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Chattanooga, TN Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Duty
keep sidewalk clean, unobstructed
Repair trigger
City notice issued
Response time
10 days to start work
Non-compliance
City repairs, bills owner
Enforcer
Transportation Department

Summary

Property owners along a Chattanooga sidewalk must keep it clean and unobstructed, and must build or repair it once the City issues a notice requiring it.

Every owner or occupant of property in the city, in front of or along which there is a sidewalk, shall keep such sidewalk clean and unobstructed, except for such obstructions as are permitted by this Code or other city ordinances. Each such owner or occupant shall cause the removal at once of all accumulations of mud, filth, snow and ice and every other substance or thing which may constitute an obstruction or impediment to pedestrians, and every thing in the nature of a nuisance.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 40 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

Sec. 32-101 puts the duty to keep an abutting sidewalk clean and unobstructed, clearing mud, snow, ice, or any other nuisance, on the owner or occupant of the property in front of it. Sec. 32-102 and Sec. 32-103 extend that duty to construction and repair: owners must build a sidewalk and curb when notified, and must fix a sidewalk that's out of repair or doesn't meet City specifications. If the owner ignores a repair notice, the Transportation Department can do the work itself and bill the property owner, per Sec. 32-105.

Violations & Fines

Ignoring a repair notice for 10 days after it's posted is a separate unlawful act each day under Sec. 32-107, on top of the City's authority to do the repair and bill the owner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has to fix a broken sidewalk in front of a house in Chattanooga?
The abutting property owner, once the Transportation Department issues a repair notice. Sec. 32-103 puts the repair duty on the owner, occupant, or agent.
What happens if a Chattanooga property owner ignores a sidewalk repair notice?
After 10 days, each day of noncompliance is a separate violation, and the City can do the repair itself and bill the owner, per Secs. 32-105 and 32-107.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Chattanooga

Noise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsEncroachment PermitsSignificant RestrictionsObstruction RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions

All Chattanooga rules

Compare Chattanooga to another location·View the Tennessee sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview

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