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11 permits · verified 2026-10-08

What permits do you need to open a retail store in Shelby County Tn?

In short

A retail store in Shelby County Tn, TN has 2 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 9 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Shelby County Beer Board charges $250 non-refundable application fee, plus a $100 annual beer privilege tax due January 1 and delinquent after January 31 (prorated for a permit issued after January 1) for the county beer permit (unincorporated areas). 3 of the 11 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-08 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a retail store in Shelby County Tn

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
County Beer Permit (unincorporated areas)only if it applies to youShelby County Beer Board$250 non-refundable application fee, plus a $100 annual beer privilege tax due January 1 and delinquent after January 31 (prorated for a permit issued after January 1)ON and OFF premise permits continue while the same owner operates the business at the same location; a special permit lasts up to 30 days; the $100 privilege tax is annual2026-10-08
Tire Business Permit (unincorporated areas)only if it applies to youMemphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement (Division of Planning and Development)$250 a year, nonrefundable, prorated as necessary; replacement permit $15July 1 to June 302026-10-08
Going-Out-of-Business / Liquidation Sale Permit (unincorporated areas)only if it applies to youShelby County Clerk, Business Tax Division$25 per application and per renewalup to 30 days; renewable no more than three times for the same sale within one year2026-10-08
Flea Market and Show Booth Feeonly if it applies to youShelby County Clerk, Business Tax Division$1 per booth per day from each exhibitor, collected by the show or market operator ($2 per booth per day for facilities inside Memphis, per the Clerk's page)per day of the show or market2026-10-08

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

Local permits that apply to every type of business in Shelby County Tn

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Commercial Building Permit, Plan Review and Certificate of OccupancyMemphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement (Division of Planning and Development)Varies — formula on the Shelby County Tn pageper permit2026-10-08
County Business Tax License (Standard or Minimal Activity)only if it applies to youShelby County Clerk, Business Tax Division$15 county license per location (county-only); for a Memphis location the Clerk also collects a $15 Memphis city license fee, $30 in total ($15 county + $15 city)continuing; renewed at no fee once the annual state business tax return is filed and paid2026-10-08

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

TN registrations that apply to every type of business

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youTennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable OrganizationsVaries — formula on the TN pageno expiry, but an annual report on the same per-member scale is due each year2026-09-03
For-Profit Corporation Charteronly if it applies to youTennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations$100 one-time filingno expiry, but a $20 annual report is due each year2026-09-03
Standard or Minimal Activity Business Licenseonly if it applies to youTennessee Department of Revenue$15 per jurisdiction per location — charged again by the city if it has enacted the taxannual for a standard license, renewed free when the tax return is filed2026-09-03
Annual Reportonly if it applies to youTennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable OrganizationsVaries — formula on the TN pageannual — due the first day of the fourth month after the fiscal year ends2026-09-03
Sales and Use Tax Certificate of RegistrationTennessee Department of RevenueNo feeno expiry stated2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

How much does it actually cost to permit a retail store in Shelby County Tn?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 11 records listed for a retail store in Shelby County Tn, TN, 2 apply to every business of this type and 9 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

3 of the 11 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 1 has no fee published at all.

The other 3 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Shelby County Tn permits page and the TN state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Shelby County Tn?

Permits for a retail store in Shelby County Tn, TN come from 5 separate offices: Shelby County Beer Board, Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement (Division of Planning and Development), Shelby County Clerk, Business Tax Division, Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations, Tennessee Department of Revenue. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a retail store need in Shelby County Tn that other businesses do not?

2 of the 4 permits particular to a retail store here apply to no other business type we cover in Shelby County Tn: Going-Out-of-Business / Liquidation Sale Permit (unincorporated areas) and Flea Market and Show Booth Fee.

County Beer Permit (unincorporated areas)

As stated on the County Clerk's Beer Permits page, businesses in Shelby County outside any municipality that sell, distribute, manufacture or store beer must obtain a permit, and the Beer Board Rules (§ D.1) give the Shelby County Beer Board authority over establishments in the unincorporated areas. The county's Beer Permit Application requires 'A nonrefundable application fee of $250.00' and a $100 annual beer privilege tax, due January 1 and delinquent after January 31, prorated for a permit issued after January 1. These match T.C.A. § 57-5-104(a) ($250 application fee) and § 57-5-104(b) ($100 annual privilege tax). Under the Rules, ON and OFF premise permits remain in effect while the applicant owns and operates the business at the designated location (§ D.9), a special permit lasts no more than 30 days (§ D.10), the premises must be at least 500 feet from schools, churches, licensed daycare centres and other places of public gathering, measured by a licensed surveyor (§ B.3), and each applicant also holds a county business tax license (§ B.15). Sales are prohibited from 3:00 to 6:00 a.m. Monday to Saturday and from 3:00 a.m. to 12 noon on Sunday (§ C.6).

Tire Business Permit (unincorporated areas)

Shelby County Code § 8-655 states that 'All tire businesses located within the unincorporated areas of the county engaging in the resale of tires or the generation of waste tires shall be issued a permit annually by county, by and through the Memphis and Shelby County office of construction code enforcement for a nonrefundable fee of $250.00.' Under § 8-656 the fee is due annually by July 1 and prorated as necessary, the permit runs from July 1 to June 30, a replacement permit costs $15, and the permit and decal are posted on the premises. Section 8-654 names garages and service stations among waste tire generators, so an auto repair shop that generates waste tires in unincorporated Shelby County falls under it, as does a retailer that resells tires. The code is current through Supplement 13 on Municode. Contact the Office of Construction Code Enforcement at 901-222-8300.

Going-Out-of-Business / Liquidation Sale Permit (unincorporated areas)

As stated on the County Clerk's Going Out of Business Permit page, 'Any business in Shelby County outside of any municipality that holds a liquidation sale or going out of business sale must obtain a permit from the Shelby County Clerk', before the sale begins and before it is advertised. Shelby County Code § 8-245 sets a $25.00 fee for each original or renewal application; § 8-243 limits a permit to no more than 30 days, and § 8-244 allows no more than three renewals for the same sale within one year. The Clerk's page describes the same $25 fee, 30-day term and up to three renewals at the same fee, and the application form states that fees paid are not refunded. Apply at the County Clerk, 150 Washington Ave, Memphis; (901) 222-3059.

Flea Market and Show Booth Fee

As published on the Shelby County Clerk's Flea Markets page, the owner, manager, operator or promoter of a flea market, craft show, antique show, gun show or auto show where two or more retailers sell goods must hold a business tax license and collect and submit to the County Clerk $1 per booth each day from each exhibitor, or $2 per booth each day for facilities inside the city limits of Memphis. The Clerk's page says exhibitors may instead obtain and maintain a business tax license in lieu of the daily booth fee, and that the fee does not apply to a business primarily selling antiques at least five days a week at a permanent location. Fees from a show that is not a continuing business go to the Clerk within 72 hours after it closes; at a continuing location they are due on the first of each month and remitted by the tenth. The Department of Revenue's June 2026 Business Tax Manual describes the same $1 per booth per day fee.

The other 2 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Shelby County Tn, TN; what each one involves is set out on the Shelby County Tn permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across TN and are covered on the TN state page.

How does a retail store compare with other businesses in Shelby County Tn?

The closest match is a auto repair shop, which shares 1 of these permits. A retail store also needs County Beer Permit (unincorporated areas), Going-Out-of-Business / Liquidation Sale Permit (unincorporated areas) and Flea Market and Show Booth Fee. A auto repair shop needs Automotive Repair Shop Licensing — Tennessee Position, which a retail store does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Shelby County Tn, TN, compared with a retail store
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a retail storeOnly a retail store needsOnly it needs
Auto repair shops2131
Restaurants5134
Childcare centres2042
Coffee shops4044
Contractors and trades2042
Fitness studios0040
Food trucks4044
Salons and barbers2042
Veterinary clinics1041

Sources

Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Shelby County Tn permits page and the TN state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Shelby County Beer Permit ApplicationShelby County Beer Board / County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  2. Tennessee Code § 57-5-104 — beer permit application fee and privilege taxState of Tennessee (Tennessee Code Annotated, via FindLaw) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  3. County Clerk — Beer PermitsShelby County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  4. Shelby County Beer Board Rules and Regulations (effective 01/21/2015)Shelby County Beer Board · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  5. Shelby County Code, Chapter 8, Article XV — Tire Disposal and Tire Business Regulation (§§ 8-654 to 8-656)Shelby County Board of Commissioners (Municode) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  6. Shelby County Code, Chapter 8, Article VII — Liquidation and Going-Out-of-Business Sales (§§ 8-243 to 8-245)Shelby County Board of Commissioners (Municode) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  7. County Clerk — Going Out of Business PermitShelby County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  8. Going Out of Business / Liquidation Sale Permit ApplicationShelby County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  9. County Clerk — Flea Markets (booth fee)Shelby County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  10. Tennessee Business Tax Manual, June 2026Tennessee Department of Revenue · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03

Related

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.