Murfreesboro Weighs 55-Foot Minimum Lots and Pickleball Court Rules

Murfreesboro City Council and planners take up a proposed 55-foot minimum lot width for new homes on Sept. 30, and the council holds a public hearing on outdoor pickleball and paddle court rules on Oct. 1.

Two proposals that could shape Murfreesboro neighborhoods are on city agendas this week: a minimum lot width for new single-family homes and rules for outdoor pickleball and paddle courts.

Proposed 55-Foot Minimum Lot Width

At a joint City Council and Planning Commission conceptual workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 4 p.m. at City Hall, 111 W. Vine St., City Manager Darren Gore is presenting a staff recommendation for:

• A 55-foot minimum lot width for single-family homes with front driveways
• A 40-foot minimum for homes with rear driveways

The rule would apply to new zoning and development applications, with narrow exceptions for existing entitlements, infill sites and lots where utilities are already installed.

Staff say narrow lots squeeze utilities, drainage and driveways into the same strip of land. The packet compares recent subdivisions:

• Shelton Square (lots 70 feet and wider): all 47 lots reviewed met both the 3-foot and 5-foot utility separation thresholds
• Slatewood (75 feet and wider): 19 of 24 met the 3-foot threshold, and 16 of 24 met the 5-foot threshold
• River Landing (lots 41 feet or narrower): 4 of 74 met the 3-foot threshold, and none met the 5-foot threshold

Staff calculate that an 18-foot driveway plus the required utility separations needs about 43 feet of frontage. The workshop is a discussion; any change would require a later ordinance. The same workshop includes the proposed Cedar Grove youth psychiatric hospital on Lascassas Pike.

Pickleball and Paddle Court Rules: Oct. 1 Public Hearing

On Thursday, Oct. 1, the City Council holds a public hearing on Ordinance 26-O-35, covering "outdoor paddle sport facility uses." Public comment begins at 5:30 p.m. (sign up at least six hours ahead), and public hearings start at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

The Oct. 1 agenda also includes a rezoning from Commercial Fringe to single-family RS-6 (Ordinance 26-OZ-36) and an annexation with PRD zoning (Resolution 26-R-PSA-37 and Ordinance 26-OZ-37). The Planning Commission meets Sept. 30 at 5:30 p.m. to consider rezoning 2.51 acres on Brinkley Avenue from CH to PUD.

For places to play racket sports now, see the Adams Tennis Complex and Murfreesboro parks guides. For neighborhood and housing context, see the Murfreesboro neighborhoods guide and Murfreesboro real estate.

At its Sept. 17 meeting, the council also approved Broad Street intersection designs and a new Rogers Park playground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Murfreesboro changing minimum lot sizes?

City staff are recommending a 55-foot minimum lot width for new single-family homes with front driveways and 40 feet for homes with rear driveways. It will be discussed at a Sept. 30, 2026, workshop; no ordinance has been adopted.

Is Murfreesboro regulating pickleball courts?

The City Council holds a public hearing on Oct. 1, 2026, on Ordinance 26-O-35 on outdoor paddle sport facilities.

How do I speak at a Murfreesboro City Council meeting?

Public comment begins at 5:30 p.m. before the meeting, and speakers must sign up at least six hours ahead, according to the city's Oct. 1 public hearing notice.

Sources: City of Murfreesboro: Public Hearings, Oct. 1, 2026, Sept. 30 Joint Conceptual Workshop packet, Oct. 1 City Council agenda, Sept. 30 Planning Commission agenda.

*Illustration: AI-generated image of pickleball courts; not a specific Murfreesboro location.*