Zoning and Subdivision Administration

Land Use and Development Services (LUDS) serves as the staff to the following boards:

 

Land Use Control Board

Board of Adjustment

Memphis Landmarks Commission

 

Staff Reports

View the most recent staff reports below published for:

 

Archive Center

Click here to access archived or older documents including meeting agendas, applications, minutes, and staff reports.

 

The Zoning Code (The Unified Development Code)


Download the current Unified Development Code (the "UDC"), which serves as the Zoning Code and Subdivision Regulations for the City of Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County. 

UDC in a Nutshell.  This two-page summary contains an overview of the most commonly used sections of the UDC. 

UDC, Annotated. Click here to download a current version of the UDC that color codes various amendments over the years with links to corresponding staff reports, which may assist in understanding the legislative intent of particular sections.

UDC, Blog.   View the blog that chronicles the  history of the UDC.
 

Historic Zoning Codes and Maps

The Zoning Codes and Maps below were adopted prior to the UDC. Older zoning codes and maps may assist with the determination of whether an existing structure or use is legal, non-conforming. To be considered non-conforming, and therefore "grandfathered" under the older zoning codes, the structure or use must have conformed to the code in place at the time it was established. Some zoning districts have been renamed when new zoning codes have been adopted; this conversion table contains the current zoning district designation for old zoning districts under the 1955 and 1981 codes. 

 

Zoning Codes

1981 Zoning Code and Subdivision Regulations
Download the 1981 Zoning Code and Subdivision Regulations as they existied in 2007 (shortly before the adoption of the Unified Development Code). Go to Title 15 for the Subdivision Regulations (page 253 of the document) and Title 16 for the Zoning Code (page 317 of the document).

Please note: At least one error has been noted regarding the use chart in this version of the zoning code. Download the Codes Chart of 1998 for a more comprehensive analysis of the permitted uses for each zoning district. This use chart was created by the Office of Construction Code Enforcement in 1998 to include specific uses not listed in the zoning code, as well as reflect interpretations made by the Building Official regarding individual uses.
 
1972 Zoning Code
Download the 1972 Zoning Code.  Here is its 1976 Looseleaf Supplement. Click on the following for amendments made to the Code in 1972, 1973 and 1976.

1955 Zoning Code
Download the 1955 Zoning Code. The adoption of the 1955 Zoning Code coincided with the merger of the Memphis and Shelby County Planning Commissions.  Here is a 1966 amendment.

1922 Zoning Code
Download the 1922 Zoning Code. This was the first zoning code not only in Memphis, but in the State of Tennessee.

 

Zoning Maps

Zoning Over the Years
View a stylized map that compares the original zoning districts of Memphis in 1922 with the present zoning districts in 2016. Note: this map covers only the areas within the city limits of Memphis in 1922.

1960 Zoning Map
View the zoning map for the 5-mile zone outside of the City of Memphis in place in 1960. 
 
1955 Land Use Map
View the zoning map for 1955. Land use maps show the actual use of properties rather than the way they are zoned. 
 
1954 Zoning Map

  • View the zoning map for the northwest quadrant of the City of Memphis
  • View  the zoning map for the northeast quadrant of the City
  • View the zoning map for the southwest quadrant of the City
  • View the zoning map for the southeast quadrant of the City

1953 Zoning Maps

  • View the zoning map for the west half of the City of Memphis
  • View the zoning map for the northeast quadrant of the City
  • View the zoning map for the southeast quandrant of the City
  • View the zoning map for the west half of the 5-mile zone
  • View the zoning map for the east half of the 5-mile zone

1922 Zoning Map
Download the original zoning map that was in place for the City of Memphis in 1922. The original 1922 zoning map was actually made up of two separate maps: a use map and a height and area map. Click here for the use map, as it was published in the May 7, 1922, Commercial Appeal. Click here for the height and area map from the same newspaper.