NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A new proposal by Council Member Joy Styles could soon bring around-the-clock code enforcement to downtown Nashville. The initiative, which aims to combine the efforts of the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Metro Codes, seeks to address issues like noise complaints and other disturbances that currently go unresolved overnight.
The Mayor’s Office of Nightlife is responsible for ensuring communication between the community and the government, particularly around Nashville’s vibrant nightlife. However, the office does not handle code enforcement issues, such as complaints about loud noises or disturbances from businesses. Meanwhile, the Metro Department of Codes, which does address these concerns, operates only during regular business hours, closing at 4 p.m. on weekdays. As a result, any complaints filed after hours are left unaddressed until the following day.
“It’s not acceptable to just tell people, ‘Oh, sorry, we can’t handle it, but thanks for reporting it,’” said District 32 Council Member Joy Styles.
To remedy this, Styles is pushing for a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Metro Codes that would provide a 24/7 response to public complaints. This proposal would allow the city to address code violations and other issues in real-time, ensuring residents and businesses experience a better quality of life.
Benton McDonough, director of the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife, emphasized the need for the new approach. “These two new positions would really allow Nashville — since we are a larger city — to operate on a 24/7 basis,” he explained.
The proposal is designed to address a variety of disturbances, including loud music, excessive lighting, and businesses causing disruptions late at night. McDonough described several common complaints, such as businesses with bright lights shining into nearby windows or outdoor speakers disturbing residents.
“We want to make sure that everyone is held accountable, and that people can enjoy a good quality of life,” Styles added.
The partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Metro Codes would begin in downtown Nashville, where nightlife-related issues are most concentrated. If successful, the program could expand to other parts of the city, addressing broader concerns such as illegal businesses operating from garages, parking violations, and other disturbances that are often only visible after hours.
“Sometimes it’s a business beside them that has a bright light shining in through their windows — speakers that are placed outside the building,” McDonough said. “This partnership will allow us to address those issues when they occur.”
Styles noted that the expansion of this initiative would proceed gradually. “We will start small, allowing the inspectors to get comfortable with working in the evening, and then, as time goes on, we will start to expand to other parts of the city,” McDonough explained.
The proposal is set to be presented to the Metro Council for its first hearing on Tuesday, January 21. If approved, the plan could usher in a new era of 24/7 code enforcement, providing timely responses to the growing needs of Nashville’s vibrant, bustling downtown area.
