Chattanooga, TN Building Safety: Door Locking Hardware (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Chattanooga City Code § 21-128(o)(1)
- Lock type
- Deadbolt, 1-inch min. throw
- Applies to
- Rented dwelling/rooming/housekeeping units
- Sliding bolts
- Not acceptable
- Enforcer
- Chattanooga Code Official
Summary
Chattanooga requires every rental unit's entry doors to have a deadbolt with a one-inch throw, operable without a key from inside: sliding bolts don't qualify.
Doors providing access to a dwelling unit, rooming unit or housekeeping unit that is rented, leased or let shall be equipped with a deadbolt lock designed to be readily openable from the side from which egress is to be made without the need for keys, special knowledge or effort and shall have a minimum lock throw of one (1) inch. Such deadbolt locks shall be installed according to the manufacturer's specifications and maintained in good working order. For purposes of this section, a sliding bolt shall not be considered an acceptable deadbolt lock.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 40 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 21-128(o) of Chattanooga's Property Maintenance Code sets "structure security" standards for every dwelling, rooming, or housekeeping unit that is rented, leased, or let. Entry doors must carry a deadbolt with at least a one-inch throw that opens from inside without a key; a sliding bolt does not satisfy the requirement. The same subsection also requires window sash locks on ground-level operable windows and secure devices on basement hatchways serving rental units: all enforced by the city's Code Official under the general Chapter 21 violation process.
Violations & Fines
Missing or noncompliant deadbolts are a Property Maintenance Code violation, prosecutable in City Court with fines up to $50 per day the defect continues uncorrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What lock does Chattanooga require on rental entry doors?
Does a sliding bolt satisfy Chattanooga's rental security rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chattanooga
Compare Chattanooga to another location·View the Tennessee building safety overview
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