Germantown, Tennessee Building Codes

Updated : 07/01/2024

Overview

Germantown, Tennessee, adopted the Memphis/Shelby County, TN, Building Codes. Germantown, TN Muni. Code § 6-1 (adoption). Link to Memphis/Shelby County, TN Building Codes.

State regulations may not permit the adoption of a code less stringent than the codes adopted by the state. For the most accurate information please check with the local building department. See the Tennessee state overview. Link to Tennessee Building Codes.

Helpful resources for Germantown, Tennessee include the following.

Residential Building Code

Tennessee adopted a statewide mandatory residential code that will control; however, local governments are free to make laws more strict (with some limitations).See PLRB, Tennessee Building Codes for more information on state level codes.

Germantown adopted the 2021 IRC, locally. Note that adoptions usually come with amendments. So, it is important to review those amendments in addition to the unamended model code.

You can find a copy of the model code here.

You can find information about the adoption without amendment to the model code here.

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2018 IRC with Tennessee amendments(Germantown, TN Municipal Code)

...Adoption not found...

Drip Edge

Drip Edge: Yes

Ice Barrier

Are ice barriers required for Germantown ? No
Comments:

The adoption of Shelby County residential code included an amendment stating that ice barrier underlayment is not required at the eaves.

Table R301.2(1)
Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria
GROUND SNOW LOAD(o) Wind Design Seismic Design Category (f) Subject to Damage from Ice Shield Underlayment Required (h) Flood Hazard (g) Air Freezing Index (i) Mean Annual Temperature F (j)
Speed (d) (mph) Topographic Effects (k) Special wind region (l) Windborne Debris Zone (m) Weathering (a) Frost Line Depth (b) Termite (c)
10 lb/ft(2) 105 No No No D(1) Moderate 5 Inches Moderate to Heavy No 6-Feb-13 158 61.8

Shelby County, TN, “IRC Amendments,” Accessed 06/28/24.

Comments

Germantown, Tennessee, adopted the Memphis/Shelby County, TN, Building Codes. Germantown, TN Muni. Code § 6-1 (adoption). Link to Memphis/Shelby County, TN Building Codes.

State regulations may not permit the adoption of a code less stringent than the codes adopted by the state. For the most accurate information please check with the local building department. See the Tennessee state overview. Link to Tennessee Building Codes.

Existing Buildings

Existing buildings, meaning buildings that were built in accordance to code at the time of construction, typically merit extra consideration in a current updated code.

No adoption of Appendix J was found in the municipal code or the city ordinances.

Germantown, Tennessee, adopted the Memphis/Shelby County, TN, Building Codes. Germantown, TN Muni. Code § 6-1 (adoption). Link to Memphis/Shelby County, TN Building Codes.

State regulations may not permit the adoption of a code less stringent than the codes adopted by the state. For the most accurate information please check with the local building department. See the Tennessee state overview. Link to Tennessee Building Codes.

Commercial Building Code

Germantown adopted the 2021 IBC, locally. Note that adoptions usually come with amendments. So, it is important to review those amendments in addition to the unamended model code.

You can find a copy of the code here.You can find information about the adoption without amendment to the model code here.

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2012 IBC with Tennessee amendments(Germantown, TN Sec. 6-1. - County Building Code adopted.)

...The Joint Building Code of Memphis and Shelby County, as it exists on October 11, 2010 and as amended thereafter by the City of Memphis and Shelby County, is hereby adopted as the city's building code. (Ord. No. 2010-8, § 1, 10-11-10)...

Comments

Germantown, Tennessee, adopted the Memphis/Shelby County, TN, Building Codes. Germantown, TN Muni. Code § 6-1 (adoption). Link to Memphis/Shelby County, TN Building Codes.

State regulations may not permit the adoption of a code less stringent than the codes adopted by the state. For the most accurate information please check with the local building department. See the Tennessee state overview. Link to Tennessee Building Codes.

Existing Buildings

Germantown, Tennessee, adopted the Memphis/Shelby County, TN, Building Codes. Germantown, TN Muni. Code § 6-1 (adoption). Link to Memphis/Shelby County, TN Building Codes.

State regulations may not permit the adoption of a code less stringent than the codes adopted by the state. For the most accurate information please check with the local building department. See the Tennessee state overview. Link to Tennessee Building Codes.

Other Building Codes

Germantown, Tennessee, adopted the Plumbing Code of Memphis and Shelby County. Germantown, TN, Muni. Code § 6-21 (adoption). Link to Memphis/Shelby County, TN, Building Codes.

Germantown, Tennessee, adopted the Electrical Code of Memphis and Shelby County. Germantown, TN, Muni. Code § 6-41 (adoption).  Link to Memphis/Shelby County, TN, Building Codes.

Germantown, Tennessee, adopted the Mechanical Code of Memphis and Shelby County. Germantown, TN, Muni. Code § 6-61 (adoption).  Link to Memphis/Shelby County, TN, Building Codes.

Germantown, Tennessee, adopted the Fuel Gas Code of Memphis and Shelby County. Germantown, TN, Muni. Code § 6-81 (adoption). Link to Memphis/Shelby County, TN, Building Codes.

Germantown, Tennessee, adopted the 2021 International Fire Code (IFC), including Appendices A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, and N, with amendments. Germantown, TN, Muni Codes § 10-36 (adoption) and § 10-37 (amendments).