Nashville satellite cities: property tax
How Metro rates and a separate city tax combine
Davidson County · Incorporated city within Metro Nashville
Forest Hills, Tennessee
A satellite city inside Nashville with its own zoning and a hillside overlay
Forest Hills is an incorporated city inside Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, with 5,038 residents at the 2020 Census. It has its own zoning, with ten districts on its June 2024 map and a Hillside Protection overlay. Metro’s Trustee does not list it among cities with a separate city property tax, so confirm the tax bill with Metro.
In short: Forest Hills is an incorporated city inside Nashville with ten zoning districts and a hillside overlay. Metro’s Trustee does not list it as levying a separate city tax.
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Overview
Forest Hills at a glance
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Incorporated city (1957 per MTAS) with a general law Manager-Commission charter | Note 2 |
| Population | 5,038 at the 2020 Census | Note 1 |
| Land area | About 9.24 square miles (2020 Census) | Note 1 |
| City Hall | 6300 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215 | Note 2 |
| Zoning districts | Ten on the June 2024 map, including Estates, Residential, Neighborhood Conservation, Historic-Commercial, Institutional and Country Club districts | Note 4 |
| Hillside rules | The city lists a Hillside Protection Zoning Overlay; details were not confirmed | Note 6 |
| City property tax | Not named by Metro’s Trustee among cities with a separate city tax; the city’s own site did not state its position | Note 7 |
| Metro rate | General Services District $2.782 per $100 of assessed value for 2025; residential property is assessed at 25% | Note 8 |
See the Nashville satellite cities tax comparison. Nearby: Belle Meade, Oak Hill and Brentwood.
Setting
What is Forest Hills’s setting?
A city with ten zoning districts and hillside and tree rules; its Public Safety page carries Metro Police and Metro Fire headings.
- The city lists departments for building and zoning, city court, finance, parks, public works and stormwater, while its Public Safety page carries Metro Police and Metro Fire headings (Note 3).
- The zoning map has Estates, Residential and Neighborhood Conservation districts, plus Historic-Commercial, Institutional and Country Club districts (Note 4).
- Which provider supplies water, sewer, trash and street maintenance was not confirmed from the city pages reviewed, so ask the city (Note 3).
Local rules
Which rules govern land in Forest Hills?
The city’s Building and Zoning department administers the municipal code and zoning ordinance, which are hosted on Municode (Notes 6, 9).
- A 2016 amendment, Ordinance 2016-225, set minimum lot areas from 1 acre to 6 acres by district. It is an amendment, not the current consolidated code, and its district names differ from the 2024 map, so confirm the current figures (Note 5).
- The city lists a Hillside Protection Zoning Overlay; slope thresholds were not confirmed (Note 6).
- The 2016 amendment also requires preserving trees of 8 inches or more in diameter near the street frontage and replacing those removed. Confirm the current rule (Note 5).
- The city says it is adopting the 2024 IRC and IBC building codes in October 2026; confirm the effective date with the city (Note 6).
- The city links a floodplain information page; its content was not confirmed (Note 6).
The zoning map includes a Historic-Commercial (HC) district; what review it carries was not confirmed. No historic overlay or architectural design review was otherwise found for Forest Hills. Confirm with the city.
Due diligence
What should you check before buying in Forest Hills?
| Check | Why it matters here | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning district and lot size | The district sets minimum lot area and what can be built. Ask the city for the parcel’s district and current table | Notes 4, 5 |
| Hillside overlay | Ask whether the parcel is in the Hillside Protection Zoning Overlay and what slopes trigger review | Note 6 |
| Tree rules | Confirm the current tree preservation and replacement requirements before clearing | Note 5 |
| Flood status | Ask the city for its floodplain information and check the address on FEMA’s map service | Note 6 |
| Water, sewer and trash provider | Ask the city who serves the property, since this was not confirmed | Note 3 |
| Tax bill | Metro’s rate applies. Metro’s Trustee does not name Forest Hills among cities with a separate city tax and says all other city taxes are collected by the Trustee, so confirm with the Trustee and the city | Notes 7, 8 |
This is a checklist, not advice. Confirm each item with the city, Metro Nashville and your attorney.
Comparison
How does Forest Hills compare with nearby places?
| Community | Setting | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| Belle Meade | Satellite city in Davidson County | Named by Metro’s Trustee as having a separate city property tax; Forest Hills is not |
| Oak Hill | Satellite city in Davidson County | States it does not collect property tax; Forest Hills’s own statement was not confirmed |
| Brentwood | City in Williamson County, to the south | A different county, so a different assessor, trustee and rate |
Working with ABODE
How does ABODE help in Forest Hills?
Land here comes with zoning, hillside, tree and building-code questions. ABODE International Realty LLC is licensed in Tennessee (Real Estate Firm 263936), and its Murfreesboro office lists Forest Hills as a service area. Conversations are private.
Keep reading
Which related guides should you read next?
Belle Meade
A small city with five zoning districts and a citywide conservation overlay
Oak Hill
A city with six residential districts and a Radnor Lake Natural Area Impact Zone on its map
Brentwood
A city with its own zoning and a $0.19 city rate for 2026
Franklin
The county seat, with its own rate and a Franklin Special School District tax district
Questions
Forest Hills real estate: frequently asked questions
Is Forest Hills part of Nashville?
Forest Hills is an incorporated city inside Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County, with its own zoning, building department and court. It had 5,038 residents at the 2020 Census.
What zoning districts does Forest Hills have?
The city’s June 2024 zoning map lists ten districts, including Estates, Residential, Neighborhood Conservation, Historic-Commercial, Institutional and Country Club. A 2016 amendment set minimum lots from 1 to 6 acres, so confirm the current table.
Does Forest Hills have its own property tax?
Metro’s Trustee names only Belle Meade, Ridgetop and Goodlettsville as Davidson County cities with separate city taxes, and says all other city taxes are collected by the Trustee. Forest Hills is not listed among the three, and the city’s own site did not state its position. Confirm with the Metro Trustee and the city.
Does Forest Hills have hillside rules?
The city lists a Hillside Protection Zoning Overlay on its Building and Zoning page. The slope thresholds were not confirmed, so ask the city which parcels it covers.
Does ABODE International Realty work near Forest Hills?
ABODE International Realty LLC is licensed in Tennessee as Real Estate Firm 263936. Its Murfreesboro office lists Forest Hills among its service areas. Request a consultation to discuss a purchase or sale.
Private consultation
Request a private Forest Hills consultation
Tell us what you are weighing. An ABODE advisor replies privately. We aim to reply within one business day.
Sources and notes
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2020 Incorporated Places (TIGERweb). 2020 Census population 5,038. The Tennessee State Data Center’s certified report lists the same figure. Checked October 5, 2026.
- UT-MTAS: Forest Hills. Lists incorporation in 1957 and a general law Manager-Commission charter. City Hall is at 6300 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215. Checked October 5, 2026.
- City of Forest Hills (official site). Departments include Building and Zoning, City Court, Finance, Parks, Public Works and Stormwater. The Public Safety page carries Metro Police and Metro Fire headings. Checked October 5, 2026.
- City of Forest Hills: zoning map (June 2024). The legend lists ten districts: RA, EA, E1A, EB, EC, NC1, NC2, HC, IN and CC. Checked October 5, 2026.
- City of Forest Hills: Ordinance 2016-225. A 2016 amendment set minimum lot areas from 1 acre to 6 acres by district. It also requires preserving existing trees of 8 inches or more in diameter between a proposed building and a primary or secondary street, with replacement for those removed. It has not been checked against the current code, and its district names differ slightly from the 2024 map. Checked October 5, 2026.
- City of Forest Hills: Building and Zoning. The page lists a Hillside Protection Zoning Overlay; its details were not confirmed. The department administers the municipal code and zoning ordinance, says the city is moving to the 2024 IRC and IBC in October 2026, and links a floodplain information page whose content was not confirmed. Checked October 5, 2026.
- Metro Nashville Trustee: property tax questions and answers. Names Belle Meade, Ridgetop and Goodlettsville as the only Davidson County cities with separate city taxes and says all other city taxes are collected by the Metropolitan Trustee’s Office. Forest Hills is not named, and the city’s own site did not state its tax position. Checked October 5, 2026.
- Davidson County Property Assessor: tax rates and calculator. The General Services District rate for 2025 is $2.782 per $100 of assessed value; the Urban Services District combined rate is $2.814. The same page lists the residential assessment ratio as 25% of appraised value. Checked October 5, 2026.
- Forest Hills Code of Ordinances (Municode). The municipal code and zoning ordinance are hosted on Municode. Checked October 5, 2026.