Chattanooga City Attorney's office asks to halt enforcement on doughnut mural

After public backlash over a city inspector's demand to paint over a flying doughnut mural, the city attorney's office has asked inspectors to delay action until the ordinance can be fully vetted.

"I would recommend delaying any additional action against the owner of the business referenced above until this office has completed its review and City Council has an opportunity to consider potential clarifications of the ordinance," wrote City Attorney Wade Hinton to the mayor's office.

On Tuesday, a city inspector told Koch's Bakery owner Barbara Davis that the flying doughnuts she paid $11,000 to have painted on a dilapidated building constitute an illegal advertisement and must go.

She said the inspector told her that because she has sold doughnuts for 31 years, the mural is advertising her business and therefore is treated as a sign in city code. Per the code, it doesn't matter that there is no actual writing on the wall.

A group of local artists then started a local petition and the City Council asked the City Attorney's office to take a closer look at the ordinance.

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