Zoning Library › Tennessee › Nashville, TN
Nashville, TN zoning: where a drive-thru restaurant is allowed
Is a drive-thru allowed in Nashville, TN?
A drive-thru restaurant is allowed by right (no conditional use permit, special exception or rezoning) in these zoning districts: CA, CF, CL, CN, CS, CS-A, IG, IR, IWD, MUG, MUG-A, MUI, MUI-A, MUL, MUL-A, ORI, ORI-A, SCC, SCN, SCR.
It is not allowed in 39 districts (mostly residential; see the table).
49 districts are not confirmed yet.
Drive-thru restaurant rule by zoning district
| District | Drive-thru restaurant | What the code says | Section | Source | Read on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| AG | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| AR2A | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| CA | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| CC | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| CF | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| CG | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| CL | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| CN | By right | Use table: Restaurant, fast-food = PC (permitted with conditions) in CN. Permitted subject to the 17.16 conditions (not read). | Metro Code 17.08.030, 17.16 conditions | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| CPUD | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| CPUDL | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| CS | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| CS-A | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| CSL | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| District 1 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| District 2 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| District 3 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| District 4 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| District 5 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| District 6 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| District 7 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| DTC | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| E1A | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| EA | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| EB | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| EC | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| Estates A | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| Estates B | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| GOPUD | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| HC | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| HDRPUD | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| Historic | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| I | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| IC | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| IG | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| IN | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| IR | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| IWD | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| LDRPUD | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| MDRPUD | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| MHP | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| MUG | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| MUG-A | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| MUI | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| MUI-A | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| MUL | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| MUL-A | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| MUN | Not allowed | Use table: Restaurant, fast-food cell blank in MUN and ON. Not allowed (fast food). | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| MUN-A | Not allowed | Use table: Restaurant, fast-food cell blank in MUN and ON. Not allowed (fast food). | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| NC1 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| NC2 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| NMOVRLY | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| OG | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| OL | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| ON | Not allowed | Use table: Restaurant, fast-food cell blank in MUN and ON. Not allowed (fast food). | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| OP | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| OR20 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| OR20-A | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| OR40 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| ORI | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| ORI-A | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| R6 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| R6-A | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| R7 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| R8 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| R8-A | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| R10 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| R15 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| R20 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| R25 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| R30 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| R40 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| R80 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RA | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| Residence A | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| Residence B | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| Residential A | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| Residential B | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| Residential C | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| Residential D | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| Residential E | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| Residential F | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| RM2 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RM4 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RM6 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RM9 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RM15 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RM15-A | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RM20 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RM20-A | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RM40 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RM40-A | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RM60 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| ROPUD | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 | |
| RS3.75 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RS3.75-A | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RS5 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RS7.5 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RS10 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RS15 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RS20 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RS30 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RS40 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| RS80 | Not allowed | Restaurant, fast-food not allowed in residential/agricultural districts. Residential district. | Metro Code 17.08.030 | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| SCC | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| SCN | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| SCR | By right | Title 17 use table 17.08.030: Restaurant, fast-food = P in MUL, MUG, MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CA, CF, SCN, SCC, SCR, IWD, IR, IG. No separate drive-through row; drive-through lanes follow 17.20 stacking and UZO design rules where mapped. | Metro Code 17.08.030 use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
| SP | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-15 |
"By right" means permitted with site plan and building permit review only. Overlay districts, planned developments (PD/PUD) and conditions attached to a past rezoning can change the answer for a single parcel.
Official zoning map layer
To find the district for a parcel, query the jurisdiction's own GIS zoning layer: https://services.arcgis.com/rD2ylXRs80UroD90/arcgis/rest/services/Land_Use_Zoning_Davidson_County_WFL1/FeatureServer/4 (district field: Zone)
Davidson County zoning (hosted 'Davidson County Zoning' layer 4, field Zone; also holds satellite-city codes like Residence A / NC1). Nashville code has no drive-through row: rule is the 'Restaurant, fast-food' row.
Sources
How to confirm before you buy
- Look up the parcel on the official zoning map to get its district and any overlay.
- Open the code section linked in the table and read the use table and the drive-thru standards.
- Call the planning office and ask whether a drive-thru restaurant needs anything beyond site plan review at that address.
Why this library exists
I'm Luke Smith. I find land for drive-thru brands like 7 Brew, Ellianos Coffee and Starbucks, sign the tenant, build the shop and sell it as a net lease property. Every deal starts with the same question: is the use allowed here without a rezoning? Getting that answer takes too long, so we read the codes (with AI research help), and I publish what we find with a link back to every source so you can check it yourself.
If you have a site that fits a drive-thru, or you want to learn how these deals are put together, join the free Reverse Deal Finder community on Skool, see cap rates and land prices by brand, or call 1-760-392-1525. Brokers welcome: I pay commissions.