Board of Zoning & Appeals

The Zoning Ordinance provides for a Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) that hears appeals dealing with zoning matters.


The BZA has 3 main functions: 

  • To Interpret the zoning ordinance when it is alleged that department staff have made an error.
  • To review special exceptions and to grant Conditional Use permits under terms of the ordinance. 
  • To grant Variances from specific terms of the ordinance where special conditions are present to warrant such variances.       

Applications to bring items to the board must be submitted and reviewed by staff no later than 30 days prior to the meeting.

Fees for Board of zoning and appeals business are as follows:

  • $200 for an interpretation, conditional use, or variance application
  • $500 if applying for a variance or conditional use after construction.

*Fees are to be paid prior to any action taken on the application


Contact Community Development staff at (615) 380 8618 prior to submitting any applications.

A copy of the Zoning Ordinance may be purchased from the department at a cost of $30.

Meetings


The Board of Zoning and Appeals meets the second Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. The meetings are held in the Board Room on the first floor of Springfield City Hill located at 405 North Main Street.

Meeting agendas and minutes can be viewed at the Agenda Center.

Recorded videos of meetings are available at the City of Springfield, TN Youtube Page.  Audio recording of meetings available upon request.

Members

  • Carolyn Sherrod, Wards 1 and 2
    • Term Expires December 31, 2026
  • Larry Simmons, Vice Chair Wards 3 and 4
    • Term Expires December 31, 2027
  • Dr. Adam Veitschegger, Wards 5 and 6
    • Term Expires December 31, 2028


  • Michael Briggs, Chairman, Planning Commission
    • Term Expires December 31, 2025
  • Carolyn Woodard, At Large
    • Term Expires December 31, 2026

Public Comment

Regularly called meetings of the Board of Zoning and Appeals include a period of public comment as a regular order of business item. The public comment period provides the public with the opportunity to comment on matters that are germane to the items on the agenda for a meeting.

Meeting agendas can be viewed online in the Agenda Center.

Registration

Any member of the public that wishes to address the Board of Zoning and Appeals regarding any item on the agenda for a meeting must register online no later than 12:00pm on the day prior to the meeting. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Community Development Administrative Secretary will process registrations in the order in which they are received. Ten (10) spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.  The time for public comment will be limited to two (2) minutes per speaker.  

What To Expect

The Community Development Administrative Secretary shall send electronic confirmation via email to those that are properly registered by 4:30pm the day before the meeting, as well as to those that are not confirmed stating the reason for the denial. Any member of the public needing an accommodation for registration due to disability may contact the Community Development Administrative Secretary for assistance.

Members of the public who have properly registered with the Community Development Administrative Secretary will be recognized by the Board of Zoning and Appeals. The speaker will move to the podium, state their name and address, and will have up to two (2) minutes to address any item on that meeting's agenda. The Planning Commission will conclude the speaker's time once the two (2) minutes have expired. Members of the public shall refrain from personal attacks, offensive or obscene language, and any speech which would be a violation of law.