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1. How do I find out if my property is located in unincorporated Coffee County, Franklin County, or Tullahoma? Why is that important?

Coffee County, Franklin County and the City of Tullahoma have different rules for developing property. Therefore, it is very important to determine which jurisdiction your property is located in. To get information:

• Visit the State of Tennessee's Property Data Page. The city will be listed under the "General information"; if it is not, the property is located in county
• Stop at the Building Codes Division located in the City of Tullahoma at 321 N Collins Street
• Call the Building Codes Division at 931-455-2282

2. How is my property zoned?

Each zone is shown on the Official Zoning Map (PDF). The zoning ordinance contains zone district that states permitted uses and design information pertaining to setbacks, density, structure height, lot size, etc. The City consists of the following zoning districts:

• AGRICULTURAL a General Agricultural District
• AO-1 Airport Overlay District
• C-1 Central Commercial District
• C-2 General Commercial District
• C-3 Neighborhood Commercial District
• Floodway District
• HO-1 Historic Overlay District
• I-1 Restricted Manufacturing and Warehousing District
• I-2 Heavy Industrial District
• OPEN SPACE OS-1 Open Space Preservation District
• R-1 Low Density Residential District
• R-1A Large Lot Residential District
• R-2 Medium Density Residential District
• R-3 High Density Residential District
• R-4 High Density Residential/ Mobile Home Park District

To learn more about zoning district schedules and the zoning ordinance, visit our Planning and Zoning page.

3. When should I apply for a zoning permit?

You should check with the Planning Department whenever you propose to build or alter a structure, change the nature of the use that is to take place on a given property (e.g., residential use to commercial use, or one kind of business activity to another), hold a temporary event, or anything else that could have some impact upon other properties.

To find out if you need to apply for a zoning permit, call the Building Codes Division at 931-455-2282.

4. How can I found out the rules for developing or making use of my property?

Zoning regulations for property development in Tullahoma are governed by the zoning ordinance and the subdivision regulations. In addition, you may also need to comply with:

• Air quality standards
• Building Division codes
• Fire Department codes
• Health District standards
• Public Works regulations

Please note that other departments and agencies may also need to be contacted for development of a property.

To view the zoning ordinance and the subdivision regulations please visit our Planning and Zoning page. You can also speak with the Planner to ask specific questions about your project by stopping in at the Building Codes Division located in the City of Tullahoma at 321 N Collins Street or by calling the Building Codes Division at 931-455-2282.

5. How do I know if my proposal complies with the zoning ordinance?

You can call the Planner at 931-455-2282 for general information but we can serve you much better if you submit drawings/plans first, and/or make an appointment to discuss your plan in person. The Planner will give you the best guidance she can, but ultimately the responsibility to comply with the zoning ordinance rests with the property owner. Unfortunately, no set of regulations can foresee every kind of circumstance, and there is always the possibility of varying interpretation.

6. What is a Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and what is it used for?

A Comprehensive Land Use Plan is an overall development guide for specific areas of Tullahoma. It provides the appropriate mix of residential, commercial and industrial uses in a logically transitioned pattern. It is used to decide if proposed development is in conformance with the plan.

7. Can you explain the terms "grandfathering" and "non-conforming", as well as how they apply?

If you have a property with a building or use on it that has been established for quite a while but does not meet (conform to) our zoning regulations (maybe setbacks, height, property size, etc.), or you have a business that is not expressly permitted for a given zone district and that building or business existed prior to the zoning regulation, you may have a "non-conforming" building or business. It may therefore be "grandfathered" and allowed to continue and to some extent potentially expanded.

Please note that any changes to a non-conforming building or use must first be approved by the Tullahoma Planner. In such a case, you must provide convincing evidence that proves when the non-conformity came into existence. This might include business records, pictures, affidavits, etc.