Forest Hills, TN Hardscaping | Nashville Outdoor Works

A city of big lots and firm rules

Forest Hills had 5,038 residents at the 2020 Census, on lots that start at 1 acre in its smallest zone and run to 6 acres in the largest. The city issues its own permits through the City Manager. Patios, walls, pools, driveways, decks and even gravel all count against an impervious surface ratio between 0.14 and 0.20, depending on the zone, and permeable pavers count at two-thirds of their area. So a patio in permeable pavers goes further under the limit than the same patio in concrete.

Fences have to stay open

Section 4.08 of the zoning ordinance needs a permit for any fence and keeps them low and see-through. A fence can be 4 feet tall anywhere on the lot and 5 feet in the rear yard. Privacy and solid fences aren’t allowed, except to screen an air conditioner, pool equipment or a generator. The city prefers four-rail wood or wrought iron, steel or aluminum. Chain link needs the Board of Zoning Appeals, and so does any gate or entrance over 5 feet.

Retaining walls are faced in stone or brick

Any retaining wall in Forest Hills has to be faced with stone or brick. Walls over 3 feet need a plan stamped by a professional engineer, and walls over 10 feet aren’t allowed at all. On a sloped lot that usually means two or three shorter terraced walls instead of one tall one. The city also protects its old dry-stack stone walls: no new building or addition within 25 feet of one.

Lighting, driveways and outbuildings

Outdoor lights can’t be mounted on trees or poles, so landscape lighting here is set low in walls, steps and beds. New driveway entrances are approved by the City Manager with the City Engineer, at least 8 feet wide and no steeper than 20 percent. Pergolas, pavilions and other accessory structures go in the rear yard, and all of them together can cover no more than 1 percent of the parcel.

Sources

Forest Hills Code of Ordinances, Title 14 Chapter 2 Zoning — 4.02 impervious surface, 4.05 accessory structures, 4.07 driveways, 4.08 fences and walls, 4.09 lighting, 6.06 stone walls, 9.02 permits
Forest Hills, Tennessee (Wikipedia) — 2020 Census population

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Answers

Forest Hills questions

Can I build a privacy fence in Forest Hills, TN?

No. Forest Hills bans privacy and solid fences, except as screens around an air conditioner, pool equipment or a generator. Fences need a permit and must stay see-through: up to 4 feet anywhere on the lot and 5 feet in the rear yard, preferably four-rail wood or wrought iron, steel or aluminum.

Do retaining walls need an engineer in Forest Hills?

Over 3 feet, yes: the plan has to be stamped by a professional engineer. Walls over 10 feet aren’t allowed, and every retaining wall has to be faced in stone or brick. On steeper lots, two or three terraced walls under 3 feet each often avoid the engineered plan.

Do pavers count toward the impervious limit in Forest Hills?

Yes, but permeable pavers count at two-thirds of their area. Patios, walls, pools, driveways, decks and gravel all count toward the impervious surface ratio, which runs from 0.14 to 0.20 depending on the zone, so permeable pavers leave more room for everything else.

Can I put landscape lights in the trees in Forest Hills?

No. Section 4.09 of the zoning ordinance doesn’t allow exterior lights mounted on trees or poles, apart from decorative and holiday lighting. Landscape lighting here goes in walls, steps and planting beds instead, aimed down at the paths and surfaces you walk on at night.

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