Land — South Central — TN
Water rights, rainwater law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for Tennessee landowners and buyers.
Land law varies by county, municipality, and HOA. Verify all information with your county planning department, state water agency, and a licensed attorney before any land purchase or development decision.
Water law
Riparian doctrine. Reasonable use standard. TDEC regulates significant water withdrawals.
No state restrictions. Collection permitted without limit.
Land use and production law
Tennessee Cottage Food Law: $50,000 gross annual cap; direct consumer and farmers markets; label required. Verify with Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
Tennessee Agricultural Protection Act (T.C.A. §43-26-101) protects established agricultural operations.
Agricultural and rural zones broadly permissive. Williamson, Rutherford, and Wilson counties (Middle TN) and Knoxville-area suburban zones have restrictions.
Growing conditions
Hardiness zones
5b (eastern mountains) – 7b (Memphis area)
Last frost
Apr 1 (east) – Mar 1 (west/Memphis)
First frost
Oct 15 (east mountains) – Nov 15 (west)
Free soil testing
University of Tennessee Extension — click to visit
Soil notes
Middle Tennessee limestone region has very productive, neutral-to-alkaline soils. Eastern Tennessee mountain soils are thin and acidic. West Tennessee has productive but sometimes poorly-drained loess soils.