Mayor Kelly re-issues Executive Order for beer permit grace period, proposes permanent ordinance change
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (May 7, 2026) – Mayor Tim Kelly has extended an Executive Order that provides a 90-day grace period for expired beer permits to be renewed, as the administration prepares a permanent ordinance change to streamline renewals and protect dozens of small businesses across the city from unintended lapses in their ability to serve customers.
The Executive Order does not exempt any business from safety codes, health regulations or state laws. It specifically addresses a city-level permitting gap for e tablished owners, in which beer licenses lapsed without owners being aware.
Eligible businesses may continue to sell beer under the authority of this Executive Order while their application is pending. The grace period will end upon the Beer Board’s final decision on the new streamlined application process, or after 90 days, whichever occurs first.
To qualify for this amnesty, a business must meet the following criteria:
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Prior Licensure: The establishment must have held a valid City of Chattanooga beer permit at some point since January 1, 2024.
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Consistency of Ownership: There must have been no change in the ownership or the legal entity holding the previous permit. Permit applications are processed by the CPD Regulatory Unit and the Beer Board.
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No pending alcohol violations.
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Triggering Action: The amnesty is triggered immediately upon the submission of a complete application for a new beer permit and payment of the required application fees.
The proposed city ordinance change, which will soon go to City Council for consideration, will create a more streamlined process for renewals, provided that the ownership, location of the establishment and business name remain unchanged.