Hendersonville, TN Building Safety: Green Building Code (2026)

Hendersonville created its Green Building Incentive Program at Municipal Code § 12-1401 and immediately makes clear at § 12-1402 that it's opt-in: participation 'is totally voluntary and is limited to projects located within the city limits of the City of Hendersonville,' and the ordinance only 'strongly encourages' developments with 'significant energy efficiency and conservation aspects,' rather than requiring them. There is no mandatory green-building standard anywhere in the chapter; a conventional project that skips the program faces no penalty or additional review.

Projects that do participate can earn tangible benefits under § 12-1403. The city issues a separate 'Green Certificate of Occupancy...for all projects meeting the sustainable design protocol established by this program,' on top of any certificate of occupancy already required, and, 'subject to any budget constraints,' the city may waive all or part of a project's required development fees. The city also keeps a public record of every project successfully enrolled, and the ordinance leaves the door open for additional incentives 'at a future date.'

The Director of Building and Codes runs the program's day-to-day mechanics, including application requirements, acceptable sustainable design protocols, certification procedures, and fee-waiver criteria, under authority granted at § 12-1404. A participant who disagrees with a decision can appeal in writing to the Director first, and then to the Building Board of Appeals, though that board's authority is expressly 'limited to interpretations of the provisions of the Green Building Incentive Program or issues regarding acceptable sustainable design protocols' under § 12-1405, first adopted by Ordinance 2011-11 in May 2011 and carried forward under Ordinance 2025-04.