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.
Meetings and Location*
- Commission: 2:00 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: 9:00 AM, usually on the first Wednesday of the month*
* November and December meetings are held on the third Thursday. Design Review Meeting dates may also differ from month to month. Please see the Application Deadline calendar for more information.
Agendas & Minutes
| Most Recent Agenda | Past Agendas |
| Most Recent Minutes | Past Minutes |
Contacts
- Ayse Penzes, Preservation Planner
- Margot Payne, Preservation Planner
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): Felecia Boyd, Joyce Cox, Joy Doss (Vice-Chair), Brown Gill, Joyce Selina Love, Natasha Strong, Cyndy Tucker (Chair), Mario Walker, and Peter Warren.
Zoning Administrator Brett Ragsdale serves as the Executive Secretary of the Landmarks Commission.
Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) Application
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.
Contact the Preservation Planners for an application for a new historic district or to request an economic hardship hearing.
- Apply for a COA (under Planning & Zoning Applications)
- COA Application Resource
- COA Fee Schedule
- Application Deadlines
- Pending Applications
- Staff Reports & Minor COA Approvals
- Archive Center (older MLC Agendas, Minutes, and Staff Reports)
Local District Information
At present, there are sixteen local historic districts. Click on the links below to review the design guidelines for each district. The individuals listed below are neighborhood contacts and have volunteered to serve as liaisons for potential applications filed with the Landmarks Commission. Please note that neighborhood contacts may offer advice and opinions. However, final decisions on any case will be made by the Landmarks Commission.
- Map of all local landmarks districts
- Annesdale Park (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Cathy Winterburn
- Annesdale-Snowden (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Christopher Church
- Central Gardens (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Shelly Rainwater
- Collins Chapel (Map)
- Cooper Young (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Cooper-Young Community Association
- Cotton Row (Map)
- Crosstown (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Jennifer Amido
- Evergreen (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Don Jones
- Gayoso-Peabody (Map)
- Glenview (Map) Neighborhood Contacts: Jean Jordan and Earlice Taylor
- Lea's Woods (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Vaughan Dewar
- Maxwellton (Map)
- Rozelle-Annesdale (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Emily Bishop
- South Main (Map)
- Speedway Terrace (Map) Neighborhood Contacts: Cheryl Hazelton and Justin Gillis
- Victorian Village (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Scott Blake
- Vollintine-Evergreen (Map) Neighborhood Contact: Vollintine Evergreen Community Association
- Withers Home (480 W. Brooks Road) (Google Streetview)
Preservation Plan
Download the Memphis Historic Preservation Plan, approved by the Memphis City Council in 1997.
