Environmental Court

Referee – Renard Hirsch

Biography

Location:
408 2nd Avenue North
Nashville, TN  37219

When disputes arise over the enforcement of the Davidson County Metropolitan Code of Laws and Regulations they are brought to the Environmental Court, a division of the General Sessions Court. This docket was created in 2001 to address Metro Code violations pertaining to buildings, trash, debris in neighborhoods and business sites, and short-term rental violations. This court also enforces leash law violations, nuisance complaints about dog barking, and at large or vicious dogs. Defendants found guilty of violations of the Metro Code of Laws are liable for court costs and can be subject to fines of $50 per day for every day the property remains in violation. The court may also order the defendant to spend time in jail for a maximum of ten days. Once a warrant has been served, the defendant is responsible for all costs, including any fines. The Codes Department cannot waive court costs, assess fines or release any liens assessed by the court to recover these costs. The court meets each Tuesday with three (3) dockets at 9:00 am, 10:00 am and 11:00 am in courtroom 3B at the Justice A.A. Birch Building (408 2nd Ave. North). The 9:00 am docket handles metro codes cases. The 11:00 AM Metro Citation Docket, handles citations written by departments such as, Police Alarms, Fire, Water, Codes and Health, Emissions, Beer Board, Traffic and Parking Commission and Animal Control. Special hearings are conducted on Friday at 10:00 am & 1:00 pm. The court is presided by current General Sessions Court Division IV- Judge Allegra Walker.