Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 13-3-410 (2026)
Penalties for transferring lots in unrecorded subdivisions
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a)
- (1) The owner or the agent of the owner of any land shall not:
- (A) Transfer or close the sale of the land by reference to, exhibition of, or by other use of a subdivision plat without first submitting a final subdivision plat to the regional planning commission and receiving the commission's approval and before the final plat is recorded in the appropriate register's office; or
- (B) Falsely represent to a prospective purchaser of the land that roads or streets will be constructed by a county or other political subdivision.
- (2) The description by metes and bounds in the instrument of transfer or other document used in the transfer does not exempt the transaction from a violation of this subsection (a). The county, through the county attorney or other official designated by the legislative body, may pursue an injunction or other appropriate remedy for a violation of this subsection (a).
- (1) The owner or the agent of the owner of any land shall not:
- (b) The owner or agent of the owner of any land may close the sale of or transfer any lot or lots shown on a plat only after that plat has been given final plat approval by the regional planning commission, and after the approved final plat is recorded in the office of the appropriate county register. The regional planning commission may grant final plat approval where the infrastructure improvements such as roads, water, sewer, utilities, other infrastructures, and facilities are not completed and accepted by the appropriate entities. For the regional planning commission to grant final approval, the owner or agent of the owner of the land to be granted final approval shall post a bond, letter of credit, or other method of assurance in form, in amount, and with conditions and surety satisfactory to the regional planning commission. The bond, letter of credit, or other method of assurance shall provide for and secure to the public and the county the actual construction and installation of the infrastructure improvements within a period specified by the regional planning commission.
- (c) The remedies and penalties provided by this chapter are to be applied exclusively to the owner or agent of the owner. Title to any tract conveyed without compliance with this chapter is not affected by this chapter unless the sale or transfer has been enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction prior to the conveyance being recorded in the office of the appropriate county register. While the title to any such tract is not affected by this chapter, the tract remains otherwise subject to all provisions of this chapter.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 39, Secs.s1, s2, s3 eff. 3/23/2021.
Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 209, Secs.s 2, s 3 eff. 4/20/2015.
Acts 1935, ch. 35, § 10, as added by Acts 1951, ch. 222, § 2 (Williams, § 3493.19); 1959, ch. 132, § 1; impl. am. Acts 1978, ch. 934, §§ 7, 36; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 13-310; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 1993, ch. 203, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1983–2021 · leading case: Whaley v. Perkins, 197 S.W.3d 665 (Tenn. 2006).
Whaley v. Perkins, 197 S.W.3d 665 (Tenn. 2006). “The Plaintiffs allege that the Defendants violated Section 105 of the Shelby County Subdivision Regulations, as well as Sections 23-92 and 23-93 of the Shelby County Code and Tennessee Code Annotated section 13-3-410. We conclude that Sections 23-92 and 23-93 of the Shelby…”
Foley v. Hamilton, 659 S.W.2d 356 (Tenn. 1983). “T.C.A. § 13-3-410 sets out the penalties for transferring lots in unrecorded subdivisions.”
Lake Cnty. v. Truett, 758 S.W.2d 529 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1988). “T.C.A. § 13-3-410 covers the penalties for transferring lots in what are considered to be unrecorded subdivisions.”
Poats v. Nelson (Tenn. Ct. App. 1997). “Did Nelson’s use of a plat map, restrictions, and references to the Lot numbers in the Bills of Sale constitute a violation of T.C.A. § 13-3-410, and as a result of that violation should the trial court have granted such relief as was equitably appropriate under the…”
Dianne Elizabeth Lutzak, Tr. Of The Dianne Elizabeth Lutzak Fam. Revocable Trust v. Phoenix Am. Dev. Partners, L. P. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2017). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 13-3-410 (a)(1)(A) (Supp.”
Glenver Ian Smith v. Stephen L. Hughes (Tenn. Ct. App. 2021). “After the facts section, the complaint simply 3 Plaintiffs further alleged that the defendants were barred from selling the property by Tennessee Code Annotated section 13-3-410 because it had not been approved for subdivision, nor had a subdivision plat been recorded.”
Roger D. Roach v. Don Bunch, 387 S.W.3d 15 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2012). “The Court found that Epling illegally sold at least two lots before ever getting preliminary approval of the subdivision plat from the planning commission, which is in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. § 13-3-410 . The Court found that Epling clearly did not intend to comply with the…”
Roane Cnty. v. Weston Tucker (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004). “Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 13-3-410 (1999), it is a criminal offense for a developer to sell or agree to sell lots in a subdivision without an approved and recorded plat.”
Earl M. Shahan v. Franklin Cnty. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003). “Shahan violated Tenn. Code Ann. § 13-3-410 (a) (199 9) by selling tracts of land in his development before obtaining planning com mission approval.”
John Melton, R & J of Tennessee, Inc., & State of Tennessee, on the Relation of John Melton & R&J of Tennessee, Inc. v. City of Lexington, Tennessee (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “The City installed electricity, water, natural gas, and fire 1 Though irrelevant to the issues on appeal, it appears Blankenship M elton/Larry Melton violated Tennessee Code Annotated § 13-3-410(a) (1999) by selling the land in the development before obtaining approval of the…”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 13-3-410(a): 1 case
John Melton, R & J of Tennessee, Inc., & State of Tennessee, on the Relation of John Melton & R&J of Tennessee, Inc. v. City of Lexington, Tennessee (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “The City installed electricity, water, natural gas, and fire 1 Though irrelevant to the issues on appeal, it appears Blankenship M elton/Larry Melton violated Tennessee Code Annotated § 13-3-410(a) (1999) by selling the land in the development before obtaining approval of the…”
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