Tennessee § 13-16-103 - Powers of municipality.
Full text of Tennessee Tennessee Code Annotated § 13-16-103 — Powers of municipality., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 13-16-103. Powers of municipality.
Subject to the conditions of this part, any municipality has the power to: Acquire land and rights and easements therein by gift, purchase, or eminent domain, and develop the land into industrial parks within or without the municipality or partially within and partially without the municipality, and maintain and operate such industrial parks; provided, that the power of eminent domain shall be exercised only for public use, as defined in § 29-17-102, and shall not be extended to or exercised with respect to property owned or held by a corporation which is subject to regulation by the Tennessee public utility commission, the department of safety, and/or the department of transportation, and which itself possesses the power of eminent domain, except and unless: No other property is reasonably available for the contemplated use; The property to be taken is not reasonably necessary to the operation of the corporation owning or holding it; and The taking will not interfere or be inconsistent with any public use for which the property is used or held; Issue its bonds to finance in whole or in part the cost of such industrial parks, and pledge its full faith and credit and/or fees, rents, tolls or other charges for the use of or in connection with any industrial building or any public works project as provided in the Industrial Building Bond Act of 1955, compiled in title 7, chapter 55, or the Local Government Public Obligations Act of 1986, compiled in title 9, chapter 21; Sell or lease plots of land and charge and collect fees for services made available within such industrial parks, subject to and in accordance with any agreement which may be made with bondholders; provided, except as set forth in § 13-16-107(a), that prices, rentals and fees shall be fixed and revised from time to time so as to produce, as nearly as possible, sufficient funds to provide for the prompt payment of principal and interest upon all bonds when due, and provide for the operation and maintenance of such parks and adequate depreciation accounts in connection therewith; Pledge to the punctual payment of the bonds authorized for such purposes and interest thereon the income, revenues and proceeds from sales to be received from such industrial parks; Accept grants and the cooperation of the state of Tennessee upon such conditions as may be provided by law; Accept grants and the cooperation of the United States or any agency thereof in the development, maintenance, operation and financing of industrial parks and do any and all things necessary in order to avail itself of such aid and cooperation; and Exercise all powers with respect to industrial parks that municipalities may exercise with respect to industrial buildings under the Industrial Building Bond Act of 1955, and the Industrial Development Corporations Act of 1955, compiled in title 7, chapter 53. Acts 1959, ch. 169, § 5; T.C.A., § 13-1303; Acts 1988, ch. 750, § 47; 1990, ch. 593, §§ 1, 2; 1995, ch. 305, § 99; 2017, ch. 94, § 33; 2017, ch. 422, § 2; T.C.A., § 13-16-203 . Code Commission Notes. This section was renumbered from § 13-16-203 to § 13-16-103 by authority of the Code Commission in 2019. Compiler's Notes. Acts 2017, ch. 422, § 7 provided that the act, which amended this section, shall apply to takings or condemnation actions initiated on or after May 18, 2017. Attorney General Opinions. Municipal power to acquire land for industrial park, OAG 95-121, 1995 Tenn. AG LEXIS 139 (12/18/95). Projects outside municipal limits financed under Local Public Obligations Act, OAG 96-005, 1996 Tenn. AG LEXIS 4 (1/16/96). Under T.C.A. § 5-1-114(a) , contiguous counties may cooperate to develop an industrial park through an interlocal agreement, OAG 03-020, 2003 Tenn. AG LEXIS 26 (2/24/03). Because development of an industrial park could be a “county general purpose” and a “public purpose,” counties may use property tax revenues generated by the industrial park to fulfill terms and conditions of an interlocal agreement, OAG 03-020, 2003 Tenn. AG LEXIS 26 (2/24/03).
Source: official Tennessee text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Tennessee § 13-16-103
What does Tennessee Code Annotated § 13-16-103 cover?
Section 13-16-103 ("Powers of municipality.") is part of the Tennessee Code Annotated, the codified statutory law of Tennessee. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Tennessee § 13-16-103?
A common citation format is "Tennessee Code Annotated § 13-16-103" (Tennessee). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Tennessee law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Tennessee official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Tennessee attorney.
How does Tennessee § 13-16-103 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Tennessee can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Tennessee.