Tennessee · Fire code

The fire code in force in Tennessee now.

2021 IFC with Tennessee amendments (Rule 0780-02-02), effective Apr 17, 2025, replacing the 2012 IFC adopted Aug 4, 2016. Enforced by State Fire Marshal's Office (Dept of Commerce and Insurance) Codes Enforcement adopts; it reviews plans and inspects new buildings outside 50+ exempt jurisdictions (e.g., Nashville, Memphis/Shelby, Knoxville/Knox, Chattanooga), which enforce locally; SFMO inspects existing schools, day cares and state facilities yearly. Verified on the primary source, re-checked weekly.

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Fire code in Tennessee

Verified on the source
In force

2021 IFC with Tennessee amendments (Rule 0780-02-02), effective Apr 17, 2025, replacing the 2012 IFC adopted Aug 4, 2016

Tennessee amendments let the local fire chief, with police and EMS, find radio coverage unneeded (IFC 510) and allow NFPA 13R in Group R up to four stories. State-adopted NFPA 101 (2021) now covers only small residential board-and-care.

Source: primary document

Who enforces it

State Fire Marshal's Office (Dept of Commerce and Insurance) Codes Enforcement adopts; it reviews plans and inspects new buildings outside 50+ exempt jurisdictions (e.g., Nashville, Memphis/Shelby, Knoxville/Knox, Chattanooga), which enforce locally; SFMO inspects existing schools, day cares and state facilities yearly

Statewide layer. County and city amendments sit on top; the building view resolves them from your ZIP.

What changes next

In force

In force; no 2024 IFC rulemaking or adoption notice found (SFMO codes news page lists none)

The federal layer

No federal fire code applies to a private building; OSHA's exit-route, fire-extinguisher and emergency-plan rules (29 CFR 1910 Subparts E and L) apply to every employer alongside the state fire code.

Questions about the fire code in Tennessee

Which fire code applies in Tennessee today?

2021 IFC with Tennessee amendments (Rule 0780-02-02), effective Apr 17, 2025, replacing the 2012 IFC adopted Aug 4, 2016. Tennessee amendments let the local fire chief, with police and EMS, find radio coverage unneeded (IFC 510) and allow NFPA 13R in Group R up to four stories. State-adopted NFPA 101 (2021) now covers only small residential board-and-care.

Who enforces the fire code in Tennessee?

State Fire Marshal's Office (Dept of Commerce and Insurance) Codes Enforcement adopts; it reviews plans and inspects new buildings outside 50+ exempt jurisdictions (e.g., Nashville, Memphis/Shelby, Knoxville/Knox, Chattanooga), which enforce locally; SFMO inspects existing schools, day cares and state facilities yearly.

What changes next for the fire code in Tennessee?

Nothing is scheduled. The rule above stays in force until the state adopts a newer edition or amends the program; AHJ Radar re-checks the source weekly.

Other areas in Tennessee

Everything in force in Tennessee

Priced per building. Your whole team is included.

One address, every authority that can cite it, and a record of who saw what. Cancel anytime. Public pages stay free.