Understand the starting point
Review current zoning, adopted land-use policy, overlays, existing approvals and the questions that need a specialist.
A core Smart Girl service
Nashville Rezoning & Entitlements
Know your zoning. Shape a proposal. Navigate the approvals.
BUILT AROUND YOUR GOALS
A better starting point.
Rezoning and entitlement strategy are a core part of our work. Jessica helps landowners, buyers and project teams understand the rules, evaluate a proposed change and coordinate a practical path through Metro review. We bring the property, the policy, the people and the process into one conversation.
Who this is for. Property owners, prospective buyers, investors, Realtors, churches and organizations exploring a different use or development potential.
FROM THE PUBLIC RECORD / MAY 7, 2019
Watch Jessica present a rezoning case to Metro Council.
Watch Jessica address Metro Council at the public hearing on Bill BL2019-1569, part of the Lischey rezoning story.
Research, preparation and speaking up for a proposal are part of the work behind a development. This clip brings that experience into view.
Discuss my property’s zoningStart with an address, an idea or a question. Jessica will follow up to discuss fit and next steps.
Watch Jessica on Facebook ↗Read the Lischey project record ↗Metro Nashville Network meeting footage · May 7, 2019.
Shared publicly by JessicaGrace Williams on May 29, 2026.
Choose play to load Facebook’s player.
The clip at a glance
Jessica speaks during Metro Council’s public hearing on an East Nashville rezoning proposal. The broadcast identifies the item as Bill BL2019-1569. In her accompanying Facebook post, she recalls this as her first Council public hearing and the beginning of her work navigating zoning and development.
A summary of the clip’s verified context and Jessica’s post. For the later ordinance and outcome, see the project record.
Develop the strategy
Assess a conventional zone change, site-specific SP or other approval path. Coordinate concept inputs, agency questions and respectful community engagement.
Coordinate the application
Organize the agreed materials, deadlines, review comments, hearing preparation and approval conditions with the project team.
THREE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS
Know what guides the land.
Then plan what comes next.
What future does the plan envision?
Community plans and the Community Character Manual guide the area’s future character and zoning decisions. A policy designation does not, by itself, change your zoning or issue a building permit.
Metro’s community plans ↗What rules apply to the property today?
Your zoning district, overlays and applicable ordinances govern permitted uses and development standards. Read the actual district and its conditions before assuming what you can build.
Find out what your zoning means ↗Which approvals does the proposal need?
Entitlements are the land-use approvals a project requires. Depending on the site, the path may involve rezoning, an SP, subdivision, BZA or historic review, followed by separate permits.
Get rezoning & entitlement help ↗HOW REZONING WORKS IN NASHVILLE
A public process.
A coordinated path.
You bring the goal. We help turn it into a clear proposal, organize the work and keep you informed as public decisions are made.
- 01
Read the property
Confirm jurisdiction, existing zoning, overlays and adopted policy. Compare them with the use you want.
HOW WE CAN HELPWe organize the parcel research and identify missing information.
- 02
Test the direction
Discuss the concept with Planning staff, the district Councilmember and affected neighbors before filing.
HOW WE CAN HELPWe help explain the proposal, listen to concerns and coordinate the right professional inputs.
- 03
Prepare and apply
Submit the required application, documents and fees through Metro’s planning portal by the current deadlines.
HOW WE CAN HELPWe coordinate the agreed application scope, exhibits, owner authorization and review responses.
- 04
Planning Commission review
Agency review and required signs and mailed notices lead to a public hearing and a Commission recommendation on the zone change.
HOW WE CAN HELPWe help prepare the case, organize hearing materials and track requested revisions.
- 05
Council and mayoral action
Council considers the bill through three readings, including a public hearing. Mayoral action follows Council passage.
HOW WE CAN HELPWe track the legislation, explain decisions and coordinate next steps within the agreed scope.
- 06
Carry approval into delivery
Check the enacted ordinance and conditions. Complete applicable final plans, plats, agency reviews and permits.
HOW WE CAN HELPWe build the handoff checklist with your design and construction team. Approval does not itself authorize construction.
Process sources: Metro’s rezoning guide and official process diagram. Reviewed October 28, 2026.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT APPROVAL PATH
The goal determines the route.
Your use already fits
A rezoning may be unnecessary. Confirm site standards, overlays and other approvals with Codes before moving to permit review.
Ask Metro Codes ↗A different zoning district
A conventional zone change applies an established district’s rules. We help assess the proposed district against your goal and the property’s policy context.
Compare zoning districts ↗A site-specific proposal
Specific Plan (SP) zoning establishes uses and design standards through an adopted ordinance. Its flexibility comes with a proposal and conditions tailored to the site.
Understand SP zoning ↗A policy mismatch
A community-plan amendment may need to be evaluated separately. Changing a policy map and changing a zoning map are distinct decisions.
Policy and plan amendments ↗A variance or appeal
The Board of Zoning Appeals handles matters within its authority, including variances and special exceptions. A BZA case is not a substitute for changing the zoning district.
Explore the BZA process ↗A historic property
Historic review can apply alongside base zoning. We help coordinate the preservation questions with the larger development strategy.
Explore historic review ↗TIME & COST
Plan for the process.
Metro estimates 3–6 months for an uncomplicated zone change. Revisions, deferrals, policy amendments and additional reviews can extend that timeline.
Our advisory fee is agreed in a written scope. Metro application fees, surveys, design, engineering, legal work and permits are separate costs. The $250 readiness review is a preliminary conversation, not the price of a rezoning engagement.
Check current Metro fees & deadlines ↗Before you file
Confirm the current submission calendar. Metro requires portal documents by noon at least 24 hours before the fee deadline; fees are due by noon on the published deadline.
Meeting dates, agendas & video ↗Find your Council representative ↗Planning Commission resources ↗SEE THE WORK
From a proposal to the public record.
Review the Lischey case for Jessica’s role in the rezoning process, the enacted ordinance and the later project record. The triplex case shows a different pathway through the BZA.
Lischey rezoning case & ordinance ↗Triplex plans & BZA decision ↗
Project archive · See the case for plan status and attribution ↗Questions worth asking early.
Does policy approval mean my rezoning is approved?
No. Policy guides the planning direction. A zone change follows its own public process and becomes effective through the enacted ordinance.
Does RM20 mean I can build 20 homes on my lot?
No. The district’s density is expressed per acre; it is not a count assigned to every parcel. Site area, development standards, overlays, infrastructure and applicable approvals must also be evaluated.
Read the RM20 family ↗Can you guarantee approval?
No. Jessica can organize research, strategy, materials and coordination within the engagement. Public bodies make their own decisions, and the proposal must meet the applicable requirements.
Can I start before I own the property?
Yes, we can discuss a property you are considering. Filing authority and owner consent must be confirmed before an application is made.
MAKE THE CONVERSATION COUNT
What to bring.
Share what you have. You can begin even if some questions are still unanswered.
- Property address or parcel ID and your ownership or contract status
- Your intended use, approximate scale and reason for the change
- Existing survey, concept plans and any Metro correspondence
- Known restrictions, decision deadlines and the people involved
CLEAR EXPECTATIONS
Know the scope.
Services and fees are set in writing for each engagement. Surveying, architectural, engineering and legal services are separately defined with appropriately licensed professionals. Metro makes approval decisions. Rezoning, project yield, permit issuance and completion dates are not guaranteed.
Is the $250 review a complete rezoning service?
No. The optional 30-minute review is a preliminary conversation. A full rezoning or entitlement engagement needs a separate written scope and fee; Metro fees and specialist costs are separate.
Let’s talk about
your next move.
Choose your service and send a brief introduction. Jessica confirms fit, timing, and next steps directly.
Start your inquiry ↗