Government Services
Government Services
Chatt Choices™
Hamilton County Government
Chattanooga Public Library
City of Chattanooga Government
Protecting and Serving Area Citizens
The City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and various local townships provide quality government services to residents.
Hamilton County includes the 10 municipalities of Chattanooga, Collegedale, East Ridge, Lakesite, Lookout Mountain, Red Bank, Ridgeside, Signal Mountain, Soddy-Daisy, and Walden. The Hamilton County mayor is elected to a four-year term to head the executive branch of government; along with eleven commissioners, the mayor oversees legislation and policy for the county. Similarly, the City of Chattanooga has a mayor and nine city council members to administrate city government programs and services.
Among the many public amenities available to residents is the Chattanooga Public Library. Maintaining five locations across Hamilton County, the library provides the community with quality programs and engaging resources for lifelong learning. Services include book and DVD rentals, interlibrary loan, computer access and Wi-Fi, meeting room reservations, and more. At the downtown location, the 12,000-square-foot fourth floor is a public laboratory and educational facility featuring everything from sewing equipment and power tools to a virtual reality booth and photography studio. The library also holds events for all ages, including Storytime for preschoolers and craft sessions for adults.
The Chattanooga Department of Public Works oversees the design, construction, and maintenance of the city’s infrastructure, including sewer and storm water systems, waste management, and public spaces. Its waste and recycling systems – including brush and leaf collection and household hazardous waste disposal – make Chattanooga a greener and more livable city. Township governments provide services to their residents in place of or in addition to that offered by the city or county.
Functioning under the Public Works department, the Chattanooga Department of Transportation (CDOT) strives to provide accessible transportation options for all citizens through proper planning and design as well as constant asset management of roadways, slopes, bridges, and sidewalks.
The Chattanooga Fire Department, Chattanooga and Hamilton County police departments, and local townships’ fire and police organizations work in tandem to keep area citizens safe. The Chattanooga Fire Department responds to more than 19,000 emergencies annually while protecting a growing 144 square miles in Hamilton County. With approximately 500 sworn officers, the Chattanooga Police Department is responsible for neighborhood policing, investigations, and special operations and can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The department continually unveils new programs to better serve the city, including initiatives such as the Dragonfly Community Connect, which helps address crime in real time.
The City of Chattanooga also promotes outdoor recreation and public art through various programs. The city currently maintains over 35 miles of greenway and trails, 73 tennis courts, 9 pickleball courts, 20 community centers, three dog parks, two golf courses, and over 70 neighborhood and community parks. Programs such as ArtsBuild and Public Art Chattanooga are committed to enriching the lives of citizens through the arts.
Neighboring Bradley County includes the cities of Cleveland and Charleston. Cleveland is governed by a mayor, city council, and city manager, while Charleston operates under a commission form of government with a mayor and two commissioners.
Protecting and Serving Area Citizens
The City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and various local townships provide quality government services to residents.
Hamilton County includes the 10 municipalities of Chattanooga, Collegedale, East Ridge, Lakesite, Lookout Mountain, Red Bank, Ridgeside, Signal Mountain, Soddy-Daisy, and Walden. The Hamilton County mayor is elected to a four-year term to head the executive branch of government; along with eleven commissioners, the mayor oversees legislation and policy for the county. Similarly, the City of Chattanooga has a mayor and nine city council members to administrate city government programs and services.
Among the many public amenities available to residents is the Chattanooga Public Library. Maintaining five locations across Hamilton County, the library provides the community with quality programs and engaging resources for lifelong learning. Services include book and DVD rentals, interlibrary loan, computer access and Wi-Fi, meeting room reservations, and more. At the downtown location, the 12,000-square-foot fourth floor is a public laboratory and educational facility featuring everything from sewing equipment and power tools to a virtual reality booth and photography studio. The library also holds events for all ages, including Storytime for preschoolers and craft sessions for adults.
The Chattanooga Department of Public Works oversees the design, construction, and maintenance of the city’s infrastructure, including sewer and storm water systems, waste management, and public spaces. Its waste and recycling systems – including brush and leaf collection and household hazardous waste disposal – make Chattanooga a greener and more livable city. Township governments provide services to their residents in place of or in addition to that offered by the city or county.
Functioning under the Public Works department, the Chattanooga Department of Transportation (CDOT) strives to provide accessible transportation options for all citizens through proper planning and design as well as constant asset management of roadways, slopes, bridges, and sidewalks.
The Chattanooga Fire Department, Chattanooga and Hamilton County police departments, and local townships’ fire and police organizations work in tandem to keep area citizens safe. The Chattanooga Fire Department responds to more than 19,000 emergencies annually while protecting a growing 144 square miles in Hamilton County. With approximately 500 sworn officers, the Chattanooga Police Department is responsible for neighborhood policing, investigations, and special operations and can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The department continually unveils new programs to better serve the city, including initiatives such as the Dragonfly Community Connect, which helps address crime in real time.
The City of Chattanooga also promotes outdoor recreation and public art through various programs. The city currently maintains over 35 miles of greenway and trails, 73 tennis courts, 9 pickleball courts, 20 community centers, three dog parks, two golf courses, and over 70 neighborhood and community parks. Programs such as ArtsBuild and Public Art Chattanooga are committed to enriching the lives of citizens through the arts.
Neighboring Bradley County includes the cities of Cleveland and Charleston. Cleveland is governed by a mayor, city council, and city manager, while Charleston operates under a commission form of government with a mayor and two commissioners.
