Skip to main content

Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Tennessee (2026)

40 rules on the books across Tennessee, 15 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.

Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions

Sidewalk Repair

Who pays for sidewalk repair, the city or the property owner, including cost-sharing programs, inspection triggers, and timelines for fixing damaged sidewalks.

Chattanooga

Some Restrictions

Property owners along a Chattanooga sidewalk must keep it clean and unobstructed, and must build or repair it once the…

Read full rule →

Franklin

Some Restrictions

Franklin, Tennessee's City Charter puts the burden on the abutting property owner: build and repair the sidewalk…

Read full rule →

Hendersonville

Some Restrictions

Owners and occupants of property abutting a Hendersonville street must maintain the adjoining right-of-way, including…

Read full rule →

Jackson

Some Restrictions

In the City of Jackson, Tennessee, maintaining the sidewalk in front of a property is the abutting owner's duty under §…

Read full rule →

Kingsport

Some Restrictions

In the City of Kingsport, Tennessee, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen can require the owner of any lot fronting a public…

Read full rule →

Knoxville

Some Restrictions

Knoxville puts the duty to maintain and repair sidewalks and driveways on the abutting property owner, who can face a…

Read full rule →

Memphis

Some Restrictions

Every Memphis property owner abutting a public street must build, repair and keep clean the sidewalk adjacent to their…

Read full rule →

Murfreesboro

Some Restrictions

Murfreesboro places the duty to repair a deteriorated sidewalk on the abutting lot owner once the City Manager gives…

Read full rule →

Nashville

Some Restrictions

In Nashville's urban services district, property owners must keep the sidewalk along their property free of dangerous…

Read full rule →

Rutherford County

Some Restrictions

In unincorporated Rutherford County, the lot owner or the neighborhood Home Owners Association owns every foot of…

Read full rule →

Shelby County

Some Restrictions

In unincorporated Shelby County, the owner of any lot abutting a public street must keep the adjacent sidewalk clean…

Read full rule →

Smyrna

Some Restrictions

In the Town of Smyrna, Tennessee, § 16-109 requires occupants of property abutting a sidewalk to keep it clean and…

Read full rule →

Obstruction Rules

What you can and cannot place on sidewalks, including newspaper boxes, planters, sandwich boards, trash cans, and minimum pedestrian clearance widths.

Knoxville

Significant Restrictions

Placing rocks, lumber, rubbish, or other material on a Knoxville public street or sidewalk is a misdemeanor unless a…

Read full rule →

Murfreesboro

Significant Restrictions

Murfreesboro bans obstructing any street, sidewalk, or public place in a way that interrupts free public use or blocks…

Read full rule →

Chattanooga

Some Restrictions

Chattanooga City Code § 32-32 bars anyone from blocking a street or sidewalk with boxes, barrels, machinery or farm…

Read full rule →

Clarksville

Some Restrictions

Clarksville bans placing goods, wares, merchandise or any obstruction on a street, sidewalk, alley or public way…

Read full rule →

Collierville

Some Restrictions

Section 92.12 makes it unlawful in the Town of Collierville to ride, lead or tie an animal, or ride, push, pull or…

Read full rule →

Franklin

Some Restrictions

Franklin prohibits storing, selling, or displaying goods on public streets, alleys, or sidewalks and bars soliciting…

Read full rule →

Hendersonville

Some Restrictions

Hendersonville bans using any public street, alley, sidewalk, or right-of-way to store, sell, or exhibit goods, wares…

Read full rule →

Jackson

Some Restrictions

In the City of Jackson, Tennessee, no one may block a sidewalk, alley, street or other public property with…

Read full rule →

Kingsport

Some Restrictions

In the City of Kingsport, Tennessee, it is an offense to obstruct a street, sidewalk or any other place used for the…

Read full rule →

Memphis

Some Restrictions

Memphis Code Section 12-24-2 makes it a misdemeanor to obstruct any sidewalk or walkway with boxes, barrels or other…

Read full rule →

Nashville

Some Restrictions

Metro Nashville bans leaving rocks, lumber, abandoned property or other obstructions on any sidewalk, street or public…

Read full rule →

Rutherford County

Some Restrictions

New sidewalks built in unincorporated Rutherford County subdivisions must stay clear of utility poles, fire hydrants…

Read full rule →

Shelby County

Some Restrictions

Blocking a public sidewalk or walkway in unincorporated Shelby County with boxes, barrels or anything else that…

Read full rule →

Smyrna

Some Restrictions

In the Town of Smyrna, Tennessee, Municipal Code § 16-101 bars any person from using or occupying a public street…

Read full rule →

Spring Hill

Some Restrictions

Section 16-101 of the Spring Hill Municipal Code bars anyone in the City of Spring Hill, Tennessee from using or…

Read full rule →

Encroachment Permits

Permits required when construction, landscaping, or other activities temporarily or permanently encroach on public sidewalks or rights-of-way.

Chattanooga

Significant Restrictions

Signs, posts, or awnings over a Chattanooga sidewalk need a Transportation Department permit first, and placement on…

Read full rule →

Kingsport

Significant Restrictions

In the City of Kingsport, Tennessee, placing tables and chairs on the public right-of-way requires a sidewalk cafe…

Read full rule →

Murfreesboro

Significant Restrictions

Digging, excavating, or otherwise disturbing sidewalks, curbs, or other city right-of-way in Murfreesboro requires a…

Read full rule →

Clarksville

Some Restrictions

In Clarksville's central business district, a sign, awning, or other projection cannot hang over a public street or…

Read full rule →

Collierville

Some Restrictions

In the Town of Collierville, no one may excavate, cut or tunnel in a right of way, street, alley or public place…

Read full rule →

Franklin

Some Restrictions

Franklin requires a permit before occupying or obstructing any street, alley, sidewalk, or right-of-way with equipment…

Read full rule →

Hendersonville

Some Restrictions

Anyone digging, tunneling, or cutting a driveway across a curb in a Hendersonville street or sidewalk must first get a…

Read full rule →

Jackson

Some Restrictions

In the City of Jackson, Tennessee, opening or boring any city street, sidewalk or alley requires a permit from the city…

Read full rule →

Knoxville

Some Restrictions

Knoxville requires a right-of-way permit and, where traffic is affected, a temporary traffic control permit before…

Read full rule →

Memphis

Some Restrictions

Memphis requires a permit from the Division of Engineering before placing a street closure, easement, or encroachment…

Read full rule →

Nashville

Some Restrictions

Nashville requires a permit before installing any aerial cable, canopy, sign, or other structure that crosses over or…

Read full rule →

Shelby County

Some Restrictions

Anyone doing work on a sidewalk, driveway apron, or the street area from the curb to the property line in…

Read full rule →

Smyrna

Some Restrictions

In the Town of Smyrna, Tennessee, § 16-210 requires a permit from the Director of Public Works to cut, build, or…

Read full rule →