The City of Kingsport will no longer be accepting in person water/utility bill payments at the Justice Center. Starting Monday, April 13, customers who wish to pay their water bill in person will now have to visit the old KATS transit center building, located at 109 Clay Street.

Customer Service will be closed to the public Wednesday and Thursday for the move and will be closed for Good Friday, April 10. Customer Service will reopen in the old transit building on Clay Street starting Monday morning, April 13. Individuals wishing to open a new utility account and establish service or obtain a business license will continue to do so by appointment only. Please call 423-343-9860.

City officials still urge residents to stay home right now due to the safer at home health order issued last week and only leave their homes when necessary.

There will be no water cut-offs during the crisis, and in addition, there will be no late fees or non-payment fees.  When the pandemic has passed, customer service staff will work with customers to structure a repayment arrangement that can last up to 12 months.

Customers have several other options for payments and are encouraged to utilize them.

• Mail payments (utilities only) to PO Box 880, Kingsport, TN 37662
• Mail payments (anything) to 225 W. Center St., Kingsport, TN 37660
• Pay online at the city website KingsportTN.gov
• Pay over the phone by calling (423) 343-9860
• Drop box located outside city hall
• Pay in person at 109 Clay Street
• Pay in person at First Horizon Bank drive thru

If customers need to speak with Customer Service, they can be contacted as follows:

• Utility questions: call (423) 343-9860
• Tax questions: call (423) 229-9418
• Email: CustServiceCent@KingsportTN.gov

Thank you for your patience during this time.

The City of Kingsport building department has closed its doors to the public in an effort to protect citizens and staff, but is still open for business. The city encourages the development community to keep in contact with Development Services via phone or email to check on the status of a project or with any questions or concerns.

Development Services will do its best to keep all projects moving forward at the best pace possible. It is important to note that there may be a delay in turn-around time for items such as subdivision plats which require original signatures.  This is due to some of our required signatories working from home during this time. These employees will schedule time to come into the office to sign those documents at their earliest convenience.  Also – please note that the County Register of Deeds is only recording documents by appointment at this time.

All applications can be found on the city website at the following links:

Planning/Development related applications: https://www.kingsporttn.gov/planning-commission/

Building Department related applications: https://www.kingsporttn.gov/city-services/building/building-permit-application/

Contact Information:

Building Division: (423) 229-9393

Planning & Zoning: (423) 229-9485

Kingsport Area Transit Service (KATS) will stop all scheduled bus routes at the end of the day on Tuesday, March 24. Starting Wednesday, March 25, KATS will begin offering on demand-fixed route bus service where riders call the KATS dispatch office to request a bus.

This service change is in response to emergency coronavirus measures being taken across the country. This method of bus operation encourages only essential travel and social distancing, allowing only a maximum of 9 riders per bus.

The “on-demand fixed route service” will operate as follows:

1. Riders will need to decide which bus stop is most convenient place for them to be picked up.
2. Riders can call 423-224-2613 at least one hour before needing to be picked up. Give name, bus stop location, pick-up time and destination bus top.
3. If confirmed, the rider will be given an estimated time when a KATS bus will arrive at the stop.
4. Riders can call 423-224-2613 when ready to be picked back up at the bus stop.

Bus fare will continue to be $1.00 each way for the general public, and $0.50 each way for disabled passengers, seniors, and veterans. KATS remains committed to the community during this time should anyone need transportation to essential services within the city.

KATS Dial-A-Ride ADA paratransit services will continue to operate unchanged during this time.

For more information, please visit  kingsporttransit.org.

At the recommendation of the CDC and the Sullivan County Regional Health Department, the City of Kingsport will close the Kingsport Public Library and all other community centers, effective 5 p.m. on Thursday until further notice. Additionally, all rentals of city facilities are suspended until at least April 3.

This decision comes from City Manager Chris McCartt. All programs, classes and events were suspended indefinitely on Monday. At this time, all other city offices remain open.

This information is subject to change as the city continues to monitor the evolving situation surrounding COVID-19. Kingsport looks to the SCRHD and the CDC for recommendations and additional information.

Facility List

• Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium: All park buildings—Nature Center, herpetarium, etc.—will be closed, but the park itself will remain open to the public. The Nature Center bathrooms, accessible from outside the building, will remain open.
• Kingsport Aquatic Center: Closed until further notice.
• Kingsport Carousel: Closing Wednesday at noon (previously released).
• Kingsport Farmers Market: The market will delay its opening until Saturday, May 2.
• Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts: All programs and classes are suspended.
• Kingsport Public Library: The library will close to the public. Due dates on materials currently in possession will be extended, and late fees will not apply. Holds and donations will not be available during the closure. Visit kingsportlibrary.org for access to digital resources at any time, including e-books, audiobooks and other virtual programs.
• Kingsport Parks and Recreation: All of Kingsport’s parks and on-site bathrooms will remain open to the public, but all programming including athletics are suspended. Lynn View Community Center and the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex will close. Ballfields, including Brickyard and Domtar Park, will also close.
• Kingsport Senior Center: Closing Wednesday at noon (previously released)
• Renaissance Center: Closing Wednesday at noon (previously released)

Rental Recommendations
If you have rented a city facility between now and April 3, please contact the facility. As of March 17, the CDC recommends that for the next 15 days, organizers cancel or postpone in-person events of 10 or more people; and for the next eight weeks, cancel events of 50 or more people. If anyone who has already booked a rental has questions or wishes to cancel, please reach out to the facility directly.

For up-to-date information on the city’s response to COVID-19, please visit our safety preparedness page.

The City of Kingsport Planning Commission will meet this Thursday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium.

After discussions with the chairman, the Civic Auditorium has been approved as an alternate location for meetings as it is large enough to allow adherence to the recommended social distancing measures. The Planning Commission will delay action at the meeting for at least 10 minutes to make sure everyone has time to make it to the new meeting location of the Civic Auditorium.

Please be advised to follow the CDC guidelines if choosing to attend this meeting.