Chattanooga, TN Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum lot size
- 5 acres
- Livestock structure setback
- 100 ft from lot line
- Standard height cap
- 35 feet
- Ag structures
- No height limit
Summary
Chattanooga's A-1 Urban Agricultural Zone (Sec. 38-28) sets aside land for farming inside city limits, requiring 5-acre lots and exempting active agricultural structures from the standard 35-foot height cap.
The A-1 Urban Agricultural Zone is intended to provide the opportunity for agricultural land and related uses within the City. ... All agricultural structures including, but not limited to, barns, feeding areas, livestock enclosures, and roofed livestock structures, are prohibited within required setbacks and must be located a minimum of 100 feet from any lot line. ... Maximum building height does not apply to any structure ancillary to and integral to active agricultural operations, which are not limited in height.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 40 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 38-28 establishes the A-1 Urban Agricultural Zone "to provide the opportunity for agricultural land and related uses within the City." Table 38-28.1 requires a 5-acre minimum lot and 25-foot setbacks on all four sides, and barns, feeding areas, livestock enclosures and roofed livestock structures must sit at least 100 feet from any lot line. The zone lifts the standard 35-foot height cap for any structure that is ancillary and integral to active agricultural operations, leaving those structures unlimited in height.
Violations & Fines
Erecting a barn or livestock structure within the required setback or closer than 100 feet to a lot line is a zoning violation subject to Land Development Office enforcement and removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a height limit on a barn in Chattanooga's A-1 zone?
How big a lot do I need to farm inside Chattanooga city limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chattanooga
Compare Chattanooga to another location·View the Tennessee right to farm overview
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