Tennessee's #1 fastest-growing county by percentage from 2020 to 2024 — a Nashville suburb under intense development pressure, with a unique flat-fee Adequate Facilities Tax structure that applies county-wide to every new residential permit.
Wilson County is Tennessee's undisputed growth leader. From 2020 to 2024, it ranked #1 in the state for percentage population growth — absorbing more than 280 new residents per month, a pace that has strained roads, schools, and public services beyond what existing revenue streams can easily cover. As of the 2024 Census estimates, the county's population stands at approximately 170,000, with projections approaching 175,700 by 2025 — a 53% increase from 2010's count of 114,000.
For developers and builders, Wilson County's fee environment centers on a single county-wide instrument: the Adequate Facilities Tax (AFT), a flat $5,000 charge per new residential unit that applies regardless of home size or location. Collected at permit issuance by the county Building Codes Division — and also for Lebanon, Mt. Juliet, and Watertown — the AFT funds broad capital needs including schools, roads, jails, and public safety infrastructure. Revenue is shared equally between the county and whichever municipality the permit falls within. In total, the county generates approximately $16.9 million per year in AFT revenue, though elected officials and school leaders have made clear that this amount falls far short of what rapid enrollment growth demands.
Pressure for higher development fees has intensified on multiple fronts. In 2024, Wilson County was included in state-level legislation — House Bill 2426 — that would have authorized five fast-growing counties (including Wilson, Rutherford, Williamson, Maury, and Montgomery) to raise their adequate facilities taxes by up to 50% and adjust rates every four years thereafter. The bill stalled in committee amid opposition from the Tennessee Realtors Association. Separately, commissioners have responded to community demands by tightening minimum lot size requirements, doubling agricultural zone minimums from 40,000 to 80,000 square feet in November 2025 in an effort to slow the pace of residential subdivision in rural areas.
This is an estimate only. Fees often change on an annual basis. Contact each municipality to confirm before finalizing your estimates. See an error? Report it here
Local reporting and public records covering Wilson County's development fee landscape and growth policy debates.
With the Wilson County Courthouse packed by residents, commissioners voted to increase minimum lot sizes in agriculturally zoned areas to 80,000 square feet — nearly two acres — up from the previous 40,000-square-foot floor. The vote reflected growing community frustration with residential density, traffic congestion, and strain on sewage systems. County Mayor Randall Hutto noted that despite the growth, 69% of the county remains open space. Developers and farming advocates are watching closely as the county's broader land use plan update continues.
Read Full ArticleSuncrest's Barton Village development — 350 acres off South Hartmann Drive and I-40 in Lebanon — broke ground as one of the largest master-planned communities in the county's history. The project includes nearly 2,000 homes alongside dining, shopping, office, and medical uses, modeled after McEwen Northside in Franklin. The development also includes a Del Webb active adult community, with a grand opening targeted for spring 2025. Lebanon was simultaneously named the 12th fastest-growing city in the United States, underscoring Wilson County's remarkable absorption of Nashville's suburban overflow.
Read Full ArticleHouse Bill 2426, introduced in the 2024 legislative session, would have authorized Wilson, Rutherford, Williamson, Maury, and Montgomery counties to increase their adequate facilities taxes by 50% immediately and adjust rates by up to 10% every four years. Wilson County already collects approximately $16.9 million annually in AFT revenue from roughly 20,549 school enrollees — but leaders argue the flat $5,000 per unit is increasingly insufficient to offset the $400M+ in school construction debt the county carries. The bill stalled in committee amid lobbying opposition from the Tennessee Realtors Association and the Home Builders Association.
Read Full ArticleWilson County's three incorporated municipalities — each with its own development review process and distinct housing market, while sharing the county-wide AFT structure.
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