Hendersonville, TN Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 16-101
- Adopted
- Ordinance 1970-13, May 1970
- Prohibited acts
- Storing, selling, exhibiting goods on right-of-way
- Enforcement notice
- In person or by mail, § 16-114
- Max municipal fine
- $50 per violation, § 3-302(1)(a)
- Court costs
- $175 plus state litigation taxes
Summary
Hendersonville bans using any public street, alley, sidewalk, or right-of-way to store, sell, or exhibit goods, wares, merchandise, or materials. City Code Enforcement Officers can order a violator to fix the obstruction, and citations follow if the owner ignores the notice.
16-101. - Obstructing streets, alleys, or sidewalks prohibited. No person shall use or occupy any portion of any public street, alley, sidewalk, or right-of-way for the purpose of storing, selling, or exhibiting any goods, wares, merchandise, or materials. (Ord. 1970-13, May 1970)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
" The rule traces to Ordinance 1970-13 (May 1970) and has stood unchanged since, covering everything from stacked merchandise and storage bins to sidewalk sale displays set up on the public right-of-way rather than on private property. " Enforcement runs through § 16-114, added by Ordinance 2017-4 (March 2017), which authorizes a City-designated Enforcement Officer to notify the property owner, in person or by mail, to correct a violation. The officer has discretion either to write a citation on the spot when the offense is committed or to give the owner "a reasonable time for compliance," based on the nature of the violation, before escalating.
There is no permit or registration process built into § 16-101 itself; the section is a flat prohibition, not a licensing scheme, so any encroachment onto the public right-of-way for storage or sales purposes is presumptively unlawful unless another chapter of the code (such as sign or outdoor-seating standards) separately authorizes it.
Violations & Fines
A violation is a municipal offense heard in Hendersonville City Court. Under Municipal Code § 3-302(1)(a), which caps municipal fines under the authority of Tennessee Code Annotated § 6-54-308, "municipal fines shall not exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) for each violation of an ordinance of the City of Hendersonville." Court costs of $175 under § 3-302(2)(a) and applicable state litigation taxes under Tennessee Code Annotated § 67-4-601 are added on top of the fine. Because the Enforcement Officer under § 16-114 may first issue a correction notice rather than cite immediately, most obstructions get resolved without going to court once the owner clears the sidewalk or right-of-way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Hendersonville business display merchandise on the sidewalk outside its store?
Who enforces the sidewalk obstruction rule in Hendersonville?
What is the penalty for blocking a Hendersonville sidewalk or right-of-way?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hendersonville
Compare Hendersonville to another location·View the Tennessee sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.