Chattanooga, TN Holiday Decorations: Lawn Ornament Rules (2026)

Chattanooga imposes no specific restrictions on lawn ornaments, garden statues, religious displays, or seasonal yard decorations on private residential property. Items must remain within the property line and not encroach into the public sidewalk under City Code street and sidewalk provisions. Historic Zoning overlay districts (Fort Wood, M.L. King, St. Elmo, Ferger Place, Glenwood) review property modifications under design standards; prominent permanent yard installations may require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Chattanooga Historic Zoning Commission, though typical small ornaments do not. HOAs and condo associations frequently restrict front-yard decorations, statues, and signs through master deed provisions and bylaws. Tennessee state law does not provide the same statutory protection for religious displays that some states do, so HOA restrictions on religious yard displays can generally be enforced under Tennessee's broad HOA authority if applied consistently. Free-standing structures above the accessory structure threshold or with permanent foundations become accessory structures requiring Land Development Office permits. Decorations creating safety hazards may be cited under property maintenance standards.