General Provisions

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County tit. 11, div. I, ch. 11.28, art. I

in effect

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.28.010 Minors contributing to the delinquency of others.

11.28.010 - Minors contributing to the delinquency of others. No child who has reached his fourteenth birthday shall contribute to or encourage any other child, who is at least two years his junior, whether by aiding or abetting or encouraging the younger child or by participating as a principal with the younger child, in running away from his parents, guardian or other custodian, or in loitering during school hours in violation of the Metropolitan Code, Section 11.28.080 or in committing any lewd or indecent act, or engaging in an act of sexual intercourse in a place of public resort. (Prior code § 29-1-41.4)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.28.020 Adults contributing to the delinquency of minors.

11.28.020 - Adults contributing to the delinquency of minors. No adult shall contribute to or encourage the delinquency or unruly behavior of a child, whether by aiding or abetting or encouraging the child in the commission of an act of delinquency or unruly behavior, or by participating as a principal with the child in an act of delinquency or unruly behavior, or by aiding the child in concealing an act of delinquency or unruly behavior following its commission. (Prior code § 29-1-40)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.28.030 Assault—Indecent exposure.

11.28.030 - Assault—Indecent exposure. A. It is unlawful for any person to assault any child under sixteen years of age; or to take indecent and improper liberties with the person of such child; or to entice, allure or persuade any such child into any room, office or any other place for the purpose of taking any immodest, immoral or indecent liberties with such child; or to take or attempt to take any such liberties with the person of such child at any place. B. It is unlawful to be in the proximity of any child under sixteen years of age in a state of indecent exposure with intent to assault or ravish such child. (Prior code § 29-1-39)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.28.040 Improper advances—Offers to ride in vehicles.

11.28.040 - Improper advances—Offers to ride in vehicles. It is unlawful for any person with intent to make indecent, repulsive or improper advances or proposals to any child under eighteen years of age, to take such child for a ride in a vehicle or to otherwise accompany such child, or attempt to do any of the foregoing. Where any such person, not being related to or known to such child, takes such child for a ride or invites such child for a ride in a vehicle or attempts to accompany such child, there shall be a presumption of an intent to make indecent, repulsive or improper advances or proposals to such child. (Prior code § 29-1-39.1)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.28.050 Glue and related substances—Sale and use restrictions.

11.28.050 - Glue and related substances—Sale and use restrictions. A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall sell, deliver or give to any individual under the age of twenty-one years any glue or cement commonly known as model airplane glue, plastic cement, household cement, cement or any other similar substance, if such glue or cement contains one or more of the following solvents: 1. Toluol; 2. Hexane; 3. Trichlorethylene; 4. Acetone; 5. Teluene; 6. Ethyl acetate; 7. Methyl ethyl ketone; 8. Trichloroethane; 9. Isopropanol; 10. Methyl isobutyl ketone; 11. Methyl cellosolve acetate; 12. Cyclohexanone. B. The provisions of subsection A of this section shall not apply where the glue or cement is sold, delivered or given simultaneously with and as part of a kit used for the construction of model airplanes, model boats, model automobiles, model trains or similar models. C. It is unlawful for any person to be found in a public place under the influence of or in a state of intoxication as the result of inhaling any glue, cement or substance containing one or more of the solvents named in subsection A of this section. D. 1. Any person other than a minor violating any of the provisions of this section shall be punished as provided in Section 1.01.030. Each act in violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such hereunder. 2. Any minor violating any of the provisions of this section shall be dealt with in accordance with juvenile court law and procedure. (Ord. 95-1329 § 2 (part), 1995; prior code § 29-1-22.1)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.28.070 Abandoning refrigerators in accessible places.

11.28.070 - Abandoning refrigerators in accessible places. It is unlawful for any person to place, leave or permit to remain outside of any building or dwelling, or on or in unenclosed porches, areaways or other unenclosed portions of any building or dwelling, or in any accessible place to children, any abandoned, unattended or discarded icebox, refrigerator or any other container, under his control, which has a substantially airtight door or opening designed or intended to be fastened with a snap-lock or other mechanical device which when closed cannot readily be released for opening from the inside of such icebox, refrigerator or other container, unless such person shall first have removed such snap-lock or other mechanical device and the door or other opening which it is designed or intended to secure will open freely at all times, or unless such icebox, refrigerator or other container is firmly or securely nailed or welded shut. (Prior code § 29-1-29)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.28.080 Loitering during school hours.

11.28.080 - Loitering during school hours. A. A child who has not reached his eighteenth birthday, and being subject to the state compulsory attendance law, Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-3001, shall not loiter, idle, wander or play in or upon the public streets, highways, alleys, parks, or other public places, buildings, businesses, places of amusement and entertainment, vacant lots or other unsupervised places during those hours he is required to be in school under the state compulsory school attendance law. Further, no child shall be taken into custody for violation of this section until an investigation with the proper school officials has been made to determine if the child is required to be in school. If a determination is made that the child is required to be in school, the child may be transported to either the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center or to a Truancy Center established pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-6-3007(i). B. A child who has not reached his eighteenth birthday, and being subject to the state compulsory attendance law, Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-3001, but who is suspended or expelled from school, or is otherwise not in compliance with the compulsory attendance law, shall not loiter, idle, wander or play in or upon the public streets, highways, alleys, parks, or other public places, buildings, businesses, places of amusement and entertainment, vacant lots or other unsupervised places during those hours the child is required to be in school under the state compulsory school attendance law if not for the suspension. Further, no child shall be taken into custody for violation of this section until an investigation with the proper school officials has been made to determine if the child is suspended or expelled and the termination of the suspension or expulsion period. For purposes of this section, "suspended" means a dismissal from attendance at school for any reason by a school official for a period of time not exceeding ten consecutive days; and "expelled" means a removal from attendance at school by a school official for more than ten consecutive days. C. No parent, guardian or other adult person who has been delegated the care and custody of such child under the age of eighteen, shall knowingly permit such child to violate the provisions of this section. A parent, guardian or other adult person who has been delegated the care or custody of such child found to be in violation of this section shall be punished as provided in Section 1.01.030 of this code. (Ord. Bl2008-246 § 1, 2008; Ord. BL2005-531 § 1, 2005; Ord. 95-1329 § 2 (part), 1995; Ord. 92-413 §§ 1, 2, 1992; Ord. 90-1339 § 1 (part), 1990; prior code § 29-1-41.2)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.28.120 Location of certain businesses restricted near places frequented by minors.

11.28.120 - Location of certain businesses restricted near places frequented by minors. A. It is unlawful for any individual, firm, corporation, association, partnership, copartnership, or any other organization of any character whatsoever to exhibit, within six hundred feet of any kindergarten, nursery schools, parks and playgrounds, dwelling for one or two families and places of worship, any motion picture or live performance, admission to which is denied by the exhibitor or prohibited by law to persons under eighteen years of age. 1. The violation of this subsection is declared to be a misdemeanor and any person, firm or corporation, upon being found guilty of such violation shall be fined fifty dollars for each offense. 2. Each separate exhibition of the same motion picture, or each separate occurrence of each live performance in violation of this subsection, shall constitute a separate offense. 3. There shall be excluded from this subsection any establishments under the provision of the beer and liquor ordinances. B. It is unlawful for any individual, firm, corporation, association, partnership, copartnership, or any other organization of any character whatsoever which operates a business establishment within six hundred feet of any kindergarten, nursery schools, parks and playgrounds, dwelling for one or two families and places of worship to have on its premises coin-operated machines exhibiting still or moving pictures, or where any circular, poster, handbill, newspaper, magazine, picture, record or book is sold, offered for sale, distributed, exhibited or displayed if admission to such establishment, or the sale of any of the above items to persons under eighteen years of age is denied by the operator of the business establishment or prohibited by law. 1. The violation of this subsection of this section shall be declared a misdemeanor and any person, firm or corporation upon being found guilty of such violation shall be fined fifty dollars for each offense. 2. Every day any violation of this subsection of this section shall continue shall constitute a separate offense. 3. There shall be excluded from this subsection any establishments under the provisions of the beer and liquor ordinances. C. In determining the distance between a kindergarten, nursery schools, parks and playgrounds, dwelling for one or two families and places of worship and a business establishment or place of exhibition for the purposes of this section, the distance shall be measured from the center of the entrance of the kindergarten, nursery schools, parks and playgrounds, dwelling for one or two families and places of worship nearest to the business establishment or place of exhibition in a straight line to the center of the entrance nearest to the kindergarten, nursery schools, parks and playgrounds, dwelling for one or two families and places of worship of such business establishment or place of exhibition. (Ord. BL2017-654 § 9, 2017; prior code § 29-1-41.3)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.28.130 Admittance to certain movies not permitted—Penalty.

11.28.130 - Admittance to certain movies not permitted—Penalty. A. It is unlawful for any person to admit minors to any theater open to the general public for which an admission price is charged, to view a motion picture which carries a rating indicating that minors will not be admitted. B. It is unlawful for any person to admit minors to any theater open to the general public for which an admission price is charged to view a motion picture which carries a rating indicating that minors will not be admitted unless accompanied by a parent or guardian when such minors are not accompanied by a parent or guardian. C. Violation of this section shall, upon conviction, be punished as provided in Section 1.01.030 of this code. Each separate act of admitting a minor to a theater in violation of this section shall constitute a violation of this section. (Ord. 95-1329 § 2 (part), 1995; prior code § 29-1-41.1)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 11.28.140 Indecent publications—Sale or exhibition in places frequented by minors.

11.28.140 - Indecent publications—Sale or exhibition in places frequented by minors. A. Every person who shall wilfully engage in the business of selling, lending, giving away, showing, advertising for sale or distributing to any person under the age of eighteen years of age, or has in his possession with intent to engage in the said business or to otherwise offer for sale or commercial distribution to any individual under the age of eighteen years of age, or who shall display at newsstands or any other business establishments frequented by minors under the age of eighteen years of age, or where said minors are or may be invited as a part of the general public any motion picture, live show, or any still picture or photograph or any book, pocket book, pamphlet or magazine, the cover or content of which exploits, is devoted to, or is principally made up of descriptions or depictions of illicit sex or sexual immorality or which is lewd, lascivious or indecent, or which consists of pictures of nude or partially denuded figures posed or presented in a manner to provoke or arouse lust or passion or to exploit sex, lust or perversion for commercial gain or any article or instrument of indecent or immoral use shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars. B. For the purposes of this section: 1. "Description or depictions of illicit sex or sexual immorality" means: a. Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal; b. Acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse or sodomy; c. Fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttock or female breast. 2. "Nude or partially denuded figures" means: a. Less than completely and opaquely covered: i. Human genitals, ii. Pubic regions, iii. Buttock, and iv. Female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola; b. Human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and opaquely covered. 3. "Knowingly" means having knowledge of the character and content of the publication or failure on notice to exercise reasonable inspection which would disclose the content and character of the same. (Ord. 95-1329 § 7, 1995; prior code § 29-1-41.5)

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_CH11.28OFAGMI_ARTIGEPRFetched: 10/28/2026