PC 1101 UGB's Explained, Again

As it appears that Lenoir City officials are wanting to expand farther and farther into the county, seems a good time to review the law that allows cities to take in land that actually should not be in the city. The law is known as Public Chapter 1101. In the case of Lenoir City, they are allowed to annex land, not even contiguous to the city limits, with few restrictions. It wouldn't even be a big deal except for the city's ridiculous zoning policies. We've all seen just what the city brings with those policies, mass over development with absolute no thought of what impact it has on everyone and everything.

Back in January 2023, Lenoir City councilman, Todd Kennedy, asked for a study on the cities development policies. Just now, the city is about to hire a company to study their policies. Bet we know how that'll turn out.

We should all be afraid of what Lenoir City officials will allow in our neighborhoods. They have already shown their irresponsibility when it comes to residential development. And likely will get worst until there are changes in city government.

Below is information on PC 1101 and how it impacts everyone on the county.

Prior to the year 2000, cities and counties all over the state stayed in constant legal battles over annexation. Every little city was always trying to forcibly annex county properties into their cities. This was the fastest way for city's to grow their tax base and take in immediate new property tax revenues. In most cases, county property owners would object to the forced annexations and many times the counties would have to go to court to stop the cities take over's.

Then came Public Chapter 1101. This was a new state law that was hoped would put an end to all the annexation fights. Every city in the state, working with the counties had to develop what was called their Urban Growth Boundary, UGB. After the adoption of the UGB, a city could only annex property within their UGB for as long as the PC 1101 law was still on the books, and it still is.

Back in 2000, when the UGB's were being discussed and debated, There were a lot of fusses and fights. Hardly any property owner wanted their property included in a city UGB. They feared they would ultimately be annexed. When all was said and done, the county commission, of that time, gave up far too much area to the cities. They allowed the cities to adopt large UGB's as you can see from the maps below.

In Lenoir City, the UGB, grayish hatched areas, north, south, east, and west like a giant spider. It extends into the 2nd district, 5th district, 6th district and the 3rd district, across the Tennessee River. It includes all of Avalon, up to Ford Road and a large area in Hotchkiss Valley.    

The Loudon UGB is very large also, running from north of Sugar Limb Road down to the Philadelphia exit. It's runs into the 1st district, 4th district and the 5th district.

Below are links to view larger UGB maps. 

Click Here For Large Lenoir City UGB Map


Lenoir City UGB In Grayish Hatched Area

Click Here For Large Loudon City UGB Map


Loudon UGB In Gray Hatched Area

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6/30/25