The Planning and Zoning Process
If you are going to build or expand a residence or business in Arlington, you must meet local zoning, subdivision, and site plan regulations. The Planning Department can advise you if you need to file an application for your project, which application to file, and whether you will need to meet with the Planning Commission or another board for your approval. More information on common topics is provided below.
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| Building Permits | Fence Permits | Exterior Business Renovations | Sign Permits | Development Process | Development Submittal Deadlines | Planning Permit Fees |
Building Permits
Permits are required for all new construction. In addition, residential permits are required for additions, accessory structures (sheds, pergolas, fences, patio covers), curb cuts, and pools. If your work only involves interior renovations, remodeling, or electrical you may contact Shelby County Codes directly.
Building permits must be on a Shelby County form and turned into Town Hall for initial approval. Once approved the Town will submit to Shelby County for processing.
No permit is required for work such as: new carpet, paint, fans, new roof shingles, etc. If there's a question, it's always best to call first to confirm (901-867-2620).
Fence Permits
Fence permits are required for new fences and fence replacement when different than original. Applications may be found here and are processed at Town Hall. The fee is $25 and is payable by cash or check only.
If you are planning to renovate the exterior of your Business (new paint colors, awnings, roof, signs, etc.), be sure to submit a Site Modification form to Town Hall first. Many minor changes can be approved administratively by staff, but more extensive changes will often require Design Review Commission approval.
Sign Permits
Signs also always require Town approval before changes can be made or new signs installed (Sign Application).
NEW DEVELOPMENT SUBMITTALS (non-residential Site Plans, Subdivisions, Planned Developments, etc)
Development Process Flow Chart
Pre-Application Meeting/Discussion
A Pre-Application Meeting can provide more clarification regarding the Town’s development and building process. Before an applicant spends too much time and effort with a proposal, he/she should meet with Town staff to review the proposal in general terms in order to receive preliminary staff comments and observations. These comments will strengthen the application and guide the applicant on what to expect. Town staff will be available to answer applicant questions about the property or process. Please contact the Planning Department at (901) 867-2620 to schedule a pre-application meeting. They are generally held the second and fourth Mondays of the month.
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission reviews plans for residential and commercial projects. They consider the site access, setbacks, parking, grading, and drainage. All submitted plans must be drawn to scale. Our Planning Commission meets once a month, usually on the third Monday of the month. Please refer to the submittal calendar for dates. To be considered for the agenda the submittal date is generally 6 weeks prior to the meeting. Planning applications and the project submittal form are found in the Document Center.
Design Review Committee
The Design Review Committee follows specific guidelines set forth by the Town and considers all building exteriors, landscaping, lighting and signage. Site plans must be drawn to scale and an exterior material display board with examples of all proposed building materials and colors shall be submitted with application. DRC applications are found in the Document Center.
Board of Zoning Appeals
The Board of Zoning Appeals meets as necessary and considers variance requests to the official zoning map. You can find our Zoning Map here.
Post Approval
Once the project has received the necessary approvals, construction plans are reviewed by Town Staff. After approval of construction plans, a PreConstruction meeting is held to authorize work and collect any fees. PreConstruction meetings are held the second and fourth Mondays of the month.
Submittal Calendar:
The Planning Submittal Calendar provides the upcoming dates of Town meetings, in addition to the Submittal Deadlines for applications to be considered on those Agendas: Submittal Calendar 2023 **In addition, the Project Submittal Form must accompany any application or documents submitted to the Planning Department.
Fee Schedule
The fee for various permits are noted on the front of most applications, but they can also be found in the Town's Development Fee Schedule. All payments made to the Town must be made by cash or check only.