ADU Laws in Tennessee (2026)
Tennessee state ADU law details, key provisions, preemption status, and recent legislative changes for accessory dwelling units.
Law Name
State ADU Law
Preempts Local Ordinances
No — local rules may be stricter
Has State Law
Yes
Key Provisions
Tennessee has no statewide ADU law as of 2026
ADU regulation is entirely local — each municipality sets its own rules
Nashville (Metro Nashville-Davidson County) has a DADU (Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit) ordinance
Chattanooga and Knoxville also have local ADU frameworks
Tennessee state legislature has not passed ADU reform legislation despite housing supply challenges
Tennessee is a local-control state for land use — zoning authority delegated to municipalities and counties
Legislative History
2023 — [bill numbers unverified — SB 0664 and HB 0543 confirmed wrong]
Tennessee legislature considered housing supply legislation related to zoning reform but did not enact a comprehensive statewide ADU mandate. Local municipalities retain authority to permit or restrict ADUs under local zoning ordinances. (Note: SB 0664 (2023) is about emergency communications/911 dispatch; HB 0543 (2023) is about voter registration — both are wrong. The correct bill number for any Tennessee housing reform legislation considered in 2023 has not been confirmed.)
Official Sources
Source: Tennessee State ADU Law. Last verified April 5, 2026. View source