Historic Zoning Commission

A historic zoning commission must be created by the county legislative body if it establishes historic zones or districts and regulates the construction, repair, alteration, rehabilitation, relocation and demolition of any building or other structure that is located or proposed to be located within such a historic zone. A county historic zoning commission consists of at least five and not more than nine members appointed by the county mayor subject to confirmation by the county legislative body and must include a representative of a local patriotic or historical organization, an architect, if available, and a person who is a member of the local planning commission. The terms of the members is five years, except for the initial members who are appointed for lesser terms to create staggered terms. Members serve without compensation.  Also, a regional historic zoning commission may be created by the county and city legislative bodies in the area served by a regional planning commission. T.C.A. § 13-7-403.  The historic zoning commission makes recommendations to the county and/or city legislative bodies regarding the creation of historic districts or zones and provides a set of review guidelines for the proposed district or zone. T.C.A. §§ 13-7-405, 13-7-406. The county legislative body may grant to the county historic zoning commission the authority to review applications for construction, repair, alteration, rehabilitation, relocation and demolition of any building or other structure in a historic zone and issue (or refuse) a certificate of appropriateness. T.C.A. § 13-7-407.