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OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County tit. 11, div. I, ch. 11.24
in effect

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.24.010 Certain state offenses declared municipal misdemeanors.

11.24.010 - Certain state offenses declared municipal misdemeanors. A. The following state offenses are declared to be municipal misdemeanors, the definition of such offenses to be the same as those contained in the state statutes: 1. Worthless checks (Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-14-121); and 2. Shoplifting or theft of goods held for sale, of value of five hundred dollars or less (Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-14-103). B. When any person is convicted of the commission of any of offenses listed in this section, he shall be punished as provided in Section 1.01.030, or, in the discretion of the metropolitan judge, may be bound over to the criminal court. (Ord. 95-1329 § 2 (part), 1995; Ord. 90-1339 § 1 (29-12), 1990; prior code § 29-1-58)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.24.020 Library property—Unauthorized use—Defacement.

11.24.020 - Library property—Unauthorized use—Defacement. No person shall take from the public library any book or other periodical or paper, map or document belonging to such library, except in accordance with the rules and regulations thereof, or, having legally borrowed the same, fail to return the same in accordance with the regulations, or write upon or otherwise deface or injure in part or in whole any property belonging to such library. (Prior code § 29-1-35)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.24.030 Defacing public or private property—Penalty.

11.24.030 - Defacing public or private property—Penalty. A. It is unlawful for any person to: 1. Wilfully damage or deface personal or real property belonging to another person; 2. Damage or deface any public, real or personal property, including but not limited to traffic signs and signals and street markers. B. In addition to the civil remedies available to persons or governments damaged in violation of this section, the metropolitan court is authorized to enforce this section by imposing a penalty, as provided in Section 1.01.030 and a fee or assessment not exceeding two hundred dollars. C. The parents or legal guardians of children under the age of twenty-one shall be legally responsible for the conduct of children under their care and charge, and shall be obligated to pay any fine, fee or assessment imposed under this section. (Ord. 95-1329 § 2 (part), 1995; prior code § 29-1-51)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.24.050 Trespassing on enclosed property—Defacing enclosure.

11.24.050 - Trespassing on enclosed property—Defacing enclosure. A. "Enclosed real estate" means real estate that is actually enclosed by a wall or fence or otherwise surrounded by wire, rope or some obstruction however slight clearly evidencing an intent to keep off the same. B. The owners of lots and parcels of enclosed real estate within the area of the metropolitan government may post the same against trespassers, by a sign or board with notice inscribed thereon to keep off the same, and it shall be unlawful for any person to go upon the real estate so posted without the permission of the owner of such premises. C. It is unlawful for any person to cut or deface any wall or fence around the premises of any person. (Ord. 90-1339 § 1 (29-13), 1990; prior code § 29-1-63)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.24.060 Occupying premises without owner's permission—Defacing improvements.

11.24.060 - Occupying premises without owner's permission—Defacing improvements. A. It is unlawful for any person to move into or occupy any house, room or apartment in the area of the metropolitan government without the consent of the owner or his authorized agent. Each day of such unlawful occupancy shall be regarded as a separate offense. B. It is unlawful for any person to destroy, deface or injure any improvements on the property of any other person without the consent of the owner or his authorized agent. (Prior code § 29-1-64)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.24.070 Placing hazardous or offensive substances in public places.

11.24.070 - Placing hazardous or offensive substances in public places. No person shall take, carry, expose or place in or upon any public place or public building any substance, animal or thing which is or is likely to become a public nuisance, or which shall imperil the life, health or safety of any person who is or may properly be in such public place or building, or which, through the giving off of odors or noises, shall be or become offensive or injuriously affect the comfort and service of persons using such public place or building. (Prior code § 29-1-53)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.24.080 Placing obstructions on public property for private benefit.

11.24.080 - Placing obstructions on public property for private benefit. It is unlawful to place or cause to be placed, in any manner, buildings, erections, depositories or other obstructions, with any sort of permanency, for private use, benefit or profit, upon any part or portion of the public grounds of the area of the metropolitan government without permission of the director of public property. (Prior code § 29-1-52)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.24.100 Exhausting steam into public sewer.

11.24.100 - Exhausting steam into public sewer. A. It is unlawful for any person using steam apparatus of any kind to exhaust steam into any sewer owned or controlled the metropolitan government. B. It is declared to be a nuisance and prejudicial to public health to exhaust steam into any sewer, and any person who now has a steam connection exhausting into any sewer owned or controlled by the metropolitan government shall, within thirty days after written notice from the director of public works, sever and disconnect such connection. C. On failure to do so, he shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this section. (Prior code § 29-1-59)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.24.110 Prospecting on metropolitan government property.

11.24.110 - Prospecting on metropolitan government property. A. Definitions. The following terms, when used in this section, shall have the meanings as ascribed herein: "Artifacts" means all relics, specimens or objects of an historical, prehistorical, archaeological or anthropological nature which may be found above or below the surface of the earth, and which have scientific or historic value as objects of antiquity, as aboriginal relics, or as archaeological specimens. "Historic site" means any location of historic or prehistoric human activity such as, but not restricted to, mounds, forts, earthworks, burial grounds, structures, villages, mines, caves, shipwrecks, and all locations which are or may be sources of paleontological remains. "Prospect" means the use of a probe, metal detector, or any other device or tool to search, test, or excavate for artifacts or historic sites. "Public property" means property that is owned or is under the control of the metropolitan government or any of its departments, agencies, boards, or commissions. B. No individual shall be allowed to prospect on public property, including the public rights-of-way, without the express written permission of the metropolitan government department, agency, board, or commission having control over such public property. All artifacts found on public property shall immediately be turned over to the metropolitan historical commission. C. Enforcement and penalties. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of fifty dollars. Each incident or separate occurrence of an act that violates this section shall be deemed a separate offense. In addition to the penalties provided herein, persons that are not in conformity with these requirements shall be subject to appropriate injunctive relief by a court of competent jurisdiction. (Ord. BL2011-834 § 3, 2011)
Source: Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Metropolitan Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/metro_government_of_nashville_and_davidson_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_TIT11PUPEMOWE_DIVIGERE_CH11.24OFAGPRFetched: 10/28/2026

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