Kingsport, TN Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)

Sec. 38-21 is the section of the Litter article that says who can start a case. A peace officer who witnessed the offense on a public highway, street, road, park, recreation area or other public property can initiate prosecution, and so can any private citizen who witnessed an offense or discovered incriminating evidence, provided the citizen is willing to make the initial charge and testify. Litter, defined in Sec. 38-19, means garbage, refuse and rubbish and all other waste material, so the citizen route covers dumped trash as well as thrown litter.

Other complaints reach the City through its enforcement officers. Under Sec. 2-262 the city manager appoints special code enforcement officers, and Sec. 2-263 limits appointments to seven groups: parking control officers in the police department; fire inspectors, deputy chiefs and senior captains in the fire department; animal control officers; public works staff, not to exceed four; the Bays Mountain Park Director; code enforcement officers and coordinators in development services; and building department staff, not to exceed two. Sec. 2-264 gives each group a lane. Development services covers zoning, property maintenance, littering and nuisances. The building department covers Chapter 22. Public works covers Chapter 86 on solid waste and Chapter 102 on utilities. The fire department covers the fire prevention code, alarm systems and fire lanes. Animal control covers Chapter 14. Sec. 2-267 preserves enforcement of those sections by police officers.

For a building that looks unfit for habitation, Sec. 22-585 lets a public authority or at least five residents file a petition with the building official, who investigates and, when the investigation discloses a basis, serves the owner with a complaint and a hearing notice. Match the complaint to the lane above to reach the officer with authority over it. Each officer carries an identity card signed by the mayor under Sec. 2-265.