Zoning Report
Nashville, TN Zoning
Nashville-Davidson County uses a countywide Metro zoning code in Title 17, with base zoning districts, overlay districts, and project-specific tools such as Specific Plan districts. In plain English, a property’s development rights usually depend on its current base zoning, whether any overlays apply, and whether the proposed use is already permitted or instead needs discretionary review. The city also provides parcel and overlay mapping tools, and the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals both play active roles in land-use decisions.
Last researched May 2026
Zoning Districts in Nashville, TN
RS (single-family residential series, e.g. RS5, RS10)
Residential districts intended for single-family neighborhoods, with the number generally corresponding to minimum lot area. Nashville’s own zoning guide uses RS5 as an example of a medium-density single-family district.
Allowed uses: single-family dwelling, in some cases detached accessory dwelling unit where the land use table shows DADU permitted with conditions and other eligibility rules are met
R (one-family and two-family residential series, e.g. R6)
Residential districts that allow one-family and two-family development, with district numbers tied to lot standards. The sample Nashville zoning summary specifically identifies R6 as a one- and two-family district.
Allowed uses: one-family dwelling, two-family dwelling, in some cases detached accessory dwelling unit where the land use table shows DADU permitted with conditions and other eligibility rules are met
AG / AR-type agricultural or rural districts
Agricultural and rural districts are used in less urbanized parts of Nashville-Davidson County. The DADU guidance indicates some of these districts may be eligible for DADU overlay treatment in the General Services District.
Allowed uses: agricultural or low-intensity rural uses, limited residential uses depending on district
Mixed-use and nonresidential districts
Nashville’s code includes mixed-use, office, commercial, and industrial districts, with bulk standards in Chapter 17.12 and uses governed by the district land use table.
Allowed uses: commercial uses, office uses, mixed-use development, industrial uses depending on district
SP Specific Plan District
A project-specific zoning district that allows customized permitted uses and design standards for a particular site or unified development. SP zoning is more flexible than standard base zoning because standards are written into the rezoning ordinance itself.
Allowed uses: uses specifically listed in the adopted SP ordinance for the property
Recent Zoning Changes
The clearest recent zoning topic in the source set is a January 8, 2026 Planning Commission agenda item on sign regulations and another on a DADU exclusion overlay. The supplied special-use guidance also shows Nashville actively updating DADU rules, but the official city webpage in the research packet reflects the currently administered DADU standards rather than a fully documented ordinance history. Because the supporting ordinance text for these recent amendments was not included, the exact legal scope of each change should be verified in the adopted Metro ordinances or Planning Commission staff reports.
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