Tennessee Code Title 29. Remedies and Special Proceedings § 29-43-101

The general assembly declares that property owners should expect that the merits of a permit application will be judged on the law in effect at the time of application. The interests of property owners to use their property as they see fit and free from the threat of interference from potential local regulation outweighs the need of a local government entity to work out the details of a potential zoning change free from possible violations. To this end, the general assembly rejects the pending ordinance doctrine, described by the Tennessee supreme court in its May 14, 2007, opinion in the case of Harding Academy v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, and declares the doctrine to be contrary to the public policy interests of property owners in this state.