Generally, ordinances do not need to be published unless the charter or a specific general law requires otherwise. General law mayor-aldermanic cities have the option of publishing each ordinance or only the caption. T.C.A. § 6-2-101.

General law city manager-commission cities must publish each penal ordinance or the caption. T.C.A. § 6-20-218. Publication must be in a city’s general circulation newspaper and is necessary for an ordinance to become effective.

Under the general law modified city manager-council charter, at least an abstract of the essential provisions of each ordinance should be published within 10 days after its adoption. T.C.A. § 6-32-204.

Notwithstanding charter provisions to the contrary, the city needs to publish only the caption and a summary of a comprehensive zoning ordinance. T.C.A. § 13-7-203.