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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.
Chattanooga encourages microchipping for dogs and cats handled by McKamey Animal Center, and impounded animals are scanned for chips before adoption or euthanasia under City Code Chapter 4.
Chattanooga does not impose a blanket spay or neuter mandate, but McKamey Animal Center sterilizes shelter pets before adoption and offers low-cost clinics for residents under CCO Chapter 4 programs.
Chattanooga enforces weed abatement under TN Code §6-54-113. Overgrown properties subject to city abatement at owner’s expense.
Chattanooga requires property owners to maintain grass and vegetation. Overgrown vegetation exceeding approximately 12 inches triggers code enforcement action.
Property owners in Chattanooga must maintain trees to provide clearance over sidewalks and streets. The city maintains trees in the public right-of-way.
Chattanooga's water system (Tennessee American Water) may impose restrictions during drought. The Tennessee Valley region generally has adequate rainfall but drought conditions can occur.
Chattanooga does not have a comprehensive private tree removal permit requirement, but trees in the right-of-way and historic districts may be protected.
Tennessee law permits residential rainwater collection without state permits and encourages it as a water conservation measure under green building incentives.
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.
Chattanooga caps short-term rental occupancy at two adults per bedroom plus two additional, with absolute maximums tied to Type 1 versus Type 2 status under Chapter 38.
Chattanooga requires every short-term rental operator to carry liability insurance and submit proof at permit application, ensuring coverage against guest injury claims under Chapter 38.
Chattanooga regulates short-term vacation rentals (STVRs) under Article XVII of the zoning code. A two-tiered system distinguishes homestays (owner-occupied) from absentee rentals, with specific zone allowances for each.
STVR guests in Chattanooga must follow city parking regulations. Operators should provide parking information, especially in the downtown and North Shore areas where parking is limited.
STVR guests in Chattanooga must comply with the city's noise ordinance. Operators are responsible for informing guests about noise rules and responding to complaints.
Chattanooga STVR operators must collect and remit the Hamilton County hotel/motel tax and the Tennessee state sales tax on accommodation. The combined rate is approximately 12-15%.
Chattanooga sits in a moderate wildland-urban interface along Lookout Mountain, Signal Mountain, and Stringer’s Ridge, and CFD coordinates with TN Division of Forestry on burn bans and brush clearance.
Chattanooga Fire Department enforces the adopted Tennessee Fire Code on residential propane cylinder storage, capping above-ground container size and requiring setbacks from buildings, ignition sources, and property lines.
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. Tennessee does not have California-style WUI brush clearance defensible-space rules.
Tennessee allows consumer fireworks for adults 18+. Chattanooga may restrict discharge in certain areas and during designated periods. Professional displays require a permit.
Recreational fire pits in Chattanooga must be properly contained, attended at all times, and a safe distance from structures. The fire department may restrict use during dry conditions.
Chattanooga regulates outdoor burning under its fire prevention code. Open burning of trash and debris is prohibited. Controlled recreational fires may be permitted with safety precautions.
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. Setbacks are determined by the underlying residence district (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) and the structure type. Confirm specific dimensions with the Land Development Office at (423) 643-5891.
Chattanooga's accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance, adopted by City Council on May 31, 2022 and effective June 14, 2022, allows site-built ADUs up to 700 square feet on residential lots citywide. Tiny homes on wheels are explicitly excluded from the ADU definition. Tennessee has adopted the 2018 International Residential Code, which contains Appendix Q (Tiny Houses) defining a tiny house as a dwelling 400 square feet or less excluding lofts.
The Chattanooga Zoning Ordinance generally requires the principal dwelling on a lot with an ADU to be owner-occupied, treating the ADU as a subordinate accessory use. Both units cannot be rented to non-owners simultaneously without losing accessory use status. Tennessee has no statewide ADU-by-right preemption, leaving the requirement enforceable under Dillon Rule home rule authority.
Chattanooga allows Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in specified residential zoning districts under the Chattanooga Zoning Ordinance (City Code Part II, Chapter 38). ADUs require building permits from the Department of Economic and Community Development (Land Development Office) and must meet lot size, setback, and height standards. The 2024 form-based code adoption created additional ADU pathways in downtown/midtown form districts.
Chattanooga ADUs may be rented for long-term residential use only when the owner occupies the other unit on the property. Short-Term Vacation Rentals (STVRs) are regulated under the Chattanooga Zoning Ordinance with Absentee and Homestay categories; only Homestay (owner-occupied) STVRs are allowed by-right in most residential R districts, restricting STVR use of ADUs to owner-occupied properties. Absentee STVR overlay districts apply elsewhere.
Chattanooga does not impose a dedicated ADU impact fee. Standard building permit fees through the Land Development Office apply based on construction valuation. Tennessee American Water Company (water) and Chattanooga Wastewater (sewer) charge tap or capacity fees only if a new connection is required. Hamilton County does not levy school impact fees; sales tax-funded school construction applies generally.
Chattanooga's zoning code addresses accessory dwelling units. ADUs may be permitted in certain residential zones with conditions including size limits.
Converting a garage to living space in Chattanooga requires a building permit. The space must meet habitability standards and parking requirements.
Chattanooga allows storage sheds as accessory structures in residential zones. Sheds must comply with setback requirements and larger sheds need building permits.
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.
Chattanooga restricts large commercial vehicles in residential neighborhoods. Semi-trucks and heavy equipment are not permitted to park on residential streets overnight.
Chattanooga restricts RV and boat parking on residential streets. Large recreational vehicles should be stored on private property rather than public streets.
Chattanooga requires permits for new driveway connections to public streets. Driveways must meet city engineering standards for width, grade, and materials.
Tennessee Code Title 55 Chapter 16 governs abandoned vehicles statewide, defining when vehicles may be towed, requiring notice to owners, and setting redemption rights that apply uniformly across all Tennessee municipalities.
Tennessee statutes regulate electric vehicle charging infrastructure, parking enforcement at charging stalls, and IFTA-equivalent fees, with consistent statewide treatment of public charging access.
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.
Chattanooga regulates construction noise under its general noise ordinance. Construction near residential areas should occur during standard daytime hours to avoid disturbing residents.
Chattanooga addresses barking dogs under its noise and animal control ordinances. Dogs that bark persistently and disturb neighbors may be declared a nuisance.
Chattanooga regulates amplified music under the general noise ordinance. Sound amplification permits available for events. TN Code §39-17-305 applies.
Aircraft noise in Tennessee is governed by federal law under FAA authority. Neither the state nor municipalities may regulate flight operations, altitude, or in-flight noise emissions.
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.
Chattanooga's zoning code (Chapter 38) regulates fence heights. Front yard fences are typically limited to 4 feet, while side and rear yard fences may be up to 6 feet in residential districts.
Chattanooga may require permits for certain fence installations. Standard fences under 6 feet typically do not need a building permit but must meet zoning requirements.
Tennessee adopts the International Residential Code, which mandates four-foot barriers around residential pools statewide. Local jurisdictions may add stricter rules but cannot weaken the state minimum.
Chattanooga prohibits or restricts business signs for home occupations in residential zones. No external evidence of the business should be visible.
Chattanooga's zoning code (Chapter 38) allows home occupations in residential zones. The business must be secondary to residential use and maintain neighborhood character.
Chattanooga limits customer traffic for home occupations. Businesses generating significant visitor traffic need commercial zoning.
Tennessee's Domestic Kitchen statute permits home production of non-potentially-hazardous foods for direct sale, with statewide labeling and sales channel rules that local governments cannot override through zoning bans.
Tennessee Department of Human Services licenses family child care homes statewide, and local zoning cannot prohibit small home daycares serving up to seven children when state licensing standards are met.
Residential pools in Chattanooga must meet safety standards including barriers, drain covers, and proper electrical systems. A building permit is required before construction.
Above-ground pools in Chattanooga must meet the same barrier requirements as in-ground pools. Pool walls 48 inches or taller with lockable access may serve as part of the barrier.
Chattanooga requires swimming pools to be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high with a self-closing, self-latching gate, per the adopted building code.
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.
Growing marijuana plants at home is illegal in Chattanooga because Tennessee law treats cultivation as a felony. Even one plant exposes residents to criminal charges. Hemp cultivation requires a state license and only applies to under-0.3-percent-THC varieties.
Tennessee prohibits all marijuana cultivation, possession, and personal use under Tenn. Code Title 39 Chapter 17, leaving no authority for municipalities to legalize home growing.
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.
Chattanooga relies on its Property Maintenance Code and complaint-driven inspections for rental units, with no citywide proactive registration program separate from short-term-rental permits.
Tennessee follows the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act statewide and does not require just cause for ending a tenancy after lease term expiration.
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. Voluntary retailer programs are the only available approach citywide.
Chattanooga cannot ban polystyrene foam takeout containers. Tennessee Code 68-211-1101 preempts local container regulations, so foam clamshells and cups remain legal. Restaurants choose container types based on cost and customer preference, not city rules.
Tennessee preempts local plastic straw bans through the auxiliary container definition in T.C.A. 7-86-103, leaving straw distribution unregulated at the municipal level.
Construction on Chattanooga ridgelines and Lookout Mountain foothills must install silt fence, stabilized entrances, and inlet protection before clearing. The Land Development Office inspects sites weekly and after every half-inch rainfall event.
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.
Any cut or fill exceeding limits set in the Chattanooga Land Development regulations requires a grading permit. Drainage plans must show flow paths, easements, and protection of downstream Tennessee River tributaries.
Chattanooga participates in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program. The city faces flood risk from the Tennessee River, Chickamauga Creek, and tributaries running through its valleys.
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.
Chattanooga tobacco and vape retailers must hold a TN Department of Revenue tobacco license plus a city business license. Sales to anyone under 21 violate state law TCA 39-17-1504, with ID verification required for buyers appearing under 30.
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.
Chattanooga police can issue citations for loud parties that disturb neighbors, especially after the 11pm residential quiet hour. Repeat calls to the same downtown or Northshore address can escalate to property-owner notice and disorderly conduct charges for hosts.
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.
Pre-1978 Chattanooga homes are subject to federal lead paint disclosure under the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act, and renovations follow EPA RRP rules administered through Tennessee.
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.
Restaurants in Chattanooga are inspected and scored by the Hamilton County Health Department under Tennessee Department of Health rules. Scores must be posted publicly inside the establishment, and failing scores trigger reinspection or suspension of the food permit.
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.
Tennessee law preempts virtually all local regulation of firearms, ammunition, and components, reserving authority exclusively to the state legislature under T.C.A. 39-17-1314.
Open carry of handguns is lawful in Tennessee under permitless carry, but rifles and shotguns are subject to general unlawful-carry rules in T.C.A. 39-17-1307.
Tennessee allows eligible adults to carry handguns openly or concealed in private motor vehicles without a permit under T.C.A. 39-17-1351 and 39-17-1307, preempting stricter local 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. HOAs commonly restrict inflatables through bylaws. Historic overlay districts may discourage prominent front-yard displays under design standards.
Chattanooga has no general City Code ordinance restricting lawn ornaments, garden statues, or yard decorations on private residential property. Items must remain within the property line and may not encroach on sidewalks. Historic Zoning overlay districts may review prominent permanent installations. HOAs and condominium associations commonly restrict yard ornaments through bylaws.
Chattanooga has no dedicated ordinance regulating residential holiday lighting. General electrical safety, sign, and nuisance rules apply. Chattanooga Historic Zoning Commission overlay districts may restrict permanently mounted visible lighting on historic facades. HOAs and condominium associations frequently impose seasonal display rules through bylaws.
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. Outdoor kitchen structures must meet zoning setbacks under the Chattanooga Zoning Ordinance and may need Historic Zoning Commission Certificate of Appropriateness in historic overlay districts.
Chattanooga treats smokers and solid-fuel cooking devices under International Fire Code Section 308 as adopted by City Code Chapter 10. Use on combustible balconies of multi-family buildings is prohibited without automatic sprinklers. Single-family use is unrestricted but should follow NFPA clearance guidance. The Chattanooga Fire Marshal enforces fire safety; no specific permits are needed for residential smokers.
Chattanooga follows the International Fire Code Section 308 as adopted by the City of Chattanooga Fire Prevention Bureau. Use of propane grills and open-flame cooking devices on combustible balconies of multi-family buildings is prohibited unless the building is sprinklered throughout. Single-family homes face no propane grill restrictions beyond NFPA setback guidance. The Chattanooga Fire Marshal enforces these rules.
Commercial drone pilots in Tennessee must comply with FAA Part 107 nationwide and adhere to state-specific privacy, surveillance, and trespass statutes that preempt most municipal restrictions.
Tennessee preempts most local drone regulation under Tenn. Code 39-13-902 and 39-13-903, restricting cities to limited authority while state law and FAA rules govern recreational unmanned aircraft operations.
Tennessee prohibits local governments from setting minimum wages above the federal floor under T.C.A. 50-2-112, reserving wage authority exclusively to the state.
Tennessee bars local governments from mandating paid sick or family leave on private employers under T.C.A. 50-2-112, leaving leave decisions to employer discretion.
Tennessee preempts local predictive scheduling and fair workweek ordinances under T.C.A. 50-2-112, preventing cities from regulating private employer scheduling practices.
Tennessee requires private employers with 35 or more employees to use the federal E-Verify program to confirm work authorization under T.C.A. 50-1-703.
Tennessee bans sanctuary policies statewide under T.C.A. 7-68-101 and following, requiring local governments to cooperate with federal immigration authorities or lose state funding.
Tennessee limits local zoning interference with bona fide farm operations under T.C.A. 13-7-114 and Right to Farm protections in T.C.A. 43-26-103, preserving rural land use rights.
The Tennessee Right to Farm Act under T.C.A. 43-26-103 protects established farms from nuisance suits when operations existed for at least one year before the complaint.
Tennessee's solar access law in T.C.A. 66-9-205 voids HOA covenants that effectively prohibit residential solar collectors but allows reasonable aesthetic restrictions statewide.
Tennessee requires electrical permits for residential solar PV installations through the State Fire Marshal in jurisdictions without a local electrical inspector, applying uniformly statewide.
Tennessee enforces solicitation refusal at private residences through trespass law, allowing posted no-soliciting signs to create criminal liability for non-compliant door-to-door visitors.
Tennessee's Home Solicitation Sales Act regulates door-to-door sellers statewide with disclosure, contract, and three-day cancellation rules that apply alongside any local permit requirements.
Tennessee prohibits the sale of tobacco, hemp, and vapor products to anyone under 21 under T.C.A. 39-17-1504, aligned with the federal Tobacco 21 standard adopted in 2019.
Tennessee does not impose a statewide flavor ban on tobacco or vape products, and local flavor bans are generally preempted by uniform state licensing under Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 15.
Tennessee regulates vapor product retailers under T.C.A. 39-17-1504 and related statutes, requiring age verification, restricting youth access, and prohibiting sales to those under 21.