Skip to main content

Tennessee municipal public health emergency closures

MTAS has been asked by several city attorneys whether cities have any authority to prohibit mass gatherings and close businesses. This seems to be the question with which all cities are struggling because no statutory or charter authority is directly on point for a pandemic. The options that are being explored by cities are using the charter police powers and/or declarations of emergencies. Cities could potentially use a combination of both authorities.

O'Hara, Stephanie Allen
Ashburn, Melissa; Hodge, Elisha
General
Public facilities
Public health and safety
Emergency management
Public
05/10/2021
03/17/2020