Tennessee § 7-86-127 - Street names and numbers.

§ 7-86-127. Street names and numbers.

Unless expressly provided otherwise by law, the authority to name public and private roads and streets, including roads and streets located within residential developments, and to assign property numbers relating to the roads and streets, is exclusively vested in the legislative bodies of counties for unincorporated areas, and municipalities within their incorporated boundaries; provided, that the exercise of this authority must be in a manner acceptable to the United States postal service. The legislative bodies of any county or municipality may delegate the authority provided under this section to the emergency communications district, if there be one; provided, that the legislative body shall approve road or street name changes made by the district under such terms as the legislative body may determine. Any county or city, including districts with delegated authority, may establish and impose reasonable fees and enforce policies relating to the changing of names of roads and streets, and may establish and enforce policies for the assignment and posting requirements of property numbers. The legislative bodies of all counties and municipalities, or their designees, shall provide their local county election commissions an updated list of any modifications or changes to all house, road, or street names or numbers every six (6) months. This section may not be construed to require a local government to maintain any portion of a road that the local government has not accepted. Acts 1994, ch. 807, § 2; 1995, ch. 68, § 4; 1997, ch. 136, § 1; 2004, ch. 480, § 13. Compiler's Notes. Acts 1994, ch. 807, § 1, provided that the general assembly found that the “Emergency Communications District Law” has been successful, embraced by the vast majority of Tennessee counties, most of which have already initiated Enhanced 911 (“E-911”) service, and all of which are developing or maintaining this life-saving service in fulfillment of the purposes stated in the law. The general assembly also found that to more fully accomplish the purposes of the law, it is essential that each county have a uniform system of addressing which is consistent with regulations of the United States postal service in order to achieve maximum effect with minimum inconvenience to the public. The general assembly further found that the involvement of emergency communications districts in the addressing activity is necessary and complementary to the responsibility of local governments, which requires explicit definition. Attorney General Opinions. A city, county, or emergency communications district may establish and enforce policies that require homeowners or businesses to mark their establishments clearly with their street number, OAG 01-057, 2001 Tenn. AG LEXIS 49 (4/11/01). If a county legislative body has created an emergency communications district, it may delegate authority to name public or private roads and streets to that district, OAG 03-088, 2003 Tenn. AG LEXIS 107 (7/15/03). If the general assembly chooses to exercise its authority to rename a public street or highway, its actions are controlling, OAG 06-054 (3/28/06).