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Tennessee Land Use & Zoning Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Agricultural Law and Land Use & Zoning for Tennessee on
Q: I own a farm inside of a city. They have changed the zoning from agriculture to residential without my knowledge.

I still farm the land and the city says i can not build a new barn. Can they rezone my land?

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on May 25, 2023

You should have been notified of the zoning change. A zoning request might have to made with Williamson County after you examine your local zoning ordinances and procedures. Otherwise hire an attorney to file difficult Declaratory Judgment or Writ of Certiorari suits in Chancery. Owning farms... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: What should I do if a chunk of my land is being used for farming?

I have an acre in a rural area and I've lived there for about 4 years. I just now got my property surveyed and discovered my property goes back farther than I realized. I have farm land all around me and it seems like part of my land has been incorporated into the land behind me thats used for... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Apr 12, 2023

You and your predecessors in title have probably acquiesced to a new boundary between the adjacent tracts. Apparently you did not get a survey prior to the deed execution. If the boundary is ascertainable on the ground, you have probably lost regardless what your legal description says. But... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Land Use & Zoning and Gov & Administrative Law for Tennessee on
Q: TN. My house # is preventing me from selling it. It is 666. Can I sue to change it? 911 is in charge & said no.

I asked 911. They said only 2 houses need to be changed to stay in numerical order. My neighbor said no & 911 said they want them to agree. No 666 numbers are ever assigned. Buyers say no based on the 666 address. Help. I need to have it changed to move. Is there anything I can do legally? I... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Mar 2, 2023

Different Counties handle 911 and zoning issues differently. Hire an attorney in the applicable County to ask for the change in street address. Provide an appropriate alternate address. You may have to go before a County Commission or a Zoning Board. The County Mayor will probably be... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Land Use & Zoning and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: Can a life tenant cut down trees to sell as firewood for profit in tennessee?

Is that considered as waste?

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Feb 5, 2023

There is no simple one-size-fits-all answer to your question. It might be waste. It might not be waste. Sometimes cutting down trees constitutes an improvement to the property. Other times not. And improvement or not is not the only factor that must be considered.

To answer your...
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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Land Use & Zoning for Tennessee on
Q: I bought land that has 2 easements on a lake. One is for ingress/egress via 25'w 60'L to waters edge,

The 2nd easement says under no conditions does property line prevent me from full use and access to my property's lake frontage. Nasty neighbor has blocked both from me. What can I do.

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Nov 22, 2022

You will need an attorney to sue in Chancery for an Injunction against their interference with your lawful use of the Easement. A title search of both adjoining tracts should be made first. Almost no chance of money recovery. If you do nothing, you lose the row.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Construction Law and Land Use & Zoning for Tennessee on
Q: What legal claim, if any, do we have against the builder?

We are waiting to get back topo + boundary surveys but, according to the GIS, our brand new build (and all our neighbors brand new builds) were built on (or *way* over) each other's property lines. It's not like the builder got the whole plan shifted x amount of feet, everyone's... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Nov 9, 2022

Either a 3 year or 4 year Statute of Limitations probably applies to your cause of action. Hire an attorney now to examine the builder's, seller's and/or surveyor's negligence. Hopefully you have not busted the SOL. Boundary Line Agreements for adjoining landowners are... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning for Tennessee on
Q: Someone bought property next to my driveway. They included my private driveway as as easement on their deed.

Their was a Warrant deed in place to my father in law and it is now our Tract 2 on our deed. The county’s tax accessor graph picture was wrong and he used that picture to have a deed made and for the 1st time called it an easement. The property he bought did belong to an uncle that passed away.... View More

Bennett James Wills
Bennett James Wills
answered on Oct 17, 2022

The best way to determine where boundary lines are is to use a proper survey - not a tax map online. If his deed shows encroachment, even if an easement, then you run the risk of a future adverse possession claim. Consult an attorney to review the deeds to determine your options. You may need to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: Do I need title insurance if I can get a warranty deed for a land purchase?

I want to purchase land in Tennessee on a mountain where the drive to the property is a few miles of gravel road put in by the land developer. The road is NOT county maintained. The title company has heard the developer plans to file bankruptcy and is no longer maintaining the roads.... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Sep 27, 2022

Title Insurance only covers a few problems, and never ensures that the access is maintained. Many Title problems that may arise are not insured risks. And making a valid claim on a policy is very difficult. Have you searched the Title yet, or even actually read the legal description and... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: Do restrictive covenants have to be filed with a property description?

Can I just copy a set of restrictions and use them without filing with the deed.

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Sep 27, 2022

No legal description of the encumbered property must be recorded with the legal description. However some type of notice to the world where the restrictions apply should be of record, as otherwise the covenants will be worthless and unenforceable. Hire a competent attorney to at least draft a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Land Use & Zoning for Tennessee on
Q: I just built a new home in Tennessee. After construction was finished a trailer park comes in.

I just finished building my new home. In front of my house a man is bringing in a trailer park. There is going to be 5 trailers in a 2.5 acre lot. This will make my value of the home go down can I sue for making my resale value go down. I had no idea this was going to happen or I would have not... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Aug 17, 2022

You might check the Zoning of the Tract for compliance. Septic Systems for 5 MHs on a couple acres might be a problem. If in violation, call the County. Or there may be a change in zoning going on now where you oppose it. You definitely want to check Access to that Tract, which may directly... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: I have 2 trees sitting on my property line and I would like to put up a fence can I cut the trees down.

The trees are on the property line so they are on both properties.

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on May 19, 2022

You will want to ascertain the Boundary as accurately as possible. Read your's and the adjacent owner's Deeds. Usually you will want to make the trees part of the fence, but you can probably cut them. But do not be surprised if a Boundary Dispute erupts.

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: Neighbor built house either on my property or two ft away from the line. What are my options either way?

I am having a surveyor coming out. I did find out however my neighbor did not have a land survey before building the house.

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on May 13, 2022

Apparently you do not know your boundaries at this point. Your allowing a house to be built on your land without protest will be used against you. Hire a competent surveyor now, then take the plat to a competent attorney. It will be difficult and expensive, with the minimum result of a Boundary... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning for Tennessee on
Q: Is it ok for someone to build concrete retaining wall on surveyed property line?
Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Sep 8, 2023

Usually a landowner backs off a surveyed boundary a few inches or so. But it is not required and encroachments happen alot. Suing for trespass or an injunction will be expensive. Unless there is a boundary dispute, or physical damage to your land, it is not worth the trouble.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Land Use & Zoning for Tennessee on
Q: Can I erect a barrier across my driveway, which is not shared and not within city limits, in Tennessee?

I was thinking of placing a simple suspended chain barrier across my driveway to limit access. If it is possible, how far must it be from the roadway?

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Aug 30, 2023

If it is on your own property, and noone else has a joint easement there, you should have no problem. If fire or emts complain, I would ignore them. You might call McKenzie City and ask if there are any relevant municipal codes that apply.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Business Formation, Business Law and Land Use & Zoning for Tennessee on
Q: Can my real estate partner sell the property which we built and I operate my small business on? What are my rights and

Options for keeping my portion of the land that my business is located? If we cannot agree to subdivide the majority of the entire property into lots for resale, with him getting reimbursed for all of his expenses prior to me drawing any shares from the sale, will the property be ordered... View More

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answered on Jun 27, 2023

Consult with an attorney to either work out your differences, or dissolve the partnership/sue for partition of real property.

1 Answer | Asked in Bankruptcy, Real Estate Law and Land Use & Zoning for Tennessee on
Q: We have deed restriction that prohibits any development on our golf course. Can a judge cancel it?

The golf course is in bankruptcy and they told us the bankruptcy judge can reverse the restriction. Can a judge do that. Also the golf club owners are threatening suits if we POA do not lift the restriction. If the restrictions are lifted we fear they will build condos and who knows what else!

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Mar 1, 2023

Very doubtful that the bankruptcy judge will get involved in changing the restriction.

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning for Tennessee on
Q: I inherited property with a storage building that a relative claims ownership of. Can he take or sell it?
Anthony M. Avery
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answered on May 23, 2022

It is possible that he can prove ownership. Just because it is on what is your land does not mean it is a fixture. It may be easily moved. Either party may possibly sue for conversion depending on what happens.

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law and Land Use & Zoning for Tennessee on
Q: do you have to have a certain piece of land for farm animals in tennessee or can you have farm animals on private land
Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Apr 15, 2022

You can certainly have farm animals on private land, but you will need it fenced in. Livestock At Large is a crime.

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning for Tennessee on
Q: Can my neighbor add fill dirt on his property to prevent water run off to back up onto my land?

My neighbor put 3 or 4 loads of dirt on his property to prevent the water run off to back up onto my land. The dirt is not on the county right of way it is all on his land. This causes the water to back up on my land whenever it rains. It is a county road but I do not know who paid for the tile.... View More

Bennett James Wills
Bennett James Wills
answered on Apr 7, 2022

From your limited facts, it sounds to me like your neighbor has created what's known as a private nuisance. His modification to his land has interfered with yours. You may need to sue him to abate the nuisance. Consult with local counsel to determine your options.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Land Use & Zoning for Tennessee on
Q: Sudividing paritition.1 lot (3,97) into2 tracts house on each par.deed recorded ,which metes bound are the legal descr

Description 3,97 or the 1.50 and 2.47 both done by surveys 1st unrecorded but state on warranty deed 2nd was recorded with in parity on deed which is legal

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Mar 14, 2022

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