Nashville's Animal Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles animal ordinances a little differently. In Nashville, Tennessee, there are 11 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Chickens & Livestock

Metro Nashville allows backyard hens on residential parcels under Title 5, with coop setbacks, no roosters in most residential zones, and lot-size thresholds for goats, hogs, and larger livestock under Title 17 zoning.

Key details: Hens allowed: Residential, no roosters. Coop setback: From property lines required. Livestock zoning: AR2a or larger acreage. Enforcement: MACC and Codes Dept. Code section: Metro Title 5 / Title 17.

Civil penalties under Title 5 starting around $50 per violation, escalating per day. Codes citations for zoning noncompliance can reach $500 per day until remedied.

Animal Hoarding

Metro Nashville prosecutes animal hoarding under Title 5 cruelty provisions and Tennessee state law, allowing seizure when conditions endanger animals. MACC officers and MNPD investigate, and convictions can include forfeiture and treatment orders.

Key details: State law: TCA 39-14-202 et seq. Aggravated cruelty: Class E felony. Lead investigators: MACC and MNPD. Reports via: hubNashville 311. Possible remedy: Animal forfeiture and ownership ban.

Misdemeanor cruelty up to $2,500 fine and 11 months 29 days jail; aggravated cruelty under TCA 39-14-212 is Class E felony with forfeiture and ownership ban.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Nashville actively enforces its animal hoarding requirements.

Wildlife Feeding

Metro discourages feeding deer, coyotes, raccoons, and other wildlife in residential areas, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency restricts feeding that habituates wild animals or spreads disease. Bird feeders are generally allowed if maintained.

Key details: State agency: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. CWD rules: Statewide deer feeding limits. Bird feeders: Allowed if maintained. Common nuisance species: Coyotes, raccoons, deer.

TWRA citations for illegal feeding can carry fines up to $500 plus costs. Metro nuisance abatement may add additional civil penalties of $50 per day until cleaned up.

Cat Rules

Metro Nashville Title 5 requires cats to be vaccinated against rabies and registered if they leave the property, but does not impose a strict cat leash law. Free-roaming cats may be impounded by MACC if reported as nuisance.

Key details: Rabies vaccination: Required for all cats. Leash law: Not required for cats. TNR allowed: Through approved partners. Impound authority: MACC field officers.

Failure to vaccinate or register can result in Metro civil penalties starting around $50 per offense, plus impound and reclaim fees if MACC takes the animal into custody.

Nashville is more permissive than most cities when it comes to cat rules. That said, there are still limits.

Microchipping

Metro Nashville encourages microchipping for dogs and cats and offers low-cost chip clinics through MACC. While microchipping is not strictly mandated, registration tags and rabies tags are required for dogs in Davidson County.

Key details: Microchip mandatory: Encouraged, not required. Required for adoption: Through MACC shelter. Dog registration: Required with rabies tag. Update registry: After every move.

No specific microchip fines, but unregistered dogs can incur a Title 5 civil penalty around $50, plus daily impound fees if the animal cannot be matched to an owner quickly.

The rules around microchipping in Nashville lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Coyote Management

Coyotes are common in Nashville greenways and suburban yards. TWRA manages take rules statewide, while Metro emphasizes hazing, secured trash, and not feeding pets outdoors. Lethal removal in residential areas is tightly limited.

Key details: Discharge ban: No firearms in Metro. Trapping permit: TWRA required. Recommended response: Hazing and secured trash. MACC role: Sick or injured coyotes.

Illegally discharging a firearm to remove a coyote inside Metro can result in misdemeanor charges. Untagged or unlicensed trapping carries TWRA fines up to $500 and possible equipment forfeiture.

Pet Limits

Metro Title 5 limits the number of dogs and cats a household may keep without a kennel permit. Standard residential lots typically cap at a small number of each species, with kennel licensing required for higher counts.

Key details: Default limit: Set in Metro Title 5. Above limit: Kennel license required. Foster exception: Through approved rescues. HOA may add limits: Stricter than Metro.

Exceeding pet limits without a kennel license can result in MACC civil penalties starting around $50 per animal, plus orders to relocate animals and per-day fines if not corrected.

Beekeeping

Nashville permits backyard beekeeping under Chapter 8.12 (Miscellaneous Animal Control Regulations) and the Metro Zoning Code. Hives must be setback from property lines and neighbors must be considered. Registration with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture is required by state law.

Key details: Status: Permitted in Nashville. State Registration: Required with Tennessee Dept. of Agriculture. Flyway Barrier: 6-ft fence or hedge required when hives within 10 ft of property line. Code: Metro Code Ch. 8.12; Metro Zoning Code. Resources: Nashville Area Beekeeping Association.

Nuisance colony complaints handled by Metro Codes. State TDA registration violations enforceable by TDA inspectors.

Exotic Pets

Nashville regulates exotic and dangerous animals under Metro Code Chapter 10.28 (Control of Exotic/Venomous Animals). Many wild and exotic species are prohibited as pets. Tennessee state law also restricts Class I and II wildlife.

Key details: Code: Metro Code Ch. 10.28; TWRA Wildlife Regulations. Prohibited Species: Large cats, bears, wolves, venomous reptiles, primates (and others). State Classification: Class I (prohibited), Class II (permit required), Class III (may be allowed). Enforcement: Metro Animal Care and Control + TWRA. Penalties: Animal confiscation; fines; possible criminal charges.

Possession of prohibited species: animal confiscation + fines + potential criminal charges. TWRA permit violations separately enforced.

This is one of the stricter rules in Nashville's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Dog Leash Laws

Nashville requires physical control of all dogs off the owner's property under Metro Code Title 8. Dogs running at large is a civil infraction with a $50 fine per animal. Repeat violations can result in required fencing and impoundment.

Key details: Code: Metro Code Ch. 8.04. Standard: Physical control required off property (leash or equivalent). Fine: $50 per animal (civil infraction). 3rd Violation: Owner must install fence. 5th Violation: Animal impounded by Metro Animal Care and Control.

$50 per animal per violation. 3rd violation: must install fence. 5th violation: animal impounded.

Breed Restrictions

Nashville has no breed-specific legislation. Metro Code Chapter 8.08 uses a breed-neutral dangerous dog ordinance with two tiers based on behavior, not breed.

Key details: Code: Metro Code Ch. 8.08 (Vicious Dogs). BSL Status: No breed-specific legislation. Level 1 Dangerous Dog: 2+ bites/minor injuries in 2 years; confinement/training required. State Preemption: TCA §44-8-413 prohibits breed bans statewide. Enforcement: Metro Animal Care and Control (MACC).

Dangerous dog designation triggers owner obligations (confinement, microchip, training). Non-compliance: further enforcement.

Nashville is more permissive than most cities when it comes to breed restrictions. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Nashville gives residents more room on animal ordinances. 3 of the 11 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

Keep in mind that Nashville can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.