Right to Farm in Tennessee (2026)
18 rules on the books across Tennessee, 16 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.
Jackson
Few RestrictionsIn the City of Jackson, Tennessee, a qualifying farm operation is exempt from the grading permit the city otherwise…
Read full rule →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 →Collierville
Some RestrictionsThe Town of Collierville zones agricultural land as the FAR Forest-Agricultural-Residential District, built for very…
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 →Kingsport
Light RestrictionsIn the City of Kingsport, Tennessee, land used solely for agricultural, farming, dairying, stock raising or similar…
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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