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HB1657 • 2026

Zoning

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13, Chapter 7, relative to zoning.

Land
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Capley, Walley
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Taken off notice for cal. in State & Local Government Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the remaining requirements and prohibitions that apply to the destruction and reconstruction of facilities, leaving some uncertainty in this area.

Zoning Changes for Business Establishments

This bill changes Tennessee's zoning laws to allow existing businesses more freedom to rebuild and expand their facilities after a zoning change.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows businesses that were operating before a zoning change to destroy and rebuild any of their current facilities, not just those needed for business operations.
  • Removes the requirement for new structures built on these sites to follow existing zoning rules about setbacks, height, bulk, or location requirements.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Businesses that were operating before a change in zoning laws
  • Local governments and planning departments responsible for enforcing zoning regulations

Terms To Know

Zoning
Rules set by local government to control how land is used, such as where homes or businesses can be built.
Setbacks
The minimum distance buildings must be from property lines and streets.

Limits and Unknowns

  • It's not clear what specific requirements and prohibitions apply to the destruction and reconstruction of facilities.
  • This bill does not specify how it will affect existing zoning regulations or enforcement procedures.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal. in State & Local Government Committee

  2. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/8/2026

  3. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/8/2026

  4. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/31/2026

  5. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/31/2026

  6. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/31/2026

  7. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/31/2026

  8. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/31/2026

  9. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  10. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  11. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/25/2026

  12. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026

  13. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  14. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

  15. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026

  16. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Cities & Counties Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  17. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Cities & Counties Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  18. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  19. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/17/2026

  20. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Cities & Counties Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  21. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/10/2026

  22. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/10/2026

  23. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/3/2026

  24. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Cities & Counties Subcommittee

  25. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  26. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

  27. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  28. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  29. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  30. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law generally provides that
industrial, commercial, or other business establishments in operation and permitted to operate under zoning regulations or exceptions thereto immediately preceding a change in zoning are allowed to destroy present facilities and reconstruct new facilities
necessary to the conduct of such industry or business subsequent to the zoning change. However, certain other requirements and prohibitions apply in present law relative to such authority.

This bill expands the authority of such establishments to destroy any present facilities and reconstruct new facilities, not only those necessary to the conduct of such industry or business, as long as such destruction adheres the other requirements and
prohibitions in present law relative to such authority.

ZONING REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO STRUCTURES BUILT ON SUCH SITE

Present law requires any structure rebuilt on the site to conform to the existing zoning regulations as to setbacks, height, bulk, or requirements as to the physical location of a structure upon the site, despite having the ability to destroy and reconst
ruct facilities necessary to the conduct of such industry or business after a zoning change. This bill removes this requirement.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1685
By Walley

HOUSE BILL 1657
By Capley
HB1657
010554
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13,
Chapter 7, relative to zoning.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 13-7-208(d)(1), is amended by
deleting the language "necessary to the conduct of such industry or business".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 13-7-208(i), is amended by deleting
the subsection.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.