Nashville, TN Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Codes Administration
- How to trigger inspection
- File a complaint with the department
- Unfit-dwelling complaints
- Need 5 citizens, MDHA, or public authority
- Owner penalty for violation
- Misdemeanor, per-day separate offense
- Repeat violations
- Go directly to court, no notice
Summary
Report a suspected property-standards violation, an unsafe, unsanitary, or dilapidated building or premises, by filing a complaint with Metro's Department of Codes Administration, which can then inspect the property and issue a written notice of violation under the Property Standards Code.
Inspections shall be made: Upon a complaint being filed with the department, except that in the case of a dwelling or structure alleged to be unfit for human occupation or use, the complaint of five citizens or the MDHA is required, or any other public authority; may be made upon a request for special inspection; and, may be made upon a visual observation of a possible violation of this chapter by anyone authorized to enforce this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 53 | Charter: Republication 9).
Full Breakdown
Metro's Department of Codes Administration enforces the Property Standards Code at Metropolitan Code of Laws Title 16, Chapter 16.24, covering unsafe, unsanitary, or dilapidated buildings, structures, and premises across the metropolitan government's area of jurisdiction. An inspection can be triggered three ways: a complaint filed with the department, a request for a special inspection, or an inspector's own visual observation of a possible violation. One category is narrower: a complaint that a dwelling is unfit for human occupation requires five citizens, the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, or another public authority to file it before the director will act. If an inspection turns up a violation, the director issues a written notice of violation giving the owner reasonable time to make repairs.
Violations & Fines
Ignoring a notice of violation is a misdemeanor and a strict-liability offense; each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense. Repeat violations skip the notice step and go straight to court action.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report a property code violation in Nashville?
Can I report a building as unfit for human habitation on my own?
What happens after Codes Administration confirms a violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashville
Compare Nashville to another location·View the Tennessee code violation reporting overview
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