Zoning: what standards apply to the property?
Start with the zoning district, then investigate the applicable use and development standards. Metro Codes directs property researchers to Parcel Viewer and the zoning code as starting points.
Some sites also involve overlays or a Specific Plan (SP). Metro’s SP guidance describes a district tied to a proposed development plan reviewed by the relevant departments. When an SP applies, investigate the actual approved documents and applicable conditions.
Which district, overlays, and approved documents govern this particular site?
Land use policy: what direction does the plan describe?
Community land use policy helps guide planning decisions. Metro Planning explains that staff reviews rezoning applications against the Community Plan and other development guidance.
A policy designation is not the same thing as a completed rezoning or an approved construction project. Record the current zoning and the policy separately. If they point in different directions, ask Planning how that affects the proposal you have in mind.
How does the proposed use relate to current zoning and the applicable community policy?
Permits: what does this project need before work begins?
A zoning conversation and a permit review serve different purposes. Metro’s rezoning guidance directs projects toward the applicable approval process based on their intended use and current zoning.
Build a project-specific list with Codes, Planning, utilities, and your technical team. Ask about the relevant submissions, prerequisites, review steps, and conditions. A planning approval by itself should not be treated as permission to begin construction.
Which approvals are required for this scope, and what must happen before each submission?
Keep a simple three-column research note.
Label the columns “Current standards,” “Planning policy,” and “Project approvals.” Under each, record the document or department, what you have confirmed, and what remains open.
This distinction makes your next meeting more useful. You can show exactly which question you are asking instead of relying on a broad claim that a property is “ready to develop.”
Am I discussing a current standard, a future policy direction, or a specific approval?
Start with these official sources.
Guidance and records can change. Use the current official source for the property and proposal you are considering.
- Metro Codes: Understanding the Zoning Code ↗
- Metro Planning: Rezone My Property ↗
- Metro Planning: Specific Plan District ↗
This field note is a general educational starting point, not a property-specific feasibility study or a legal, engineering, surveying, or investment opinion. Smart Girl Developments is an independent business, not a Metro Nashville agency.