Hendersonville's Property Maintenance: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles property maintenance a little differently. In Hendersonville, Tennessee, there are 4 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.

Property Blight

Hendersonville enforces property blight, junk, and nuisance conditions through its Zoning Enforcement program and the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), adopted effective 7/1/2025 under the City's Adopted Codes list. Common violations include high grass, litter, and inoperable vehicles on the property. Enforcement follows a citizen-complaint and city-inspection process: an initial violation letter sets a 7–60 day correction window depending on infraction type, followed by a second letter, citation, and Municipal Court hearing. The Planning Department (615-264-5316) administers code compliance; planning@hvilletn.org receives complaints.

Key details: Adopted Property Code: 2021 International Property Maintenance Code (effective 7/1/2025). Enforcement Program: City of Hendersonville Zoning Enforcement (Planning Department). Common Violations: High grass, litter, inoperable vehicles. Compliance Window: 7–60 days depending on infraction type. Process: Inspection → 1st letter → 2nd letter → citation → Municipal Court.

Initial Notice of Violation issued with a 7–60 day compliance window depending on infraction type. Failure to comply: follow-up letter, then citation, then Municipal Court hearing. For sign/right-of-way nuisances, Planning Department abates if owner does not remove within 10 days of notice; cost becomes a lien on the property until satisfied. Report: Planning Department 615-264-5316; planning@hvilletn.org.

Vacant Lot Maintenance

Hendersonville applies the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) — adopted effective 7/1/2025 — to all properties including vacant lots. IPMC Section 302.4 (Weeds) requires premises and exterior property to be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of the locally adopted height (the IPMC default is six inches, with cities commonly amending upward). Zoning Enforcement explicitly lists 'high grass' as a typical property maintenance violation. The standard 7–60 day correction window applies; failure to comply leads to follow-up notice, citation, and Municipal Court. Report to Planning Department 615-264-5316; planning@hvilletn.org.

Key details: Adopted Code: 2021 International Property Maintenance Code (effective 7/1/2025). Standard: IPMC Section 302.4 (Weeds) — applies to all premises and exterior property. Default IPMC Height: 6 inches (model code default; jurisdictions may amend). Excluded: Trees, shrubs, cultivated flowers, gardens. Common Violation Type: High grass (listed by Zoning Enforcement).

Initial Notice of Violation with 7–60 day correction window; failure to comply leads to follow-up letter, citation, and Municipal Court. For sign/ROW abatement on vacant lots, Planning Department removes after 10-day notice and assesses cost as a lien against the property. Reporting: Planning Department 615-264-5316; planning@hvilletn.org.

Trash Bin Storage

Residential trash collection in Hendersonville is provided by Waste Pro under contract to the City, coordinated by Public Works (615-822-1016). Standard service is once-a-week curbside collection. Residents MUST have their trash out for collection by 6:00 AM on their service day; failure to do so may result in a missed collection for the week. Standard curbside volume is limited to two cans (up to 96-gallon size) plus two additional bags and two bulk items. All cans must have lids and all trash must be bagged. Backdoor collection is available via medical waiver or paid add-on. Paper yard waste bags are collected by the City weekly. Holiday weeks slip collection by one day for major federal holidays.

Key details: Provider: Waste Pro (under City contract); coordinated by Public Works (615-822-1016). Service Type: Once-a-week curbside collection (Monday–Friday). Set-Out Deadline: 6:00 AM on your service day. Curbside Volume Cap: 2 cans (up to 96-gal) + 2 bags + 2 bulk items per week. Container Rule: All cans must have lids; all trash must be bagged.

Trash not out by 6:00 AM may result in a missed collection for the week. Exceeding the 2-can / 2-bag / 2-bulk-item weekly cap, using cans without lids, putting unbagged loose trash in cans, attempting to dispose of excluded items (construction debris, hazardous waste, freon appliances, motorized fuel-containing items, carpet, tires, wet paint), or blocking sidewalks/ROW with carts triggers refusal by Waste Pro and possible Zoning Enforcement action through the Planning Department (615-264-5316).

Garage Sale Rules

Hendersonville does NOT publish a separate yard-sale permit program for residents holding occasional sales of personal household items at their own home. Recurring/commercial-scale sales would trigger the Peddlers Ordinance at Municipal Code Title 9, Chapter 1 (615-822-1000 City Hall front office for a Peddlers Permit) or could require home-occupation zoning approval. Signage for yard sales falls under Chapter 13.3.2.10 (Temporary Signs) of the Zoning Ordinance: one residential temporary ground sign per lot, maximum 9 sq ft and 4 ft height, 30-day-per-calendar-year cap, located out of the public right-of-way and at least 12 feet from the edge of pavement, with property-owner permission. Off-premise signs on utility poles, ROW, fences, benches, trees, or rocks are prohibited and removed by City Staff.

Key details: Residential Yard-Sale Permit: Not required for occasional sales of personal household items. Peddlers Ordinance: Municipal Code Title 9 Chapter 1 (for recurring/commercial sales); call 615-822-1000. Yard-Sale Sign Cap: 1 per lot/road frontage; 9 sq ft max; 4 ft max height (residential). Sign Display Window: 30 days per calendar year (residential temporary ground signs). Sign Setback: Out of public ROW; at least 12 ft from edge of pavement.

Off-premise signs in the right-of-way, on utility poles, fences, benches, trees, or rocks are removed by City Staff with possible per-sign fines (10-day notice for traffic-hazard signs before Planning Department abatement and lien). Recurring/commercial yard sales conducted without the required Peddlers Permit (Title 9 Ch. 1) or home-occupation zoning approval may trigger Zoning Enforcement action (7–60 day correction window before citation).

The rules around garage sale rules in Hendersonville lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Hendersonville's property maintenance rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Hendersonville is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Hendersonville 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.