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SB0785 • 2026

Zoning

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 13, relative to planning regulations.

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Active

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

Sponsor
Walley, Hicks T
Last action
2025-02-12
Official status
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Zoning Changes for Subdivisions

This bill changes Tennessee's zoning laws by limiting the number of entrances and exits required in new subdivisions with fewer than 70 houses.

What This Bill Does

  • Limits regional, municipal, and county planning commissions from requiring more than one way to enter or leave a proposed subdivision if it has less than 70 residential dwellings.
  • Makes any rule that goes against this limit invalid.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local governments in Tennessee
  • Planning commissions at different levels of government

Terms To Know

Ingress and Egress
The ways to enter (ingress) or leave (egress) a place.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what happens if the rule is violated before July 1, 2025.
  • It does not change existing subdivisions with fewer than 70 homes.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Cities & Counties Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee

  2. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Cities & Counties Subcommittee for 2/26/2025

  3. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Cities & Counties Subcommittee to 2/26/2025

  4. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Cities & Counties Subcommittee for 2/19/2025

  6. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  7. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Cities & Counties Subcommittee

  8. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  9. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  10. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  11. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 652
By Hicks T

SENATE BILL 785
By Walley

SB0785
000899
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 13, relative to
planning regulations.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 13-3-403, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(e)
(1) A regional planning commission shall not require more than one (1)
means of ingress and egress into a proposed subdivision unless the proposed
subdivision has at least seventy (70) residential dwellings.
(2) A requirement in violation of subdivision (e)(1) is void.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 13-4-303, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(e)
(1) A municipal planning commission shall not require more than one (1)
means of ingress and egress into a proposed subdivision unless the proposed
subdivision has at least seventy (70) residential dwellings.
(2) A requirement in violation of subdivision (e)(1) is void.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13, Chapter 7, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) A county legislative body shall not require more than one (1) means of
ingress and egress into a proposed subdivision unless the proposed subdivision has at
least seventy (70) residential dwellings.

- 2 - 000899

(b) A requirement in violation of subsection (a) is void.
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13, Chapter 7, Part 2, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) A chief legislative body shall not require more than one (1) means of ingress
and egress into a proposed subdivision unless the proposed subdivision has at least
seventy (70) residential dwellings.
(b) A requirement in violation of subsection (a) is void.
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13, Chapter 7, Part 3, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) A board of aldermen, board of commissioners, or other chief legislative body
of any municipality shall not require more than one (1) means of ingress and egress into
a proposed subdivision unless the proposed subdivision has at least seventy (70)
residential dwellings.
(b) A requirement in violation of subsection (a) is void.
SECTION 6. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to planning regulations
enacted or amended on or after that date.