What Chattanooga Regulates: A Complete Ordinance Overview

Chattanooga is a mid-sized city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, with about 182000 residents. Like most cities its size, it has a set of local rules that may differ significantly from neighboring municipalities. Here is an overview of 81 ordinances across 27 categories that affect daily life in Chattanooga.

Animal Ordinances

Dog Leash Laws: Chattanooga requires dogs to be on a leash or under direct control when off the owner's property. McKamey Animal Center enforces animal control regulations..

Also covered: Microchipping (permissive), Mandatory Spay/Neuter (permissive), Breed Restrictions (permissive). See the full animal ordinances guide for Chattanooga for details.

Landscaping Rules

Weed Ordinances: Chattanooga enforces weed abatement under TN Code §6-54-113. Overgrown properties subject to city abatement at owner’s expense..

Also covered: Grass Height Limits (moderate), Tree Trimming (moderate), Water Restrictions (moderate). See the full landscaping rules guide for Chattanooga for details.

Curfew Laws

Juvenile Curfew: Chattanooga enforces a juvenile curfew for minors under 17. Nighttime curfew hours typically run 11 PM to 6 AM on school nights with later weekend hours..

Homelessness & Encampment Rules

Encampment Sanitation: Tennessee HB 1320 (2024) makes camping on local public property a Class C misdemeanor and on state property a Class E felony, sharply restricting tolerated encampments in Chattanooga..

Cannabis Regulations

Dispensary Zoning: Tennessee has not legalized medical or recreational cannabis, so Chattanooga has no dispensary licensing scheme. Storefronts selling marijuana products are illegal statewide; only narrow CBD-hemp retail under the Tennessee Hemp Act is permitted at retailers..

Also covered: Personal Cultivation Limits (strict). See the full cannabis regulations guide for Chattanooga for details.

Rental Property Rules

Rent Control: Tennessee state law preempts all local rent control. Chattanooga cannot cap rents, regulate rent increases, or impose rent stabilization on private housing under TCA 66-35-101..

Also covered: Rental Registration (moderate). See the full rental property rules guide for Chattanooga for details.

Single-Use Items

Plastic Bag Rules: Chattanooga cannot ban or tax single-use plastic shopping bags. Tennessee Code 68-211-1101 preempts local restrictions on auxiliary containers, including bags, cups, bottles, and food packaging.

Also covered: Polystyrene Foam Rules (permissive). See the full single-use items guide for Chattanooga for details.

Environmental Rules

Stormwater Management: Chattanooga enforces stormwater controls under the Water Quality Ordinance to protect the Tennessee River and tributaries. New construction over one acre triggers permit, BMP, and post-construction runoff treatment requirements citywide..

Also covered: Erosion Control (strict), Grading & Drainage (moderate), Flood Zones (strict). See the full environmental rules guide for Chattanooga for details.

Zoning Overlays & Bonuses

Hillside Overlay Rules: Chattanooga's Hillside and Ridgeline Protection Overlay limits density, height, and grading on slopes above 15 percent near Lookout Mountain, Signal Mountain, and Missionary Ridge. The overlay protects scenic ridgelines visible from the Riverwalk and downtown..

Water Use Rules

Leak Reporting Duty: Chattanooga residents served by Tennessee American Water can request leak adjustments after repairing concealed underground leaks. Customers must report leaks promptly, document repairs, and submit a leak adjustment form within specified billing windows..

Business Licensing & Operations

Secondhand Dealers: Chattanooga pawnshops, precious-metal buyers, and secondhand goods dealers must hold a city license, register transactions in the LeadsOnline reporting system used by CPD, and hold purchased items for a state-mandated period before resale to deter trafficking in stolen property..

Also covered: Tobacco Retail License (moderate). See the full business licensing & operations guide for Chattanooga for details.

Short-Term Rentals

Primary-Residence-Only Rule: Chattanooga divides short-term rentals into Type 1 (owner-occupied primary residence) and Type 2 (non-primary). Type 1 is permitted broadly in residential zones; Type 2 faces stricter zoning limits citywide under Chapter 38..

Also covered: Occupancy Limits (moderate), Insurance Requirements (moderate), Permit Requirements (strict). See the full short-term rentals guide for Chattanooga for details.

Tree Protection

Tree Removal Permits: Chattanooga regulates removal of protected trees on commercial, multi-family, and developed lots through its Tree Ordinance. Owners must obtain a tree removal permit or face replacement requirements measured in inches of trunk caliper..

Fire Regulations

Brush Clearance: Chattanooga regulates vegetation through Chapter 21 (Property Maintenance), Article IV (Exterior Requirements), which requires that grass, underbrush, and weeds be maintained at less than 10 inches in height. Outdoor burning of brush requires a permit from the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau, available October 1 through April 30 only.

Also covered: Wildfire Zones (moderate), Propane Storage (moderate), Fireworks (moderate). See the full fire regulations guide for Chattanooga for details.

Hotels & Lodging

Transient Occupancy Tax: Hotel guests in Chattanooga pay roughly 16 percent in combined lodging taxes. The breakdown is 4 percent city occupancy tax, 5 percent Hamilton County occupancy tax, and 7 percent Tennessee state sales tax, plus local option sales tax on the room rate..

Public Conduct

Outdoor Smoking Restrictions: Chattanooga prohibits smoking in city parks, the Tennessee Riverwalk, and Ross's Landing under Public Works rules. Tennessee's Non-Smoker Protection Act bans smoking inside most workplaces and bars age 21 and under, with vaping treated similarly in covered spaces..

Also covered: Loud Party Ordinance (moderate). See the full public conduct guide for Chattanooga for details.

Building Safety

Fire Sprinkler Requirements: Chattanooga enforces the Tennessee-adopted International Building and Fire Codes for sprinklers, requiring NFPA 13 systems in most new commercial, multifamily, and assembly buildings, with annual inspection by licensed contractors..

Also covered: Lead Paint (moderate). See the full building safety guide for Chattanooga for details.

Public Health Rules

Rodent Control: Chattanooga property owners must keep premises free of rodent harborage. Hamilton County Health Department investigates rat complaints, and city code enforcement can cite owners whose junk, overgrowth, or stored garbage attracts rodents to neighboring properties..

Also covered: Restaurant Grade Cards (moderate). See the full public health rules guide for Chattanooga for details.

Firearms

Concealed Carry: Tennessee allows adults 18 and older to carry a loaded handgun openly or concealed without a permit under HB 600 and earlier 2021 legislation. Chattanooga cannot impose stricter local rules due to firearms preemption under TCA 39-17-1314..

Accessory Structures

Carport Rules: Chattanooga regulates carports as accessory structures under Chapter 38 (Zoning) of the City Code, with building permits administered under Chapter 10 (Buildings). The Land Development Office requires zoning clearance plus a building permit for both attached and detached carports.

Also covered: Tiny Homes (moderate), ADU Owner Occupancy (moderate), ADU Permits (moderate). See the full accessory structures guide for Chattanooga for details.

Holiday Decorations

Inflatable Display Rules: Chattanooga has no specific City Code ordinance regulating inflatable holiday displays on private residential property. Inflatables must remain within the property line and not encroach on sidewalks or public ways.

Also covered: Lawn Ornament Rules (permissive), Holiday Light Rules (permissive). See the full holiday decorations guide for Chattanooga for details.

Outdoor Cooking

Outdoor Kitchen Permits: Permanent outdoor kitchens in Chattanooga require Land Development Office permits when they include gas lines, plumbing, electrical work, or structures. Built-in grills with natural gas connections require gas/mechanical permits and a Tennessee-licensed installer.

Also covered: Smoker Rules (moderate), BBQ & Propane Rules (moderate). See the full outdoor cooking guide for Chattanooga for details.

Parking Rules

Street Parking Limits: Chattanooga regulates on-street parking through its traffic code. Downtown has metered parking, and the 72-hour rule applies citywide for vehicles that must move periodically..

Also covered: Commercial Vehicle Restrictions (moderate), RV & Boat Parking (moderate), Driveway Rules (moderate). See the full parking rules guide for Chattanooga for details.

Noise Ordinances

Quiet Hours: Chattanooga prohibits unreasonably loud, disturbing, or unnecessary noise under Chapter 25 of the city code. The ordinance considers factors like time of day, zoning, and intensity of the sound..

Also covered: Construction Hours (moderate), Barking Dogs (moderate), Amplified Music & Events (moderate). See the full noise ordinances guide for Chattanooga for details.

Fence Regulations

Neighbor Fence Rules: Chattanooga requires fences to be on the property owner's land. Tennessee does not have a statutory fence-sharing requirement, so cost-sharing is voluntary..

Also covered: Height Limits (moderate), Permit Requirements (moderate). See the full fence regulations guide for Chattanooga for details.

Home Business

Signage Rules: Chattanooga prohibits or restricts business signs for home occupations in residential zones. No external evidence of the business should be visible..

Also covered: Zoning Restrictions (moderate), Customer Traffic Restrictions (moderate). See the full home business guide for Chattanooga for details.

Swimming Pools & Spas

Safety Rules: Residential pools in Chattanooga must meet safety standards including barriers, drain covers, and proper electrical systems. A building permit is required before construction..

Also covered: Above-Ground Pools (moderate), Fencing Requirements (strict). See the full swimming pools & spas guide for Chattanooga for details.

What to Do With This Information

If you are moving to Chattanooga, buying a home, or starting a project, use this as a starting point. Each category links to detailed pages with the full text, penalties, and FAQs. Verify anything time-sensitive with Chattanooga's city hall or code enforcement office.