State Preemption of Local Zoning in Tennessee
How Tennessee state law overrides local zoning ordinances. ADU preemption, lot split preemption, and impact on city-level regulations.
Statewide Preemption Status Unconfirmed
No statewide preemption statute was confirmed for this jurisdiction — regulation is local. Local governments retain full authority to set their own rules.
What Is State Preemption?
State preemption occurs when a state law overrides local government ordinances in a specific area. In land use, preemption means a city or county cannot adopt zoning rules that are more restrictive than the state standard. If a city tries to prohibit something the state law permits, the state law wins.
Tennessee has limited preemption in housing law. Local governments generally have broad authority to regulate land use within their jurisdictions, subject to state constitutional and statutory limits.
Compare all 51 jurisdictions: ADU preemption table · Short-term rental preemption table
How Preemption Affects Tennessee Cities
State preemption applies to every incorporated city and unincorporated area in Tennessee. Select a city below to see how state preemption interacts with local zoning rules.
Source: Tennessee State Law. Last verified April 5, 2026. View source