Franklin, TN Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Downtown Design Guide (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies in
- HPO Historic Preservation Overlay District
- Required before work
- Certificate of Appropriateness
- Governing document
- Historic District Design Guidelines
- Reviewing body
- Historic Zoning Commission (HZC)
- Conflict rule
- Guidelines override ordinance conflicts
Summary
Franklin's historic downtown sits inside the Historic Preservation Overlay (HPO). Any construction, alteration, rehabilitation, relocation, or demolition there needs a certificate of appropriateness reviewed against the Historic District Design Guidelines.
Where the Historic District Design Guidelines and any requirement of this Ordinance conflict, the Historic District Design Guidelines shall take precedence... Construction, alteration, rehabilitation, relocation, or demolition in the HPO may be performed only when an application has been submitted and reviewed considering the Historic District Design Guidelines, and a certificate of appropriateness has been issued.
Full Breakdown
The 2026 Franklin Zoning Ordinance requires that construction, alteration, rehabilitation, relocation, or demolition in the HPO district be reviewed against the Historic District Design Guidelines before a certificate of appropriateness (COA) is issued; some applications also need a preliminary recommendation from the Historic Zoning Commission first. Where the Guidelines and the zoning ordinance conflict on a downtown property, the Guidelines control. This is the design-review layer covering Franklin's nationally noted historic downtown core, separate from the DD zoning district's use and dimensional rules.
Violations & Fines
Working without an approved certificate of appropriateness is a misdemeanor fined under Title 12's general penalty clause; each day of continued violation is a separate offense, and the City Attorney can seek an injunction against historic-resource violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a certificate of appropriateness for a downtown Franklin building?
What if the design guidelines and the zoning ordinance disagree?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Franklin
Compare Franklin to another location·View the Tennessee zoning overlays & bonuses overview
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