Public Conduct in Nashville, TN (2026)
6 verified public conduct rules for Nashville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Aggressive Panhandling
Metro Nashville bans aggressive panhandling, blocking, touching, or persisting after someone says no, and prohibits all panhandling near ATMs, bus stops, sidewalk cafes, and building entrances, or after dark.
Nashville Aggressive Panhandling Ordinance
Significant RestrictionsMetropolitan Code of Laws § 11.12.090
"Aggressive panhandling" means:a.To approach or speak to a person in such a manner as would cause a reasonable person to believe that the person is being threatened with:(1)Imminent bodily injury; or(2)The commission of a criminal act upon the person or another person, or upon property in the person's immediate possession;b.To persist in panhandling after the person solicited has given a negati...
Loitering Rules
Metro Nashville's code bans loitering, idling, wandering, strolling or playing in, about or on any school, college or seminary grounds or buildings without lawful business there, on foot or in a vehicle.
Nashville School-Grounds Loitering Ban
Significant RestrictionsMetropolitan Code of Laws § 11.12.050
It is unlawful for any person to loiter, idle, wander, stroll or play in, about or on any public, private or parochial school, college or seminary grounds or buildings, either on foot or in or on any vehicle, without having some lawful business therein or thereabout or in connection with such school or the employees thereof, or for any person to: A.Annoy, disturb or otherwise prevent the ord...
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Smoking is banned on the grounds of all Metro-owned playgrounds and outdoor amphitheaters seating 6,000 or more, plus non-enclosed public areas where smoke can drift into a government building.
Nashville Outdoor Public Smoking Ban
Significant RestrictionsMetropolitan Code of Laws § 10.18.020
Smoking is prohibited inside all metropolitan government buildings and on the grounds of all outdoor amphitheaters with a seating capacity of at least six thousand owned or operated by the metropolitan government. Smoking is also prohibited in all non-enclosed areas of public spaces where smoke can infiltrate into a metropolitan government building. Further, smoking is prohibited on the grounds...
Jaywalking
Metro Nashville pedestrians must yield to traffic when crossing outside a marked crosswalk, and between signalized intersections they must cross only within a marked crosswalk.
Nashville Jaywalking and Mid-Block Crossing
Some RestrictionsMetropolitan Code of Laws § 12.52.040(A), (C)
Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.B.Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.C.Between adj...
Public Marijuana Use
Metro Nashville treats possession of up to a half-ounce of marijuana as a civil offense: police issue a $50 citation instead of an arrest, with community service available in lieu of the fine.
Nashville Marijuana Possession Civil Citation
Some RestrictionsMetropolitan Code of Laws § 11.32.030
A. It is an offense for a person to knowingly possess a small amount of marijuana not in excess of one-half ounce (14.175 grams). B. A police officer shall have the authority to issue a civil citation to persons found in violation of this section. The amount of the civil penalty shall be fifty dollars for each violation. The court may, in its discretion, suspend the civil penalty imposed under ...
Public Alcohol Use
Metro Nashville bans carrying an unsealed beer, wine, or liquor container on streets, sidewalks, alleys, and parking areas, with exceptions for enclosed structures and licensed bars or restaurants.
Nashville Open Container Alcohol Law
Significant RestrictionsMetropolitan Code of Laws § 7.24.040
It shall be a violation for any person, while in or on a street, alley, sidewalk, parking lot, parking garage or other area generally open to the public, except (1) enclosed structures, (2) premises owned by scientific, religious or educational institutions, or (3) premises specifically permitted or licensed for the on-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages or beer; to have in their posses...