Franklin Zoning Meetings

Franklin is a city in Williamson County, and land within the city limits is regulated by the City of Franklin's own zoning regulations, codified as Title 14 (Zoning and Land Use Control) of the Franklin Municipal Code. The City adopted a new Franklin Zoning Ordinance through Ordinance 2025-25, which became effective January 13, 2026. Zoning matters are handled by the City's Planning and Sustainability Department.

Envision Franklin is the City's adopted comprehensive land use plan articulating its long-term vision for growth and development. It uses a series of design concept classifications that identify primary and secondary uses, development form and intensity, site design principles, and related transportation infrastructure, and it applies to both the city limits and the Urban Growth Boundary. The Franklin Zoning Ordinance serves as the implementation mechanism for Envision Franklin, and text amendments to the ordinance are meant to stay consistent with the plan.

Franklin maintains its zoning map as part of the city's Geographic Information System (GIS). The electronic GIS zoning layers constitute the official zoning map. When a property is rezoned, the change is recorded by updating the electronic GIS data, and district boundaries generally follow parcel lines or corporate (city) limit lines as they existed when the ordinance was adopted.

The Franklin Municipal Planning Commission was created pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated Section 13-4-101 and consists of nine members: the mayor (or the mayor's designee) and an alderman selected by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, plus seven members appointed by the mayor. The Commission reviews development proposals and land use plan matters and makes recommendations related to Franklin's growth and the implementation of Envision Franklin.

The City of Franklin has a Board of Zoning Appeals, whose members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The Board hears and decides requests for zoning variances and appeals of administrative decisions made in applying the zoning ordinance. Property owners seeking relief from a strict application of the zoning regulations bring their requests to this board.

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