Public Health Rules in Nashville, TN: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Nashville or are thinking about moving there, public health rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Nashville has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of public health rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Rodent Control

Metro Nashville requires business buildings to be ratproofed and bans letting garbage or trash pile up if it could feed or shelter rats, enforced by the Health Department's chief medical director.

Key details: Business building ratproofing: Required, chief medical director enforces. Garbage/trash harborage: Unlawful if it could feed rats. Compliance deadline: At least 15 days after notice. Penalty: $50 per day, continuing offense. Satellite cities: Have their own separate codes.

Owners who miss the ratproofing deadline or occupants who don't eradicate rats within seven days are guilty of a code violation, punishable by a $50-per-day fine under the general Metro Code penalty.

Syringe Disposal

Metro Nashville requires physician's clinics, dental offices, blood banks and medical labs to separate needles from syringes, breaking them off at the hub, and seal pathological waste in labeled, restricted-access containers before collection.

Key details: Citation: Metropolitan Code of Laws § 10.20.240(B)(2). Needle handling: Break needle off at hub after use. Storage: Sealed bags in labeled, locked metal containers. Applies to: Clinics, dental offices, blood banks, labs. Penalty: Up to $50 per day (§ 10.20.090).

Violating this waste chapter, including improper sharps separation or storage, is punishable by a fine of up to $50 for each day the violation continues, enforced by Metro's environmental enforcement officers under § 10.20.090.

The Bottom Line

Nashville's public health rules 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 Nashville is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Nashville's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.