His early efforts led to the adoption of Tennessee "Scenic Routes" legislation in 1971 and to some of the first environmental regulations and controls limiting signs and billboards.

In the early 1970s, he worked for Research Triangle Institute under a contract with the then new US Environmental Protection Agency on studies of the health effects of air pollution in Chattanooga.

After several years working in the private sector and as a planning consultant for other governments, Littlefield ran successfully for his old position on the Chattanooga City Council and once again was chosen as chairman.

As part of a national movement by conservative political organizations that affected more than 50 mayors across the United States,[5] Ron Littlefield became the subject of a recall effort in August 2010.

On September 7, 2010, the recall attempt was halted in a ruling by Hamilton County Circuit Judge Jeff Hollingsworth, who cited the recall groups' failure to comply with state law on a variety of issues related to the petition language, number of dated signatures, the use of petitions not approved by the election commission and other legal and organizational missteps made by the three groups involved.