Updated : 07/01/2024

Overview

Shelby County, Tennessee, adopted the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), with amendments. Shelby County, TN, Muni. Codes § 6-44 (adoption) and Shelby County, TN, “2021 IRC Amendments,” Accessed 06/27/24 (adoption and amendments). Shelby County, Tennessee, adopted the 2021 International Building Code (IBC), with amendments. Shelby County, TN, Muni. Codes § 6-41 (adoption) and Shelby County, TN, “2021 IBC Amendments,” Accessed 06/27/24 (adoption and amendments). Shelby County, Tennessee, adopted the 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC). Shelby County, TN, Muni. Codes § 6-47 (adoption) and Shelby County, TN, “2021 IEBC Amendments,” Accessed 06/27/24 (adoption and amendments).

Helpful resources for Shelby County, Tennessee include the following.

• Jurisdiction's Information Page(s):
  • Shelby County, Tennessee Home Page
  • Shelby County, Tennessee Construction Enforcement
  • Shelby County, Tennessee Municipal Code
• PLRB, Ordinance and Law Coverage Discussion for Tennessee

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.

Shelby County 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 amendments to the model code here.

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2018 IRC with Tennessee amendments(Shelby County, TN Sec. 6-44. - International Residential Code.)

...the ICC International Residential Code and those local amendments attached to this Joint Ordinance as Exhibit A are hereby incorporated by reference as if set out herein in their entirety from the 2021 edition of the ICC International Residential Code and that no Appendices from the 2021 edition of the ICC International Residential Code are adopted...

Drip Edge

Drip Edge: yes

Ice Barrier

Are ice barriers required for Shelby County ? No
Citation: Table R301.2(1)
Municipal Code https://www.shelbycountytn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/39436/2021-IRC-Amendments-Final#page=9
Comments:

The adoption of the 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.

Government Officials

Comments

Shelby County, Tennessee, adopted the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), with amendments. Shelby County, TN, Muni. Codes § 6-44 (adoption) and Shelby County, TN, “2021 IRC Amendments,” Accessed 06/27/24 (adoption and amendments).

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 AJ was found in the municipal code or the city ordinances.

Shelby County, Tennessee, adopted the 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC). Shelby County, TN, Muni. Codes § 6-47 (adoption) and Shelby County, TN, “2021 IEBC Amendments,” Accessed 06/27/24 (adoption and amendments).

Commercial Building Code

Shelby County 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 amendments to the model code here.

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2012 IBC with Tennessee amendments(Shelby County, TN Sec. 6-42. - Incorporated by reference.)

...That the following appendices of the 2021 edition of the ICC International Building Code, or as locally drafted, are also adopted, but that any appendix not listed in this section is specifically not adopted: Appendix A—Building Permit, Plans and Inspection Fees; Appendix C—Group U Agriculture Building; Appendix D—Fire District; Appendix F—Rodent...

Comments

Shelby County, Tennessee, adopted the 2021 International Building Code (IBC), with amendments. Shelby County, TN, Muni. Codes § 6-41 (adoption) and Shelby County, TN, “2021 IBC Amendments,” Accessed 06/27/24 (adoption and amendments).

Existing Buildings

Shelby County, Tennessee, adopted the 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC). Shelby County, TN, Muni. Codes § 6-47 (adoption) and Shelby County, TN, “2021 IEBC Amendments,” Accessed 06/27/24 (adoption and amendments).

Other Building Codes