2023 Tennessee Code › Title 5 - COUNTIES (§§ 5-1-101 — 5-23-112) › Chapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 5-1-101 — 5-1-310) › Part 2 - CHARTER FORM OF GOVERNMENT (§§ 5-1-201 — 5-1-215) › Section 5-1-211 - Chartered counties - Ordinances

(a)
The legislative body of each county that adopts a charter form of county government may pass ordinances relating to purely county affairs, but such ordinances shall not be opposed to the general laws and shall not interfere with the local affairs of any municipality within the limit of such county.
(b)
Each county government created and established pursuant to this part is empowered to set maximum monetary penalties and forfeitures up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) for violation of county ordinances. In counties with a population of over seven hundred thousand (700,000), according to the 1990 federal census, no fine over fifty dollars ($50.00) is allowed unless the ordinance permitting such is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the county commission.
(c)
(1)
Every ordinance shall be read on three (3) different days in open session of the legislative body before its adoption, and not less than one (1) week shall elapse between first and third readings, and any ordinance not so read shall be null and void. Such county may establish by ordinance a procedure to read the caption of an ordinance on the first and second readings and an ordinance in its entirety on the third reading; provided, that for any ordinance that is longer than two (2) typewritten pages, the county may adopt a procedure to read a summary of the ordinance in lieu of reading the entire ordinance. Copies of such ordinances shall be available during regular business hours at the office of the county clerk and during sessions in which the ordinance has its second and third readings.
(2)
Unless prohibited by its charter, the county legislative body of a county that has a charter form of county government may by ordinance require every ordinance to be read on two (2) different days in open session of the legislative body before its adoption, and not less than one (1) week shall elapse between first and second readings, and any ordinance not so read shall be null and void. Such county may establish by ordinance a procedure to read the caption of an ordinance on the first reading and an ordinance in its entirety on the second reading; provided, that for any ordinance that is longer than two (2) typewritten pages, the county may adopt a procedure to read a summary of the ordinance in lieu of reading the entire ordinance. Copies of such ordinances shall be available during regular business hours at the office of the county clerk and during sessions in which the ordinance has its second reading.
(d)
(1)
An ordinance shall not take effect until fifteen (15) days after its passage, except in case of an emergency ordinance.
(2)
An emergency ordinance may become effective upon the day of its final passage; provided, that it shall contain the statement that an emergency exists and shall specify with distinctness the facts and reasons constituting such an emergency.
(3)
The unanimous vote of all members of the legislative body present shall be required to pass an emergency ordinance.
(4)
No ordinance making a grant, renewal or extension of a franchise or other special privilege, or regulating the rate to be charged for its service by any public utility shall ever be passed as an emergency ordinance.
(5)
No ordinance shall be amended except by a new ordinance.
(e)
In all ordinances adopted under subsections (c) and (d), the vote shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting for or against an ordinance shall be entered upon the journal.
(f)
The county clerk shall number and compile in an ordinance book all ordinances and shall preserve such book in the county clerk's office.
(g)
After passage all ordinances of a penal nature shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, and no such ordinance shall take effect prior to its publication.
(h)
Ordinances shall be enforced by the chief law enforcement officer of the county, unless an ordinance otherwise provides.
(i)
Persons charged with violation of an ordinance in whole or in part shall be tried in the court of general sessions. Any fines collected for such violation shall be paid into the county general fund unless the ordinance otherwise provides.
Acts 1979, ch. 402, § 11; T.C.A., § 5-131; Acts 1988, ch. 645, § 1; 1992, ch. 681, § 1; 1993, ch. 186, § 1; 1999, ch. 100, § 1.