HOA Rules in Franklin, TN: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Franklin or are thinking about moving there, hoa rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Franklin has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of hoa rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Assessment & Dues

Franklin's 2026 zoning ordinance requires any homeowners association deeded open space to record covenants giving the HOA lien authority over unpaid assessments, and lets the City itself lien and jointly assess owners if the HOA lets shared open space fall into disrepair.

Key details: Governing section: Zoning Ordinance § 11.11.1(D)-(F). Maintenance backstop: Zoning Ordinance § 11.13. Effective date: January 13, 2026. Cure period: 30 days after written notice. Enforcing department: Building and Neighborhood Services.

An HOA that fails to maintain required open space gets a 30-day written notice from the Department of Building and Neighborhood Services before the City corrects the deficiency itself. The City then assesses the repair cost jointly and severally against every property with a right of enjoyment of the open space, and files a lien against each property from that date in the Williamson County Register's Office.

Board Governance

Franklin's 2026 zoning ordinance requires any homeowners association receiving deeded open space to record covenants barring dissolution, mandating membership, and letting the City step in if the association fails to maintain the property.

Key details: Governing section: Zoning Ordinance § 11.11.1. Membership: Mandatory for every owner. Dissolution: Barred except to qualifying successor. City backstop: May maintain and bill owners. Effective: January 13, 2026.

Developers who skip a compliant declaration can't get site plan approval, and an HOA that dissolves without a qualifying successor breaches the covenant, letting the City maintain the open space and bill owners.

The Bottom Line

Franklin's hoa rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Franklin is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Franklin can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.