Tenn. Code Ann. § 13-20-203 (2026)

• (a)
  • (1) This subsection (a) shall apply to counties with a metropolitan form of government and with populations greater than seven hundred seventy thousand (770,000), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census.
  • (2) An authority shall not initiate any redevelopment project under this chapter until the governing body, or agency designated by it or empowered by law so to act, of each city or town, herein called "municipalities," and any county having a population of not less than two hundred seventy-five thousand (275,000) nor more than three hundred twenty-five thousand (325,000), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, in which any of the area to be covered by the project is situated, has approved a plan, herein called the "redevelopment plan", which provides an outline for the development or redevelopment of the area and is sufficiently complete, to:
    • (A) Indicate its relationship to definite local objectives as to appropriate land uses and improved traffic, public transportation, public utilities, recreational and community facilities and other public improvements;
    • (B) Indicate proposed land uses and building requirements in the area; and
    • (C) Indicate the method of the temporary relocation of persons living in such areas, and also the method of providing, unless already available, decent, safe and sanitary dwellings substantially equal in number to the number of substandard dwellings to be cleared from the area, at rents within the financial reach of the income groups displaced from such substandard dwellings. Such municipalities are hereby authorized to approve redevelopment plans through their governing body or agency designated by it for that purpose. Any state public body referred to in § 13-20-110 has the rights and powers to cooperate with and assist housing authorities with respect to redevelopment projects in the same manner as though the section were applicable to redevelopment projects.
  • (3) Any disapproval of any redevelopment project by the governing body of a county as authorized by this section shall, however, be automatically dissolved wherever written agreement duly approved by the governing body of the municipality involved is furnished to the county governing body involved, which agreement shall exempt the county property tax levy and all proceeds from it generated within the redevelopment project from the tax increment financing provisions specified in § 13-20-205(a)(2).
  • (4) The governing body shall not approve a plan until after a public hearing has been held by the governing body, or agency designated by it or empowered by law so to act, to determine the necessity for the adoption of the plan, including the matters set forth in subdivisions (a)(2)(A)-(C). Notice of such public hearing shall be given in the following manner:
    • (A) By publishing once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks immediately preceding the public hearing in each newspaper of general circulation published in the municipality notice of the time, place, and purpose of the public hearing, which notice shall include a facsimile of a map of the area to be included in the plan, with the streets or other lines marking the boundaries thereof clearly indicated, and which map shall be not less than four (4) columns in width; and
    • (B) By written notice to at least one (1) of the owners or at least one (1) of the occupants of each parcel of property within the area to be included within the plan of the time, place and purpose of such public hearing, which notice shall be sent not more than thirty (30) days and not less than ten (10) days before the hearing by mail, postage prepaid, or delivered, to such owners or occupants.
  • (5) The failure to give the notice required in subdivisions (a)(4)(A) and (B) may be raised only by an owner or occupant having an interest in property within such area as a defense on the trial of the issue of the right of the housing authority to acquire the property of such owner or occupant by eminent domain, and such failure shall constitute a defense unless in the judgment of the court trying such issue there has been compliance with subdivision (a)(4)(A) and substantial compliance with subdivision (a)(4)(B) by mailing or delivering the notice therein provided to at least one (1) owner or one (1) occupant of each of not less than two thirds (2/3) of the lots or parcels of property within such area.

• (b)
  • (1) This subsection (b) shall not apply to counties with a metropolitan form of government and with populations greater than seven hundred seventy thousand (770,000), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census.
  • (2)
    • (A) An authority shall not initiate any redevelopment project under this chapter until the governing body, or agency designated by it or empowered by law so to act, of each city or town, hereafter called "municipalities," in which any of the area to be covered by such project is situated, has approved a plan, herein called the "redevelopment plan," which provides an outline for the development or redevelopment of such area and is sufficiently complete to:
      • (i) Indicate its relationship to definite local objectives as to appropriate land uses and improved traffic, public transportation, public utilities, recreational and community facilities and other public improvements;
      • (ii) Indicate proposed land uses and building requirements in the area; and
      • (iii) Indicate the method of the temporary relocation of persons living in such areas, and also the method of providing, unless already available, decent, safe and sanitary dwellings substantially equal in number to the number of substandard dwellings to be cleared from the area, at rents within the financial reach of the income groups displaced from such substandard dwellings.
    • (B) For any redevelopment plan that includes a tax increment financing provision that is applicable to the county property tax levy, the governing body of any county in which any of the area subject to such redevelopment plan is situated must approve such redevelopment plan.
  • (3) Any disapproval of any redevelopment project by the governing body of a county as authorized by this section shall, however, be automatically dissolved wherever written agreement duly approved by the governing body of the municipality involved is furnished to the county governing body involved, which agreement shall exempt the county property tax levy, and all proceeds from it generated within the redevelopment project, from the tax increment financing provisions specified in § 13-20-205(a)(2).
  • (4) The governing body shall not approve a plan until after a public hearing has been held by the governing body, or agency designated by it or empowered by law so to act, to determine the necessity for the adoption of the plan, including the matters set forth in subdivisions (b)(2)(A)(i)-(iii). Notice of such public hearing shall be given in the following manner:
    • (A) By publishing notice, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks immediately preceding the public hearing in a newspaper of general circulation published in the municipality, of the time, place, and purpose of the public hearing and identifying at least two (2) locations, one (1) of which shall be the offices of the authority, where a map of the area to be included in the plan, with the streets or other lines marking the boundaries of the area clearly indicated, may be reviewed by interested persons; and
    • (B) By written notice to at least one (1) of the owners or at least one (1) of the occupants of each parcel of property within the area to be included within the plan of the time, place and purpose of such public hearing, which notice shall be sent not more than thirty (30) days and not less than ten (10) days before the hearing by mail, postage prepaid, or delivered, to such owners or occupants.
  • (5) The failure to give the notice required in subdivisions (b)(4)(A) and (B) may be raised only by an owner or occupant having an interest in property within such area as a defense on the trial of the issue of the right of the housing authority to acquire the property of such owner or occupant by eminent domain, and such failure shall constitute a defense unless in the judgment of the court trying such issue there has been compliance with subdivision (b)(4)(A) and substantial compliance with subdivision (b)(4)(B) by mailing or delivering the notice therein provided to at least one (1) owner or one (1) occupant of each of not less than two thirds (2/3) of the lots or parcels of property within such area.

Acts 1945, ch. 114, § 4; C. Supp. 1950, § 3647.29P (Williams, § 3647.55); Acts 1963, ch. 225, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 13-815; Acts 1982, ch. 906, §§ 1, 2, 6; 1987, ch. 349, §§ 1, 2, 4, 5; 2006, ch. 999, §§ 5 - 7.