TN HB1326

Vested property rights now established upon submission of development plans or building permits to local government, rather than upon approval, protecting developers from regulatory changes during the review process

Vesting period for development plans is 3 years from date of submission; building permits remain vested for the duration authorized by the permit, including approved renewals

Local governments may delegate initial jurisdiction over special exceptions and zoning map interpretations to building commissioners or administrative officials, with board of appeals serving appellate role only

Decisions on special exceptions must be rendered within 120 days of complete application submission; applications are automatically deemed approved if officials fail to act within this timeframe

Special exception denials cannot be based on "health, safety, or general welfare" unless those terms are specifically defined in the local ordinance; effective July 1, 2025