Roadway Streetlights
Streetlights are an effective tool in helping provide a safer night driving environment. The City of Chattanooga pays for the power and maintenance of over 26,500 streetlights.
The Electric Power Board is the contractor who provides the power and maintenance for the streetlights. The City of Chattanooga does not provide lighting on or for private property. Any request for private lighting should be directed to the Electric Power Board.
Reporting Street Light Malfunctions
Spot the Problem
Notice a faulty streetlight? Let's fix it up!
Locate the Pole Number
Look for a metal strip on the pole, about 1 1/2" wide by 9" long. That's where the number usually is. If it's missing or damaged, no worries! You can also identify the pole by mentioning the nearest address or intersection.
Report the Issue
Visit CHATT311 Website or call (423) 648-1372. Remember to provide the pole number and nearest address for quicker repairs.
Reporting the pole number is the most efficient and cost effective way to begin the repair process, as locating by any other means requires an Electric Power Board maintenance inspector to make a field check at night, which increases the time it takes to identify the pole and repair the streetlight.
Requesting a New Roadway Streetlight
To request a new streetlight for traffic safety-related concerns, you can Visit CHA311 Website.
A Transportation Department staff member will investigate the location for the request. If warranted, staff will work with the requestor to complete the petition included in the policy document below.
General Information & Installation Standards
Streetlights are always located on the public right-of-way. Decorative lighting is not available from the City of Chattanooga.
The standard streetlight installation consists of a wooden utility pole and a light emitting diode (LED) fixture on a mast arm.
Streetlight supports are standard wooden utility poles. Should your neighborhood desire the more decorative concrete or metal pole, it is available through the EPB, and will not be provided by the City of Chattanooga.
Private property on the right-of-way, such as irrigation systems, invisible fencing, electrical wiring, etc. is not the responsibility of the City of Chattanooga or EPB. We prefer such items be removed from the right-of-way. At minimum, such items should be flagged or clearly marked so they may be avoided.
Residents with underground utilities will have to make arrangements with the EPB to pay the cost of underground installations. The City of Chattanooga will assume power and maintenance cost upon completion of the installation.
The City of Chattanooga retains exclusive authority to determine need and final placement of all streetlights.
The streetlight is typically located on the side property line between lots, utilizing either an existing or new utility pole.
Request Individual Streetlight
To learn how to request an individual streetlight and learn about Chattanooga's streetlight installation standards and procedures, visit our page.
Private Lighting
Lighting for private property is not provided by the City of Chattanooga. All requests for private lighting should be directed to the Electric Power Board.
Streetlights on Abandoned Right-Of-Way
Occasionally the City of Chattanooga will abandon portions of unused or undeveloped right-of-way. When the City of Chattanooga abandons right-of-way it will relinquish any responsibility for maintenance of the right-of-way, including streetlights.