Chattanooga beer board approves one-time 30-day renewal extension after permitting software errors

The Chattanooga Beer Board voted March 20 to allow holders of beer permits that were valid on Dec. 31, 2024, a one-time, 30-day grace period to renew without filing a new application, after city staff discovered clerical errors in a recently adopted permit software system.

The order, approved by roll call at the board's regularly scheduled meeting, applies to any person or entity that held a valid beer permit for 2024 and allows renewal “solely upon payment of any outstanding fees and without having to apply for a new permit” for the 30-day period beginning March 20 and ending April 19, 2025. Assistant City Attorney Harold De Bryson and administration staff presented the procedural matter; administration staff read the order into the record and said the problem stemmed from erroneous deadline dates created by the new treasury software.

Why it matters: Board members and city staff said the software error put law-abiding small businesses at risk of having to stop selling alcohol through no fault of their own. Administration staff said Mayor Kelly asked for a remedy to prevent economic harm to affected businesses and keep…