Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Tennessee (2026)
5 rules on the books across Tennessee, 5 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Sit-Lie Rules
Citywide rules against sitting or lying on public sidewalks during specified daytime hours in commercial corridors, including how courts have constrained enforcement.
Knoxville
Significant RestrictionsKnoxville bans sitting or lying on public sidewalks from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Central Business Improvement District…
Read full rule →Memphis
Significant RestrictionsMemphis makes it a misdemeanor to panhandle while seated on or leaning against a public bench, planter, monument, or…
Read full rule →Chattanooga
Some RestrictionsChattanooga makes it unlawful to block a sidewalk, street, or other public passageway so that passage becomes…
Read full rule →Nashville
Light RestrictionsMetro Nashville has no sit-lie ordinance banning people from simply sitting or lying on a sidewalk. Metropolitan Code §…
Read full rule →Encampment Sanitation
How cities provide trash, hygiene, and bulky-item pickup at encampments, the CARE/CARE+ cleanups in LA, and the storage-of-belongings rules from Lavan v. LA.