It is a violation of the Zoning Code to live in a camper inside the city limits of Athens unless inside a campground zoned for that use. If it can be ascertained that the camper is being used as a living quarter, Codes Enforcement can send a violation notice to the property owner to rectify. 

Report any illegal activity to the Police Department

Codes Enforcement can send a violation notice to the property owner and have the property secured. 

Codes enforcement will ascertain if your neighbor’s grass is in violation, and if so, will send the appropriate violation notice. If the grass is not cut, the city will have it cut. That process can take about a month. 

Codes enforcement will ascertain if your neighbor’s trash is in violation and, if so, will send the appropriate violation notice. If the trash is not picked up, the city will have it picked up. That process can take about a month.

The municipal code prohibits the keeping or storing of inoperable or abandoned vehicles on residential lots. Codes Enforcement will send a violation notice on behalf of the Police Department. The Police Department enforces this code.

Codes enforcement has a slum clearance process for dealing with structures unfit for human habitation. Codes Enforcement will ascertain whether the property falls into the category of unfit. Severely neglected and damaged houses can be deemed unfit for human occupation through an Administrative Hearing process.

• No sign, except public signs placed by the City or with the City’s permission, shall be placed within any public right of way in the corporate limits of Athens, Tennessee. (Zoning Code 4.12.B.2)
• Temporary signs shall not be erected or otherwise fixed to any pole, tree, stone, fence, or any object within the right-of-way of any street. A temporary sign shall not be suspended across public streets or other public places. (Zoning Code 4.12.B.14)
• No person shall fasten, in any way, any show-card, poster or other advertising device or sign upon any public or private property unless legally authorized to do so. (Municipal Code 11-5; Code 1972, § 10-226; Code 1995, § 11-803)
• It shall be unlawful for any person to place or have placed any banner or sign across any public street or alley except when expressly authorized by the governing body. (Municipal Code 16-5; Code 1972, § 12-205; Code 1995, § 16-105)

The general rule of thumb for placement of the signs is they should be located on private property (with landowners’ permission) at least 2 feet behind any utility pole or street sign, and do not affix any signage directly to any utility pole ever. This includes Yard Sale, Political and Real Estate signs.