Room A, 4th Floor, 125 N. Main St., Memphis TN 38103

* November and December meetings are held on the third Thursday. Please see the Application Deadlines calendar for more information. 

 

Contacts

• Brett Ragsdale, Executive Secretary
• Ayse Tezel, Municipal Planner
• (901) 636-6619

 

Commission Members

The Landmarks Commission is made up of nine individuals, appointed by the Mayor of the City of Memphis and confirmed by the Memphis City Council.  The current members are as follows (click on their name to send an email): Joyce Cox (Chair), Joy Doss, Alison England, Felecia Boyd, Robert Norcross, Neil Prosser, Cyndy Tucker, Peter Warren, and Natasha Strong.
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Application Forms

Certificate of Appropriateness

If a property owner within a historic district seeks a building permit for exterior work, the owner must receive a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) from the Memphis Landmarks Commission (MLC). To obtain the COA, the property owner must submit an application form with all required application materials and fees by the appropriate application deadline.

 

Click here for an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior improvements to properties within the historic districts.

Here is the fee schedule for COA applications to the Memphis Landmarks Commission.

 

Other Application Forms

Click here for an application for a new historic district.

Click here for a request for an economic hardship hearing.

 

Pending Applications

Click here to view the pending Certificates of Appropriateness with the Landmarks Commission. 

 

Archive Center

Click here to view archived or older documents including meeting agendas, applications, minutes, and staff reports. Note:  To view Memphis Landmarks Commission items, please scroll toward the bottom of the archive center page to find the Landmarks documents.

 

Local District Information

At present, there are sixteen historic preservation districts administered by the Memphis Landmarks Commission. Click below to view maps of the individual districts. The individuals listed below as neighborhood contacts have volunteered to serve as liaisons for potential applications to be filed with the Landmarks Commission within their respective districts. Applicants are encouraged to contact them before filing with the Commission. View a map of all of the districts (Landmarks Districts are indicated by green outlines). This form contains the approval dates and ordinance numbers for each district.

 

• Map with all Landmarks Districts 
• Annesdale Park (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Cathy Winterburn
• Annesdale-Snowden (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Brandon Knisley
• Central Gardens (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Shelly Rainwater 
• Collins Chapel (Map)
• Cooper Young (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Cooper-Young Community Association
• Cotton Row (Map)
• Evergreen (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Jeremy Williams
• Gayoso-Peabody (Map)
• Glenview (Map)
• Lea's Woods (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Vaughan Dewar
• Maxwellton (Map)
• Rozelle-Annesdale (Map)
• South Main (Map)
• Speedway Terrace (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Cheryl Hazelton
• Victorian Village (Map)
• Withers Home (480 W. Brooks Road) (Google Streetview)

 

Preservation Plan

Download the Memphis Historic Preservation Plan, approved by the Memphis City Council in 1997.

 

Staff Reports

Click here to view the most recent staff reports published for the Memphis Landmarks Commission.