SIZE, WEIGHT AND LOAD RESTRICTIONS

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County tit. 12, ch. 12.36

in effect

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.36.010 Application of chapter provisions—Exceptions.

12.36.010 - Application of chapter provisions—Exceptions. A. It is a misdemeanor for any person to drive or move, or for the owner to cause or knowingly permit to be driven or moved on any highway any vehicle or vehicles of a size or weight exceeding the limitations stated in Tennessee State Statute Annotated. B. The provisions of this title governing size, weight and load shall not apply to fire apparatus, road machinery, or to implements of husbandry, including farm tractors, temporarily moved upon a highway, or to a vehicle operated under the terms of a special permit issued as herein provided. C. Section 12.84.020 sets out the penalty for violation of subsection A of this section. (§ 1 (part) of Amdt. 2 to Ord. 90-1255, 7/17/90; Ord. 90-1255 § 1 (66), 1990; prior code § 27-1-260)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.36.020 Width of vehicles.

12.36.020 - Width of vehicles. A. The total outside width of any vehicle or the load thereon shall not exceed eight feet, except as otherwise provided in this section. B. Section 12.84.020 sets out the penalty for violation of this section. (§ 1 (part) of Amdt. 2 to Ord. 90-1255, 7/17/90; Ord. 90-1255 § 1 (67), 1990; prior code § 27-1-261)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.36.030 Loads projecting from passenger vehicles.

12.36.030 - Loads projecting from passenger vehicles. A. No passenger-type vehicle shall be operated on any highway with any load carried thereon extending beyond the left side of such vehicle nor extending more than six inches beyond the right side thereof. B. Section 12.84.020 sets out the penalty for violation of this section. (§ 1 (part) of Amdt. 2 to Ord. 90-1255, 7/17/90; Ord. 90-1255 § 1 (68), 1990; prior code § 27-1-262)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.36.040 Height and length of vehicles and loads.

12.36.040 - Height and length of vehicles and loads. A. No vehicle, including any load thereon, shall exceed a height of thirteen feet six inches. B. No vehicle, including any load thereon and bumpers, shall exceed a length of forty feet extreme overall dimensions. This limit shall not apply to air-conditioning or refrigeration equipment mounted on the front of a trailer or semi-trailer. C. Section 12.84.020 sets out the penalty for violation of this section. (§ 1 (part) of Amdt. 2 to Ord. 90-1255, 7/17/90; Ord. 90-1255 § 1 (69), 1990; prior code § 27-1-263)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.36.050 Special load limits—Pole trailers and structural materials.

12.36.050 - Special load limits—Pole trailers and structural materials. A. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this chapter limiting the length of vehicles and loads, the load upon any vehicle operated alone or the load upon the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles shall not extend more than three feet beyond the foremost part of the vehicle, and the load upon any vehicle operated alone or the load upon the rear vehicle of a combination of vehicles shall not extend more than six feet beyond the rear of the bed or body of such vehicle. B. The limitations as to length of vehicles and loads heretofore stated in Section 12.36.040 and subsection A of this section shall not apply to any load upon a pole trailer when transporting poles or pipes or structural material which cannot be dismembered, provided that no pole or pipe or other material exceeding eighty feet in length shall be so transported unless a permit has first been obtained as authorized in Section 12.36.080. C. Section 12.84.020 sets out the penalty for violation of this section. (§ 1 (part) of Amdt. 2 to Ord. 90-1255, 7/17/90; Ord. 90-1255 § 1 (70), 1990; prior code § 27-1-264)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.36.060 Spilling or dropping of loads—Preventive measures required.

12.36.060 - Spilling or dropping of loads—Preventive measures required. A. No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any highway unless such vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting or leaking, or otherwise escaping therefrom; provided, that this section shall not prohibit the necessary spreading of any substance in highway maintenance or construction operations. B. No person shall operate on any highway any vehicle with any load unless such load and any covering thereon is securely fastened so as to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway. C. Section 12.84.020 sets out the penalty for violation of this section. (§ 1 (part) of Amdt. 2 to Ord. 90-1255, 7/17/90; Ord. 90-1255 § 1 (71), 1990; prior code § 27-1-265)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.36.070 Gross weight per axle of vehicles and loads.

12.36.070 - Gross weight per axle of vehicles and loads. A. Subject to the limit upon the weight imposed upon the highway through any one axle as set forth in the Tennessee State Statute Annotated, the total gross weight with load imposed upon the highway by any one group of two or more consecutive axles of a vehicle or combination of vehicles shall not exceed the gross weight given for the respective distance between the first and last axle of the group of axles, measured longitudinally to the nearest foot as set forth in Tennessee State Statute Annotated. B. Section 12.84.020 sets out the penalty for violation of this section. (§ 1 (part) of Amdt. 2 to Ord. 90-1255, 7/17/90; Ord. 90-1255 § 1 (72), 1990; prior code § 27-1-266)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.36.080 Permits for excess size and weight.

12.36.080 - Permits for excess size and weight. A. The department of public works will issue a special permit in writing at the direction of the traffic and parking commission authorizing the applicant to operate or move a vehicle or combination of vehicles of a size and weight of vehicle or load exceeding the maximum specified in this title or otherwise not in conformity with the provisions of this regulation upon any highway under the jurisdiction of the traffic and parking commission. B. The application for any such permit shall specifically describe in writing the vehicle or vehicles and load to be operated or moved and the particular highways for which the permit to operate is requested. C. The department of public works shall issue or withhold such permit at its discretion, or to establish seasonal or other time limitations within which the vehicles described may be operated on the highways indicated, or otherwise to limit or prescribe conditions of operation of such vehicle or vehicles, when necessary to protect the safety of highway users, or to protect the efficient movement of traffic from unreasonable interference, or to protect the highways from undue damage to the road foundations, surfaces or structures. D. Every such permit shall be carried in the vehicle or combination of vehicles to which it refers and shall be open to inspection by any police officer or authorized agent of the traffic and parking commission, and no person shall violate any of the terms or conditions of such special permit. E. Section 12.84.020 sets out the penalty for violation of subsection D of this section. (Ord. 93-575 § 4(l), 1993; § 1 (part) of Amdt. 2 to Ord. 90-1255, 7/17/90; Ord. 90-1255 § 1 (73), 1990; prior code § 27-1-269)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.36.090 Restricted use of highways authorized when.

12.36.090 - Restricted use of highways authorized when. A. The traffic and parking commission may by resolution prohibit the operation of vehicles upon any such highway or impose restrictions as to the gross weight of vehicles to be operated upon any such highway. B. The traffic and parking commission shall cause to be erected and maintained signs designating the provisions of the resolution at each end of that portion of the highway affected thereby, and the resolution shall not be effective unless and until such signs are erected and maintained. C. The traffic and parking commission may also, by resolution, prohibit the operation of trucks or other commercial vehicles, or may impose limitations as to the weight or size thereof, on certain highways designated by appropriate signs placed on such highways. (Prior code § 27-1-267)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.36.100 Heavily traveled streets—Nonmotorized and other vehicle restrictions.

12.36.100 - Heavily traveled streets—Nonmotorized and other vehicle restrictions. A. The department of public works is authorized to determine and designate those heavily traveled streets upon which shall be prohibited the use of the roadway by motor-driven cycles, bicycles, horse-drawn vehicles or other nonmotorized traffic, and shall erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof. B. When signs are so erected giving notice thereof, no person shall disobey the restrictions stated on such signs. C. Section 12.84.020 sets out the penalty for violation of subsection B of this section. (Ord. 93-575 § 4(m), 1993; § 1 (part) of Amdt. 2 to Ord. 90-1255, 7/17/90; Ord. 90-1255 § 1(75), 1990; prior code § 27-1-271)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.36.110 Load restrictions.

12.36.110 - Load restrictions. A. When signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall operate any vehicle with a gross weight in excess of the amounts specified at any time upon any of the streets or parts of streets described in Schedule IX* attached to and made a part of this regulation, except that such vehicles may be operated thereon to actively deliver or pick up materials or merchandise and then only by entering such street at the intersection nearest the destination of the vehicle and proceeding thereon no farther than the nearest intersection thereafter. B. When signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall stand or park a vehicle with a gross weight in excess of the amounts specified at any time upon any of the streets or parts of streets described in Schedule IX* attached to and made a part of this regulation, except that such vehicles may stand or be parked thereon to actively deliver or pick up materials or merchandise and then only by entering such street at the intersection nearest the destination of the vehicle and proceeding thereon no farther than the nearest intersection thereafter. C. No person shall operate any vehicle with a gross weight in excess of five thousand pounds at any time on the 1900 block of Hutton Drive or on Woodycrest Avenue between its intersection with Hutton Drive and Interstate Drive, except that such vehicles may be operated thereon for the purpose of delivering and picking up materials and merchandise to residences on said streets. Further, no person shall operate any vehicle with a gross weight in excess of thirty-one thousand five hundred pounds at any time on McCrory Lane, on Poplar Creek Road, or on Old Harding Pike between U.S. Highway 70 South and Highway 100, except that such vehicles may be operated thereon as follows: 1. For the delivery and pickup of materials and merchandise at residences located on or within three miles of one of the routes named herein, provided they make no more than eighteen such trips per week to any individual residence; 2. For the delivery and pickup of materials and merchandise at businesses located on or within one mile of one of the routes named herein, provided the property on which the business operates is zoned for commercial use; 3. For the delivery of building materials for buildings under construction for which a building permit has been obtained; 4. For the delivery and pickup of materials for properties under development for which a grading permit has been obtained, provided the property is being developed for residential or commercial use and the grading permit has not been issued for the purposes of filling the property as a result of a prior mineral extraction operation as defined in Section 17.04.060 of the Metropolitan Code or for any other grading activity on agriculturally-zoned property not associated with a residential or commercial development; and 5. When traffic is routed onto one or more of these routes by government officials as a result of an emergency. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title to the contrary, the department of public works shall have the authority to issue citations for violations of this subsection C. D. Section 12.84.020 sets out the penalty for violation of this section. (Ord. BL2020-492 § 1, 2021; Ord. BL2010-748 § 1, 2010; Amdt. 1 to Ord. 94-1174, 11/15/94; Ord. 94-1174 § 1, 1994; § 1 (part) of Amdt. 2 to Ord. 90-1255, 7/17/90; Ord. 90-1255 § 1(74), 1990; prior code § 27-1-270)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.36.120 Liability for damage to highways or structures.

12.36.120 - Liability for damage to highways or structures. A. Any person driving any vehicle, object or contrivance upon any highway or highway structure shall be liable for all damage which the highway or highway structure may sustain as a result of any illegal operation, driving or moving of such vehicle, object or contrivance, or as a result of operating, driving or moving any vehicle, object or contrivance weighing in excess of the maximum weight in this regulation but authorized by a special permit issued as provided in this chapter. B. Whenever such driver is not the owner of such vehicle, object or contrivance, but is so operating, driving or moving the same with the express or implied permission of the owner, then said owner and driver shall be jointly and severally liable for any such damage. C. Such damage may be recovered in a civil action brought by Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County. (Prior code § 27-1-268)

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_TIT12VETR_CH12.36SIWELOREFetched: 10/28/2026