How to know if the garage/shed and porch are permited?

[Jennifer Williams]

I am currently in the process of waiting to hear back on an all-cash offer, contingent on inspection on a potential flip investment house. If the seller accepts the offer one of the things on my list to figure out is if the screened in back patio and backyard shed/1 car garage (that is built only 1-2 feet away from the neighboring fence-line is permitted or not. It has electrical in it, but it isn't a finished garage/ storage shed. No insulation that I am aware of. The garage door opener is connected to a extension cord. It is evident that the owner may have been a "do it yourself" kind of guy, so I'm concerned it isn't permitted or zoned. How can I find out this info in Memphis,TN? Is there an office I can call that would give me a list of any permits that may have been pulled on a property that I am interested in buying? Or can I not get access to that information being that I am not the owner. The 1 car garage is a huge selling feature for this area, as well as the screened in back porch, but not any good for me investment-wise if I have to re-do it all.  The owner no longer lives in the house-he took off to Florida. There was 1 other offer made on the house, but it didn't work out for an unknown reason.