Summary
In State ex rel. Wright v. City of Oak Hill (1959), 204 Tenn. 353, 321 S.W.2d 557, and State ex rel. Morris v. City of Nashville (1961), 207 Tenn. 672, 343 S.W.2d 847, in both of which cases the writ of mandamus was asked for, the administrative remedies had, as a fact, been exhausted.
Summary of this case from State ex Rel. Poteat v. BowmanOpinion
Opinion filed January 23, 1959. Petition of rehearing denied March 12, 1959.
1. MANDAMUS.
Mandamus would issue to compel city and city manager to issue permits required by city ordinance for erection of one-family residences on owners' lots, where city and manager had no lawful reason for withholding permits.
2. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.
The city manager and board of zoning appeals have no authority or power except that vested in them by city ordinance or other law.
3. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.
Neither city manager nor board of zoning appeals is vested with power or authority to inquire into the facts found or to require of landowners information and approvals not provided for by law, before issuing permits to erect one-family residences upon the owners' lots.
4. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.
Zoning laws are in derogation of the common law and operate to deprive an owner of a use of land which might otherwise be lawful, and consequently they must be strictly construed in favor of property owner.
5. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.
The fact that building of house on land within city might become a nuisance in the future is not a lawful reason for refusal to issue a building permit.
6. MANDAMUS.
There are times when administrative officials, taking an erroneous view of the law, or in the arbitrary exercise of their office and duties, refuse to issue permits where obviously the applicant is entitled to one, and in such cases mandamus will lie to compel the relief sought, especially where the administrative official or board act capriciously and without apparent regard for the rights of the applicant.
FROM DAVIDSONANDREW D. TANNER, TOM ED MURRAY, H. FRANCIS STEWART and DENNEY LEFTWICH, Nashville, for appellants.
MACLIN P. DAVIS, JR., WALLER, DAVIS LANSDEN, Nashville, for appellees.
Mandamus proceeding. The Chancery Court, Davidson County, Alfred T. Adams, Chancellor, ordered issuance of writ of mandamus and the defendants appealed. The Supreme Court, Prewitt, Justice, held that mandamus would issue to compel city and city manager to issue permits required by city ordinance for erection of one family residences on owners' lots, where city and manager had no lawful reason for withholding permits.
Affirmed.
The complainants below, appellees here, Mrs. Ollie F. Wright and J.E. Adams, filed their bill for mandamus against the City of Oak Hill and its City Manager, T.M. Crawford, seeking to have defendants issue certificates of compliance in order that complainants might proceed with building residences on their respective lots. An answer was filed by defendants and the suit was tried on th pleadings, stipulation of facts and exhibits, and the Chancellor ordered an issuance of a writ of mandamus, and this appeal resulted.
The Zoning Board of Oak Hill denied the application of the complainants, Wright and Adams, for permits required by city ordinance for the erection of a one family residence upon each of Lots Nos. 3 and 11, owned by them respectively, and located within the limits of Oak Hill.
The question for determination by the Court is whether or not the City of Oak Hill had any lawful reason for withholding such permit.
The Davidson County Planning Commission approved Forest Acres Subdivision in 1947, more than five years before the City of Oak Hill was incorporated.
We are of the opinion that the City Manager and Board of Zoning Appeals have no authority or power except that vested in them by city ordinance or other law, and it appears that the city has no ordinance on the subject.
Neither the City Manager nor the Board of Zoning Appeals is vested with the power or authority to inquire into the facts found nor to require of complainants information and approvals not provided for by law, before issuing the permits.
Zoning laws are in derogation of the common law, and operate to deprive an owner of a use of land which might otherwise be lawful. So, in application, such laws should be strictly construed in favor of the property owner. Red Acres Improvement Club v. Burkhalter, 193 Tenn. 79, 241 S.W.2d 921.
"* * * the powers of a municipal corporation can only be exercised by the governing, legislative body of such corporation, or * * * by other agents of such corporation, in pursuance of authority given from such governing body, in the form of an ordinance, or legislative enactment of such body, "or in pursuance of power granted or conferred in the charter of the Legislature * * *." Mayor, etc., of City of Nashville v. Toney, 78 Tenn. 643. See also City of Nashville v. Brown, 25 Tenn. App. 340, 157 S.W.2d 612.
There seems to be no valid reason why the permits in this case were withheld. The fact that the building of a house on land within a city might become a nuisance in the future is not a lawful reason for refusal to issue a building permit. State v. Newton, 3 Tenn.Civ.A. 93, 104.
The remedy of mandamus is well known in the field of zoning law and practice. There are times when administrative officials, taking an erroneous view of the law, or in the arbitrary exercise of their office and duties, refuse to issue permits where obviously the applicant is entitled to one. In such cases, mandamus will lie, to compel the relief sought, especially where the administrative official or board act capriciously and without apparent regard for the rights of the applicant. Yokley, Zoning Law and Practice, 2d Ed., Vol. 2, sec. 195, p. 16.
The Chancellor held:
"The Court's attention has not been directed to any ordinance or law which vests the authorities of the City of Oak Hill with the power to determine whether the lots in question can or cannot `meet the standards or requirements of the Davidson County Health Department: etc. * * *' or to determine `that the creation of a sewage disposal area on said lots would create or be likely to create a health hazard * * *', and no ordinance or law has been cited which requires lot owners such as complainants, to submit approvals of the various health departments and tests of various kinds before they have a right to receive permits."
It results that we find no error in the decree of the Chancellor and it is affirmed.