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Mayor’s executive order gives 90-day compliance window after Chattanooga permit-renewal notices failed
Summary
Chris Anderson of Mayor Kelly’s office told the Chattanooga Beer Board that Mayor Kelly issued executive order 2026-03 after the city’s renewal-notification system failed to reach some restaurants; the order provides a 90‑day window for businesses that reapply while the city fixes its notification process and prepares an ordinance change.
Chris Anderson of the Mayor’s office told the Chattanooga Beer Board that Mayor Kelly issued executive order 2026-03 this week after the city discovered widespread failures in renewal notices for beer permits.
"We have an issue with notification," Anderson said, handing board members copies of the executive order. "What we believe is happening is notification is being sent to whoever applied for the permit last." Anderson said the city’s permitting system (OpenGov), maintained by the Treasury Office, often contains contact information for a former manager or other staff who are no longer connected to the business.
The executive order allows the mayor to issue emergency relief in 15‑day increments under state law; Anderson said the EO was written to give applicants 90 days to continue selling beer while their completed new applications proceed through the city’s review process, provided the business had a valid permit within the prior one- to two-year window and there were no substantial changes in ownership, name or location. "This is an attempt to get everyone into compliance," Anderson said.
Anderson acknowledged the city is constrained by staff time and postage costs and therefore has not mailed renewal notices to every business. He said the administration has drafted an ordinance to change permitting and renewal procedures in response to recent state law changes and to reduce the frequency of renewals, and that the ordinance will be presented to city council in the coming weeks. He also said staff will evaluate adding secondary contacts in OpenGov but expects the ordinance changes to make the underlying problem less prevalent.
Why it matters: Hundreds of restaurant and bar permits rely on accurate contact records; businesses that missed automated emails or notices risked enforcement actions. The executive order aims to let compliant businesses reapply without immediate penalties while the city implements a longer-term fix.
Anderson urged businesses who discover expired permits to self-report and complete the new application materials, inspections and background checks. He said the EO does not automatically reinstate permits — businesses must submit completed applications — but it permits continued sales during the 90‑day processing window if the eligibility conditions in the order are met.
Next steps: Anderson said the administration will reissue the EO if needed (15‑day increments permitted by state law) and will send the EO to the Beer Board staff contacts. He also said a draft ordinance is ready to be circulated to the board and city council for consideration.
