TennesseeCounty votes can block outside-city zoning in eligible counties
In eligible counties, a majority county vote can stop outside-city zoning, while some property applications must state whether the filer seeks annexation.
What it does
After a majority vote by the county legislative body, municipalities and regional planning commissions cannot use zoning authority outside municipal boundaries. Covered existing rules become unenforceable, though the county and municipality may agree on work already underway.
People filing covered property applications must say whether they seek annexation. Those who do must meet municipal standards; those who decline cannot later annex the property until they agree to pay for infrastructure upgrades.
Argument forA county vote could keep municipalities and regional planning commissions from applying zoning rules beyond municipal boundaries.
Argument againstProperty owners who decline annexation may have to wait to join a municipality until they agree to pay for infrastructure upgrades.
More detail
A county legislative body may adopt a resolution that bars municipalities and regional planning commissions from using zoning authority outside municipal boundaries. The restriction covers zoning over development, infrastructure, or land use outside municipal boundaries in eligible counties. This applies only in counties with fewer than 341,500 people under the 2020 or a later federal census, and not in counties with a metropolitan form of government. A majority of the county legislative body must approve the resolution. Covered existing zoning rules become void and unenforceable. The county and municipality may agree on how to finish or wind down work already underway. A developer may join that agreement if both governing bodies consent. Other lawful agreements between counties and municipalities remain allowed. The restriction takes effect in a county when its legislative body adopts the resolution by majority vote.
People applying for a preliminary or final plat, site plan, or building permit must declare whether they seek municipal annexation. The declaration applies to the listed applications for property outside a municipal boundary but within that municipality's urban growth boundary. This applies in counties that have adopted the resolution, for property outside a municipality but within its urban growth boundary. People who seek annexation must develop and build to the municipality's applicable standards. If they do not seek annexation, the county must record the declaration. The property cannot be annexed until the person or a future owner makes and records an agreement to pay a special assessment for bringing its infrastructure up to municipal standards. The declaration is due when the person submits the plat, plan, or permit application. The property remains ineligible for annexation until the required agreement is made and recorded.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27Pub. Ch. 1090Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 05/22/2026
- May 22Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for action.To Governor
- May 7Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 30Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 22Subst. for comp. HB.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA1235)Minor
- Apr 22Passed H., Ayes 77, Nays 15, PNV 1Passed House
- Apr 21Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0953)
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 21Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 25, Nays 6Passed Senate
- Apr 21Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Apr 20Senate Reset on calendar for 4/21/2026
- Apr 20Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/21/2026
- Apr 17Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026
- Apr 17Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026
- Apr 17Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 14Senate Reset on calendar for 4/20/2026
- Apr 14Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 10Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/14/2026
- Mar 31Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0
- Vote recorded SENATE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0 3/31/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 30Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/31/2026
- Mar 25Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026
- Mar 25Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/31/2026
- Mar 25Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/31/2026
- Mar 24Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/25/2026
- Mar 24Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026
- Mar 18Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/24/2026
- Mar 17Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026
- Mar 11Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/17/2026
- Mar 10Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/17/2026
- Mar 3Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/10/2026
- Feb 24Sponsor change.Minor
- Feb 20Sponsor change.Minor
- Jan 22Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government CommitteeMinor
- Jan 21Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Jan 20Filed for introductionIntroduced
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