Right to Farm in Tennessee (2026)
15 rules on the books across Tennessee, 13 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Farm Nuisance Protection
Whether established farms are shielded from nuisance lawsuits and from local ordinances that would restrict their operations.
Knox County
Few RestrictionsKnox County's zoning ordinance exempts agricultural uses that comply with Tennessee's Right to Farm Act from planning…
Read full rule →Murfreesboro
Few RestrictionsSounds from farm operations protected by the Tennessee Right-to-Farm Act are exempt from Murfreesboro's noise ordinance…
Read full rule →Agricultural Zoning Protection
State rules that limit how cities and counties may zone or restrict agricultural land uses, including livestock and crop operations.
Tennessee: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsTennessee limits local zoning interference with bona fide farm operations under T.C.A. 13-7-114 and Right to Farm…
Read full rule →Chattanooga
Some RestrictionsChattanooga's A-1 Urban Agricultural Zone (Sec. 38-28) sets aside land for farming inside city limits, requiring 5-acre…
Read full rule →Knoxville
Some RestrictionsKnoxville's Appendix B zoning code sets aside a dedicated AG General Agricultural Zoning District to keep land suited…
Read full rule →Memphis
Some RestrictionsThe Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code sets aside a Conservation Agriculture (CA) zoning district to…
Read full rule →Nashville
Some RestrictionsMetro Nashville designates AG and AR2a agricultural zoning districts to preserve rural and environmentally constrained…
Read full rule →Franklin
Light RestrictionsFranklin's AG--Agricultural District requires 15-acre minimum lots and exempts agricultural structures from the city's…
Read full rule →Knox County
Light RestrictionsKnox County's RP Rural Preservation Zone recognizes Tennessee's Right to Farm Act: agricultural uses that are lawful…
Read full rule →Williamson County
Light RestrictionsWilliamson County protects farming through a dedicated Voluntary Agricultural District (A) rather than a…
Read full rule →Hamilton County
Few RestrictionsIn unincorporated Hamilton County's A-1 Agricultural District, growing crops, dairying, grazing, raising poultry and…
Read full rule →Hendersonville
Few RestrictionsHendersonville's zoning ordinance exempts barns and other farm buildings from the size, height, construction-material…
Read full rule →Rutherford County
Few RestrictionsUnincorporated Rutherford County's AR Agricultural Residential district protects farming outright: crop and animal…
Read full rule →Sullivan County
Few RestrictionsSullivan County's Zoning Resolution exempts farm buildings from zoning permits altogether. Section 12-102.1, Subpart 3…
Read full rule →Sumner County
Few RestrictionsSumner County's Zoning Resolution protects farming as a matter of policy: the Agricultural Reserve (AR) district exists…
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