Guides / SWPPP requirements in Shelby County (Memphis)

SWPPP requirements in Shelby County (Memphis)

State coverage plus the joint Memphis and Shelby County program, updated to version 3.0 in 2025, including erosion control plans, post-construction plans, and stricter local BMP standards.

Building in Memphis or greater Shelby County means working under a joint city-county stormwater program that was just updated. The Memphis and Shelby County Storm Water Management Manual reached version 3.0, effective February 1, 2025, so anyone pulling new approvals is working under the current, stricter edition.

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The state permit is your baseline

Anywhere in Tennessee, a project that disturbs one acre or more (including a lot inside a larger common plan of development) needs coverage under the Construction General Permit (TNR100000): a written SWPPP, a Notice of Intent filed in MyTDEC (form CN-0940), twice-weekly inspections documented on form CN-1173, and a Notice of Termination at closeout. If that is new to you, start with Do I need a SWPPP in Tennessee? and how to file your NOI.

The Memphis and Shelby County program

Memphis and Shelby County administer a single joint stormwater manual, and the City of Memphis Land Development Office (LDO) is the front door for most in-city work. The LDO decides whether an Erosion Control Plan (ECP) is required, and for any development disturbing more than one acre, or any development that needs stormwater detention, an ECP submittal is required. Those plans must meet the state permit (TNR100000) and conform to the joint manual, whose BMP standards (Volume 3) are more stringent than the state minimum.

Post-construction is its own requirement

Beyond erosion control during construction, a Post-Construction Runoff Control Plan (PCRCP) is required for all new development and significant redevelopment, with two exceptions: residential projects without stormwater detention, and linear projects. If neither exception applies, you need a PCRCP even if the finished site has no visible stormwater facilities. Memphis also runs a stormwater utility fee with a credit for installing water-quality improvements.

Know which jurisdiction you are in

Shelby County includes seven municipalities, Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, Memphis, and Millington, plus the unincorporated county. The joint manual sets the baseline, but the office you submit to and some local specifics depend on where your parcel sits, so confirm your jurisdiction before you plan submittals.

What this means for your SWPPP

Expect to satisfy the state permit and the joint Memphis and Shelby County manual, which since February 2025 is version 3.0. Plan for both the erosion control plan and, in most cases, a post-construction runoff control plan. Your SWPPP should align with the more stringent local BMP standards, not just the state floor.

From the engineer who built this: SWPPP Builder was created by a practicing Tennessee civil engineer, not a national template service. The generated plan is written to the current state Construction General Permit and to the TDEC forms your reviewer and inspector actually expect to see, so it reads like something that belongs on a Tennessee jobsite. Local programs still vary block to block, so the plan is built to be reviewed, signed, and adjusted to your specific site rather than filed blind.

Getting your Shelby County SWPPP

SWPPP Builder generates a field-ready Tennessee SWPPP built to the state Construction General Permit in about an hour. Pricing is flat and posted up front: $349 for a standard non-engineered contractor SWPPP, $99 for a single-family homebuilder plan (built on TDEC form CN-1249), and $499 when your site needs engineered or pre-approved plans. That is a fraction of the $1,500 to $5,000 a consultant typically charges, and you keep the file in your account to reuse and update as the job changes.

Common questions

What is the current Memphis and Shelby County stormwater manual?

The Memphis and Shelby County Storm Water Management Manual version 3.0 became effective February 1, 2025. New development applications follow the updated regulations.

When is an Erosion Control Plan required in Memphis?

The City of Memphis Land Development Office requires an ECP submittal for developments disturbing more than one acre and for any development that requires stormwater detention. The plan must meet the state permit and the joint manual's stricter BMP standards.

Do I need a post-construction plan?

A Post-Construction Runoff Control Plan is required for all new development and significant redevelopment except residential projects without detention and linear projects. If neither exception applies, a PCRCP is required.

Which municipality am I in?

Shelby County covers Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, Memphis, and Millington, plus the unincorporated county. The joint manual is the baseline, but confirm the submitting office for your specific parcel.

This guide is general information for Tennessee construction sites, not legal, engineering, or regulatory advice. Requirements change and local rules vary; always confirm current details with TDEC and your local permitting authority before relying on them. Fees, thresholds, and contacts cited here can change, so verify them with the office directly.