Nashville, TN Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

No person or other entity shall permit any rocks, wood, lumber, abandoned property or other obstruction whatsoever, other than a legally parked motor vehicle, to remain on the public square or any street, public right-of-way, sidewalk, or alley. Officers of the metropolitan police department, Nashville Fire Department, and Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) shall cause the prompt removal of such material or obstruction, whether by the person or entity responsible for the obstruction or otherwise.B.In addition to any penalty imposed for the violation of this section, the person or entity offending shall be liable to pay the reasonable expense of removing and disposing of such material or obstruction, together with all costs of storage and administrative costs.C.For purposes of this section, abandoned property shall mean personal property, other than a motor vehicle, that is not the property of the metropolitan government, that is not the subject of an encroachment permit or other lawful metro permit, that does not consist of utility infrastructure and that is placed in a public place or public right-of-way:i.For at least forty-eight continuous hours,ii.In a manner that interferes with vehicular or pedestrian traffic or otherwise creates a reasonable safety concern, oriii.The owner of the property is arrested for violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Sections 39-17-307 or 62-30-101 et seq., or any other applicable criminal law.