Memphis Leads the Way with Preapproved Plans for Housing
One of the preapproved plans available in Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee. (Source: John Zeanah, LinkedIn.)
Technical staff working to get housing permitted often face a frustrating reality: long, bureaucratic processes that invite opposition, slow development, and make change feel impossible. Even when elected and appointed officials support more housing, the drawn-out approval process attracts resistance, allowing opponents to derail individual projects. Instead of reacting to pushback, cities need a proactive approach that streamlines housing production while maintaining high standards.
Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee, just launched a major reform to address this issue: preapproved plans. Announced by John Zeanah, director of the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, this initiative allows builders to submit residential building plans for preapproval, reducing permitting timelines and eliminating unnecessary barriers.
As Zeanah explained: "Once plans receive initial review and pre-approval, they can be reused without full plan review for each new permit. Each pre-approved plan receives a unique file number that follows it through all future permits, creating a simplified path for builders." This means faster approvals, greater certainty, and a streamlined system that encourages more housing production without sacrificing code compliance.
Memphis is proving that cities don’t have to get stuck in endless cycles of opposition and delay. Preapproved plans offer a real solution: a way to create clarity and consistency for builders while maintaining community confidence in the process.
Want to see how your city can implement similar reforms? Download “The Housing-Ready City” toolkit to learn about six key regulatory changes that can make housing production faster and more predictable. See how other cities are leading the way and start making these changes in your community.
