COVID-19 Updates

For information about changes to City services, schedules, and facilities, click on the City Service Updates tab below.

COVID-19 vaccination and other updates from the Sullivan County Regional Health Department

For up-to-the-minute information regarding COVID-19 vaccine distribution and other important updates from the Sullivan County Regional Health Department, please follow the department on Facebook and Twitter or visit their website.

Sullivan County Regional Health Department offering COVID-19 testing
SCRHD COVID testing cropped 1-14-21

Sullivan County Mask Order Currently In Effect

  • All businesses, organizations, or venues open to usage by members of the public in Sullivan County, Tennessee shall require the use of face coverings or masks by their employees and members of the public while inside their premises in areas accessible by the public.
    • NOTE: Cloth face coverings or masks should not be worn by children under the age of two or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
  • Places of worship are exempt from the requirements of this Order, pursuant to Executive Orders issued by Governor Lee.
  • This Order does not require businesses, organizations, or venues to supply face coverings or masks to members of the public.
  • Use of face coverings or masks shall not be required by members of the public while seated for the purpose of dining in any restaurant or business that provides food and/or drink for on premises consumption or other business as defined by the Tennessee Pledge.
  • Sullivan County, Tennessee continues to be governed in all other aspects by the Executive Orders issued by Governor Lee.
  • This order shall remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on February 27, 2021, unless otherwise modified or withdrawn by future Orders or by the State of Tennessee.

City meetings to be conducted electronically

Meetings of the Bristol, Tennessee City Council and some boards and commissions may be conducted electronically to mitigate the ongoing public health threat posed by COVID-19. Information for how to view these meetings will be posted on the City Service Updates tab below.

Agendas for all upcoming City Council meetings will be posted at least 24 hours in advance and may be found here.

For more information on Governor Bill Lee’s Executive Order permitting government bodies to conduct electronic meetings as a measure to protect the safety and welfare of Tennesseans while ensuring that government business remains open and accessible to the public, please click here.

  1. City Service Updates
  2. COVID-19 Information
  3. Community Resources
  4. Business Resources

Burn Permits

City burn permits are being issued by the Bristol Tennessee Fire Department. Please contact Assistant Chief David McGlamery at 423-989-5704.

City Offices

All visitors to city buildings will be subject to a health screening, which includes a temperature scan and questions related to potential COVID-19 exposure or symptoms. This mirrors the same screening process that all city employees have completed daily since facilities first closed in late March. Pursuant to Sullivan County Executive Order, visitors are required to wear a face mask when entering city buildings. Members of the public are encouraged to continue utilizing electronic or other alternate methods of conducting business with the city whenever possible.

Court

On December 22, 2020, the Tennessee Supreme Court  issued an order reinstating the suspension of most in-person hearings from December 28, 2020 to January 29, 2021. For more information regarding which types of proceedings are impacted, please visit their website here.

Development Services

  • A number of applications and forms used by the City’s Planning, Zoning, Codes Enforcement, and other divisions may be found online at www.bristoltn.org/development.
  • Fees associated with any of these applications may be mailed to 104 8th St, Bristol, TN 37620.

Finance

  • Payments for utility bills, citations, and property taxes may be made in several ways:
    •  In the drive-thru drop box on 8th Street. Checks, cashier’s checks, cash, and money orders will be accepted here.
    • By mail to PO Box 1348, Bristol, TN 37621-1348. Please do not place cash in the mail.
    • By phone using a debit or credit card. Please have your account number ready when calling. A non-refundable convenience fee will apply to all phone payments.
      • Utility bills: (877) 768-5046
      • Property taxes: (877) 768-5048
    • Online payment options may be found at www.bristoltn.org/paynow. Please note that a non-refundable convenience fee will apply to online payments.
    • Customers wishing to set up an automatic bank draft for monthly utility bills may complete the form at www.bristoltn.org/paynow.
  • Payments using credit or debit card may be made by phone for utility bills at (877) 768-5046. Property taxes can be paid by phone at (877) 768-5048. Please have your account number ready when calling.
  • Online payment options for utility bills, citations, and property taxes may be found at www.bristoltn.org/paynow.
    • Please note that a non-refundable convenience fee will apply to all phone and online payments.

Meetings

  • The following meetings will be conducted electronically in accordance with Executive Order 71 issued by Governor Bill Lee.
    • January 5 - City Council Meeting
      • Tuesday, January 5 at 7:00 PM
      • Live broadcast on BTN-TV and YouTube
      • Members of the public wishing to comment during any scheduled Public Hearings or the Appearance of Citizens may call 423-217-1510 beginning 15 minutes prior to the meeting. Calls will continue to be accepted until the pertinent item has been heard by City Council. No additional callers will be accepted for each item after the related portion of the agenda has been closed.

        When dialing in, callers will be asked for some basic information by an attendant. They will then be placed into a holding queue. When City Council arrives at the appropriate point in the agenda, callers will be connected to the meeting audio one at a time to provide their comment. At the conclusion of each caller’s comment, they will then be disconnected from the meeting audio and the next caller will be brought in. Callers will be asked to state their name and address for the record prior to speaking, and all other rules for comments that normally apply for in-person meetings will remain in effect for this teleconference.
      • Agenda
    • January 12 - Northeast TN/VA HOME Consortium
      • Tuesday, January 12 at 10:00 AM
      • Live broadcast on BTN-TV and YouTube
      • Agenda
    • January 12 - Community Development Advisory Committee
      • Tuesday, January 12 at 5:30 PM
      • Live broadcast on BTN-TV and YouTube
      • Individuals wishing to provide public comment should appear at the Ewell L. Easley Municipal Annex, 104 8th St. The meeting will be viewable in the main conference room, and individuals wishing to address the committee will be able to do so via teleconference. To ensure the health and safety of all those in attendance, members of the public are respectfully asked to wear a face covering (one will be provided for those who do not have their own) and will be subject to a health screening including a temperature scan and questions related to potential COVID-19 exposure or symptoms.
      • Agenda
    • January 25 - Planning Commission
      • Monday, January 25 at 6:00 PM
      • Live broadcast on BTN-TV and YouTube
      • Individuals wishing to provide public comment should appear at the Ewell L. Easley Municipal Annex, 104 8th St. The meeting will be viewable in the main conference room, and individuals wishing to address the committee will be able to do so via teleconference. To ensure the health and safety of all those in attendance, members of the public are respectfully asked to wear a face covering (one will be provided for those who do not have their own) and will be subject to a health screening including a temperature scan and questions related to potential COVID-19 exposure or symptoms.
      • For additional information, please contact the Department of Development Services at 423-989-5518 or email cyoung@bristoltn.org.
    • January 26 - City Council Work Session
      • Tuesday, January 26 at 9:00 AM
      • Live broadcast on BTN-TV and YouTube
    • January 28 - Better Property Board
      • Thursday, January 28 at 5:00 PM
      • Live broadcast on BTN-TV and YouTube
      • For additional information, please contact the Codes Enforcement Department at 423-989-5711 or email cpowers@bristoltn.org.
    • February 4 - Metropolitan Planning Organization
      • Thursday, February 4 at 10:00 AM
      • Live broadcast on BTN-TV and YouTube
      • Members of the public wishing to comment may call 423-217-1510 beginning 15 minutes prior to the meeting. Calls will continue to be accepted until the pertinent item has been heard by the board. No additional callers will be accepted for each item after the related portion of the agenda has been closed.

        When dialing in, callers will be asked for some basic information by an attendant. They will then be placed into a holding queue. When the board arrives at the appropriate point in the agenda, callers will be connected to the meeting audio one at a time to provide their comment. At the conclusion of each caller’s comment, they will then be disconnected from the meeting audio and the next caller will be brought in. Callers will be asked to state their name and address for the record prior to speaking, and all other rules for comments that normally apply for in-person meetings will remain in effect for this teleconference.
      • For additional information, please contact the MPO at 423-989-5519 or email rmontgomery@bristoltn.org.
  • Additional updates regarding meeting schedules will be posted here as they become available.

Parks and Recreation

  • City parks remain open during regular hours. Please continue to enjoy them while practicing appropriate social distancing.
  • The golf course at Steele Creek Park remains open. Golf cart rentals are limited to one player per cart, and cleaning supplies are provided to sanitize carts prior to play. We ask that no more than one guest at a time be inside the pro shop.
  • Administrative offices at the Slater Community Center are open to the public, however all classes and other activities remain suspended pending further guidance from Governor Bill Lee and public health officials.
    • Visit the City’s YouTube channel for workout and yoga videos you can follow along with at home.

Transit

  • City fixed route buses, paratransit, and job access services are currently running on regular schedule and all fees have been waived. In order to adhere to CDC guidelines, no more than 10 riders will be permitted on any transit vehicle at one time. Enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures are being employed to keep vehicles as safe as possible.