Homebuilders Guidelines

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The City of Germantown has compiled the information herein to support and expedite the execution of the homebuilding process. The process as described herein, with the City of Germantown, shall be complete, PRIOR to applying for any Shelby County building permits. The steps are as follows, and are to be completed in the order below.

Checklists are provided as guidance for the information required when submitting each application for the process. These requirements are the typical scenario in this process, some situations may require deviation and additional requirements at times.

Homebuilder Flowchart

Step 1 General NPDES Permit (TN Dept of Environment & Conservation- TDEC)

Applicant shall apply for and receive a NPDES Construction Permit through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) regardless of lot size. Information regarding obtaining a TDEC NPDES Construction Permit can be found here, or by contacting the Memphis Environmental Field Office, 8383 Wolf Lake Drive, Bartlett, TN 38133-4119, or by phone at (901) 371-3000.

Step 2 Sprinkler Permit (Germantown Fire Marshal)

Applicant shall apply for and receive a Sprinkler Permit through the City of Germantown Fire Marshall, if applicable. If the heated square feet meets or exceeds 5,500 sf, then a Sprinkler Permit is required. It is the applicant’s responsibility to contact the Fire Marshall for the determination if a permit is required. Sprinkler requirements can be found here. If a sprinkler permit is required, it must be approved and included with the Stormwater or Grading application.

For more information regarding sprinkler permits, contact Fire Marshal, Clint Starnes, at cstarnes@Germantown-TN.gov or (901) 751-7600.

Step 3 Grading Permit (Germantown Engineering Dept)

Applicant shall apply for a Stormwater Grading Permit with the City of Germantown Engineering Department. No construction activities may begin until the Grading Permit has been issued. Unauthorized work will result in a fine. Applications can be submitted online here, emailed to engineeringpermits@germantown-tn.gov or dropped off at our office. The Permit application packet is required to provide all of the following information for the application to be considered complete and accepted for processing:

Stormwater Grading Application Packet

Copy of TDEC NOC & EPSC plan submitted to TDEC (Step 1)
Copy of approved Germantown Fire Department Permit (Sprinkler), as applicable (Step 2)
Permit Application
Final Site Plan including FFE, all driveways, patios, easements, setbacks, utilities, and tree protection. Final Site Plan Checklist

Applications for building lot sizes greater than one (1) acre require a site specific Grading Plan stamped by a licensed professional including the following:

All components of the Final Site Plan
Existing Off-site contours extending 100’ in each direction (labeled)
Proposed contours (labeled)
Pre/Post Development Drainage Calculations per the current Stormwater Manual

Fees: Once the application has been received, staff will confirm correct fee amount. Checks should be made out to the City of Germantown.

Lot Less than 1 Acre- $200 (Valid for 1 year, Annual Renewal Required)
Lots Greater than 1 Acre - $600 + $40/acre

Applications will be reviewed within 2 business days for completeness and confirmed by Staff via email (engineeringpermits@germantown-tn.gov). Once the application packet is deemed complete and fee has been received, permit issuance shall be within 10 business days.

To expedite the permit review process, submit application packet to engineeringpermits@germantown-tn.gov. Please add the permit email address to your contacts to avoid emails going to Spam Folders.

Applicants must place all EPSC measures prior to any grading activity commencing once approved permit is issued.

Step 4 Foundation Permit

Applicant may place form boards only (for slab on grade foundations) or CMU footing (for conventional foundations) prior to the foundation survey (plumbing shall not be installed and concrete slab shall not be poured). Applicant is then required to submit the Foundation Survey Approval Application.

Any Foundation Permit Application received without an approved Sprinkler Permit (if required) and Stormwater Grading Permit will not be accepted.

Any Building Permit submitted through Shelby County's permitting portal without an approved Stormwater Grading and Foundation Permit will not be approved.

The Foundation Permit applicant shall submit all of the following at the time of application:

Foundation Survey application
Foundation Survey: Stamped by a licensed TN surveyor containing the following information footings and form boards only with elevation). Foundation Survey Checklist

No plumbing or concrete slab may be in place. If plumbing or slab is found at time of inspection, application fee will be doubled.
Final Site Plan as previously approved and signed in STEP 3 of these guidelines, showing all driveways, patios, easements, setbacks, utilities, and tree protection. Site Plan Checklist
Final House Plans, including elevation drawings
Application and Utility Fee: Two separate checks made out to the City of Germantown.
o Application fee* - $100

*NOTE: This fee increases to if the applicant fails to obtain approval of the Foundation Survey prior to pouring concrete.

o Utility fee (water and sewer) - $2,000 ($1,000 for 1” water meter**+ $1,000 for sewer connection)

**NOTE: Fee for 2” water meters are calculated on a per request basis subject to approval by Public Works and fee is determined based upon the work associated with each application.

Applications will be reviewed within 2 business days for completeness and confirmed by Staff via email (engineeringpermits@germantown-tn.gov). Once the application packet is deemed complete and fee has been received, permit issuance shall be within 10 business days.

To expedite the permit review process, submit application packet to engineeringpermits@germantown-tn.gov. Please add the permit email address to your contacts to avoid emails going to Spam Folders.

Step 5 Shelby County Building Permit

The applicant applies for a building permit with Memphis/Shelby County Code Enforcement through the Develop901 website. Once the application is submitted, the City of Germantown is notified by the system. This step shall not be completed until all previous steps are complete.

Only upon completion of previous steps, applicants shall upload to the Develop901 website, the approved Sprinkler Permit, Stormwater Permit*, Foundation Survey* with Approved Final Site Plan and paid utility form with the Shelby County Building Permit application.

*NOTE: The City of Germantown will not approve the building permit application without these items.

Step 6 Driveway and/or Sidewalk Permit

The applicant applies for a Driveway and/or Driveway & Sidewalk Permit, whichever applicable, with the City of Germantown Engineering Department.

Applicant shall submit all of the following at the time of application:

Driveway permit application (requested by emailing engineeringpermits@germantown-tn.gov)
Previously approved site plan drawing including property line location, required front yard setback, driveway placement, dimensions, and any stormwater improvements required
One check made payable to the City of Germantown: Driveway Permit fees - $100

*NOTE: Work that has commenced without a permit will be subject to a $300 additional fee and may require removal of noncompliant work at the applicant’s expense.

For assistance or clarification of any of these requirements, please reach out to the appropriate party.

Contact Information:

Sprinkler Permit (Fire Dept.): Fire Marshal (901) 751-7600

Stormwater Permit: Engineering (901) 751-5720

Foundation Survey: Engineering (901) 751-5720

Driveway Permit: Engineering (901) 751-5720

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