Signs
Sign Ordinance
To access the Chattanooga Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 3: Advertising, click here.
Sign Applications
Board of Sign Appeals
If your sign does not comply with the rules of Chapter 3 in the Chattanooga Zoning Ordinance, you may request a variance and have your case heard by the Board of Sign Appeals (BOSA). Complete submissions (Application, site plan, rendering, and payment) are to be made to submit through the Online Portal. The cost to apply for a sign variance is $150.00. You can find the meeting dates and deadlines here.
Form-Based Zoning Signs
If your project is located in the Form-Based Zoning area of downtown Chattanooga, please be sure to read the sign portion of the Form-Based Code zoning. You can access this zoning code here. If you are not sure if your proposed sign is located in the FBC area, please follow these directions to determine your zoning.
If your sign does not comply with the rules of the Form-Based Code, you may request a variance from the Form-Based Code Committee. You may find the Major Modification Application, meeting dates, and deadlines here.
What do I do if my sign or awning projects in the Right of Way (ROW)?
If your sign projects into the Right of Way you will need a Temporary Use Permit that is administered by CDOT. You will need to turn the Temporary Use Application into Shannon Mikus in the City of Chattanooga's Transporation Department. His email address is smikus@chattanooga.gov
Who Performs Sign Installation Inspections?
If your sign needs an electrical inspection you will need to request an inspection through the Online Portal. The permit number is required when scheduling an inspection.
Depending on the sign type, the footer for a sign may be inspected by a zoning inspector or building inspector. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Contact Information for the Zoning Office
Land Development Office
1250 Market Street, Suite 1000
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
Phone: (423) 643-5800
Main Fax: (423) 643-5848
Office hours of operation are Monday through Friday (excluding Holidays), from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. including the lunch hour. Inspection hours of operation are Monday through Friday (excluding Holidays), from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Permit payments are not accepted for processing after 3:30 p.m. We accept checks, money orders, and credit cards (Visa, Discover, American Express, and MasterCard Only). We do not accept cash.
Staff return calls as quickly as possible. For faster responses, please be sure to email staff.
Community Development
101 E. 11th Street
Suite 200 (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Land Development Office
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 1000
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-5800
Neighborhood Services
101 E. 11th Street (map)
Suite 200
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Outdoor Chattanooga
Coolidge Park
200 River Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 643-6888
Public Art Chattanooga
1102 South Watkins Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: (423) 643-6886
Regional Planning Agency
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 2000
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
(423) 643-5900
Community Development
101 E. 11th Street
Suite 200 (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Land Development Office
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 1000
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-5800
Neighborhood Services
101 E. 11th Street (map)
Suite 200
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Outdoor Chattanooga
Coolidge Park
200 River Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 643-6888
Public Art Chattanooga
1102 South Watkins Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: (423) 643-6886
Regional Planning Agency
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 2000
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
(423) 643-5900
Community Development
101 E. 11th Street
Suite 200 (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Land Development Office
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 1000
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-5800
Neighborhood Services
101 E. 11th Street (map)
Suite 200
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Outdoor Chattanooga
Coolidge Park
200 River Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 643-6888
Public Art Chattanooga
1102 South Watkins Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: (423) 643-6886
Regional Planning Agency
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 2000
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
(423) 643-5900
Community Development
101 E. 11th Street
Suite 200 (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Land Development Office
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 1000
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-5800
Neighborhood Services
101 E. 11th Street (map)
Suite 200
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Outdoor Chattanooga
Coolidge Park
200 River Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 643-6888
Public Art Chattanooga
1102 South Watkins Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: (423) 643-6886
Regional Planning Agency
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 2000
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
(423) 643-5900
Community Development
101 E. 11th Street
Suite 200 (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Land Development Office
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 1000
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-5800
Neighborhood Services
101 E. 11th Street (map)
Suite 200
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Outdoor Chattanooga
Coolidge Park
200 River Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 643-6888
Public Art Chattanooga
1102 South Watkins Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: (423) 643-6886
Regional Planning Agency
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 2000
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
(423) 643-5900
Community Development
101 E. 11th Street
Suite 200 (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Land Development Office
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 1000
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-5800
Neighborhood Services
101 E. 11th Street (map)
Suite 200
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Outdoor Chattanooga
Coolidge Park
200 River Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 643-6888
Public Art Chattanooga
1102 South Watkins Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: (423) 643-6886
Regional Planning Agency
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 2000
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
(423) 643-5900
Community Development
101 E. 11th Street
Suite 200 (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Land Development Office
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 1000
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-5800
Neighborhood Services
101 E. 11th Street (map)
Suite 200
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Outdoor Chattanooga
Coolidge Park
200 River Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 643-6888
Public Art Chattanooga
1102 South Watkins Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: (423) 643-6886
Regional Planning Agency
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 2000
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
(423) 643-5900
Community Development
101 E. 11th Street
Suite 200 (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Land Development Office
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 1000
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-5800
Neighborhood Services
101 E. 11th Street (map)
Suite 200
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Outdoor Chattanooga
Coolidge Park
200 River Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 643-6888
Public Art Chattanooga
1102 South Watkins Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: (423) 643-6886
Regional Planning Agency
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 2000
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
(423) 643-5900
Community Development
101 E. 11th Street
Suite 200 (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Land Development Office
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 1000
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-5800
Neighborhood Services
101 E. 11th Street (map)
Suite 200
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Outdoor Chattanooga
Coolidge Park
200 River Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 643-6888
Public Art Chattanooga
1102 South Watkins Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: (423) 643-6886
Regional Planning Agency
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 2000
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
(423) 643-5900
Community Development
101 E. 11th Street
Suite 200 (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Land Development Office
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 1000
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-5800
Neighborhood Services
101 E. 11th Street (map)
Suite 200
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Outdoor Chattanooga
Coolidge Park
200 River Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 643-6888
Public Art Chattanooga
1102 South Watkins Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: (423) 643-6886
Regional Planning Agency
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 2000
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
(423) 643-5900
Community Development
101 E. 11th Street
Suite 200 (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Land Development Office
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 1000
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-5800
Neighborhood Services
101 E. 11th Street (map)
Suite 200
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Outdoor Chattanooga
Coolidge Park
200 River Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 643-6888
Public Art Chattanooga
1102 South Watkins Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: (423) 643-6886
Regional Planning Agency
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 2000
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
(423) 643-5900
Community Development
101 E. 11th Street
Suite 200 (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Land Development Office
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 1000
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-5800
Neighborhood Services
101 E. 11th Street (map)
Suite 200
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 643-7300
Outdoor Chattanooga
Coolidge Park
200 River Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 643-6888
Public Art Chattanooga
1102 South Watkins Street (map)
Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: (423) 643-6886
Regional Planning Agency
Development Resource Center
1250 Market Street (map)
Suite 2000
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
(423) 643-5900
Director
(423) 643-5800
Building Official
(423) 643-5800
Inspection/Inspectors
(423) 643-5800
Adopted Codes
Boards
Building Inspection Services
Building - Commercial
Building - Residential
Electrical
Form Based Zoning
Forms and Permits
Gas/Mechanical/Plumbing Permits
Historic Planning and Zoning
Inspection Services
Land Disturbing
Landscaping
Plans review
Signs
Short-term Vacation Rental
Solar Panels
Stormwater Development Inspection Services
Subdivision Land Management Services
Street Cuts
Trade Licensing
Zoning