Opening your space to pop-ups in Memphis: the checklist

Not legal advice. This is a starting checklist, checked 2026-09-25. Rules change and differ by county and city. Talk to a lawyer and confirm with Shelby County Health Department before you sell a ticket or open your space.

At a glance

• Licensed restaurant or bar: a guest chef can likely cook under your permit (unverified). Etowah's visiting-chef dinners seat 80 to 100 (anecdotal). Memphis Flyer
• Unlicensed event space: the organizer needs a permitted caterer or a temporary event permit (unverified: usually tied to a community event; call first). SCHD SCHD
• Home: Memphis zoning bans restaurant and assembly uses as home occupations. Your dining room stays a dining room. UDC
• Biggest risk: a ticket makes it "offered for sale," so no private-home exemption applies. Food Safety Act

Quick answers

Can I host a pop-up dinner in my restaurant or event space in Memphis? It depends on the space. A restaurant or bar's permit likely covers a guest chef (unverified). Memphis Flyer Elsewhere, the organizer needs a permitted caterer or temporary event permit (unverified: usually tied to a community event; call first). SCHD SCHD

Can guests bring their own wine to a pop-up in my Memphis space? Likely yes, if it's free. The Attorney General treats brown bagging as legal; no Memphis rule was found. Cities can limit it only at beer-permit venues. Charge no corkage, and ask a lawyer about rented spaces. MTAS Memphis Title 7

What should I ask a Memphis pop-up organizer for? Their SCHD permit and a certificate of insurance naming you. Giggster requires $1M in Memphis. Giggster Then set your rental fee and deposit in writing.

Steps, in order

Already done some of these? Skip them.

Suggested order.

• 1. Talk to a lawyer about your space.
• 2. Check zoning, your lease or HOA. A rewrite of the zoning code has been in draft since March 2026. UDC update
• 3. Hold a county or city business licence once gross receipts pass $3,000. Registration is $15. TN Revenue
• 4. Restaurant or bar: ask SCHD whether your permit covers a guest chef's night. SCHD
• 5. Sort your drinks plan: see Drinks below.
• 6. Ask your insurer about ticketed events. Homeowners policies exclude activity "engaged in for money or other compensation." Some policies exempt small side income; get it in writing from your insurer. ISO HO-3
• 7. Ask the organizer for their SCHD permit and a certificate of insurance naming you. Giggster requires $1M in Memphis. Giggster
• 8. Set your rental fee and deposit in writing. Memphis pop-up spaces average about $133/hr. Handshakes are lovely. They don't hold deposits. Peerspace

Drinks

• Liquor and wine: your own liquor-by-the-drink licence, or a TABC-licensed caterer pouring under theirs, who sells every drink and keeps the proceeds. TN ABC § 57-4-203
• BYOB: legal per the Attorney General; no Memphis rule found. Keep it free: no corkage. Cities can limit it at beer-permit venues. MTAS p. 42 Memphis Title 7
• Beer only: a Memphis special event beer permit, 14 business days' lead (unverified). Special occasion licences are for nonprofits, not for-profit nights. Memphis Title 7 TN ABC

Watch-outs

• Temp permits: 2 per person per location every 6 months. A monthly series needs a permitted caterer. SCHD
• Temp-event food must come from an approved source. No homemade food. SCHD

Learn more

• SCHD food safety program
• SCHD temporary event booklet
• Memphis and Shelby County zoning code

Ready to open your doors to micro hospitality? Join Tenseats as a venue host.

Not legal advice. Confirm with a lawyer and Shelby County Health Department before you act.