AUGUST 21, 2020 VERSION
INSTRUCTIONS
This form is to be completed for the following application types prior to the issuance of a building, Land
Disturbance or other permit:
1) Accessory Dwelling Units
2) Commercial Site Plans
3) Conditional Use Permits
4) Variances (Zoning Compliance Form to be issued prior to application for Variance)
5) Home Based Businesses (Major and Minor)
6) Subdivision Plats in Municipal Planning Regions
7) Specific requests from property owners as to whether a specific use complies or would
comply with zoning requirements (typically accompanied by a formal letter from Staff).
8) Other items at the discretion of the Development Services Director
FOR VARIANCES RELATED TO PRIMARY OR ACCESSORY BUILDING PLACEMENT:
If Building and Codes Department Staff receives an application that they feel may not meet zoning
requirements, the Staff member is to have the property owner fill out the top half of this form and bring
it to the Development Services Department.
Development Services Staff will review the form and determine whether or not the item meets Zoning
Resolution requirements. If Zoning Resolution requirements are not met, the applicant will need to
either change their plan or go to the Sumner County Board of Zoning Appeals to obtain a variance.
Per State Law. (TCA 13-7-109), “Variances may only be granted by the BZA when:
“By reason of exceptional narrowness, shallowness, or shape of a specific piece of property…or by reason
of exceptional topographic conditions or other extraordinary and exceptional situation or condition of
such piece of property, the strict application of any regulation…would result in peculiar and exceptional
practical difficulties to or exceptional and undue hardship upon the owner of such property
In other words, variances must be based on a hardship related to the property itself. State law and court
rulings are clear that variances may not be granted for financial reasons, for the convenience of the
property owner, or due to a self-created hardships.
NOTE
ZONING COMPLIANCE FORMS FOR ROUTINE ITEMS ARE TYPICALLY PROCESSED WITHIN ONE
BUSINESS DAY (24 HOURS). COMPLEX REQUESTS INVOLVING STAFF RESEARCH INTO
HISTORICAL OR TECHNICAL RECORDS WILL TAKE UP TO 10 BUSINESS DAYS.
