Franklin, TN Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)

Franklin handles driveway and front-yard parking through three intersecting authorities. First, the City of Franklin Property Maintenance Code, administered by Building and Neighborhood Services, prohibits parking motor vehicles on the lawn to prevent erosion and stagnant water accumulation; vehicles must be parked only on an approved parking pad or driveway. The same code prohibits keeping any inoperable or unlicensed motor vehicle on any premises, with indicators including being inoperable under its own power, missing wheels, lacking inflated tires, being burned throughout, or having more than one window broken. Violations get a 30-day cure period after a Notice of Violation; uncorrected cases can be abated by the city at the owner's expense and a Municipal Court citation can be issued, with each day of continued violation being a separate offense. Second, Title 14 (Zoning and Land Use Control) of the Franklin Municipal Code governs driveway location, dimensions, curb cut design, and the maximum share of a residential lot that may be covered with parking surface. Constructing or widening a driveway approach in the public right-of-way requires a permit from City of Franklin Engineering / Building and Neighborhood Services. Third, Title 15 (Motor Vehicles, Traffic and Parking) of the Franklin Municipal Code, paired with Tennessee Code Annotated 55-8-160, controls on-street behavior: it is unlawful to park on a sidewalk, in front of a public or private driveway, within an intersection, on a crosswalk, within 7.5 to 15 feet of a fire hydrant (the municipality sets the exact distance), within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, within 30 feet of a flashing signal or stop sign, or in any other prohibited location. Blocking a driveway is one of the most frequently reported on-street complaints to the Franklin Police Department.