Tennessee building code

Codes in force in Tennessee

Each code family with the edition and the date it took effect, as the adopting agency or statute states them.

Adopted by: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Division of Fire Prevention².

Scope, amendments and transition rules

International Building Code (IBC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-02-.01²

International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-02-.01²

International Mechanical Code (IMC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-02-.01²

International Plumbing Code (IPC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-02-.01²

Property Maintenance Code (IPMC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-02-.01²

International Fire Code (IFC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-02-.01²

Energy code, commercial

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-02-.01²

International Existing Building Code (IEBC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-02-.01²

National Electrical Code (NEC)

Scope

Statewide; applies everywhere⁴

Local amendments allowed?

Not less stringent than the state standard³

Amendments

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-01-.02³

International Residential Code (IRC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

New one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, outside exempt jurisdictions and opted-out unincorporated county areas and municipalities¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹

Amendments

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-23-.02¹

Energy code, residential

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

New one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, outside exempt jurisdictions and opted-out unincorporated county areas and municipalities¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹

Amendments

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-23-.02¹

How Tennessee adopts building codes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-02-.01 and -.05, 0780-02-23-.02 and -.12; T.C.A. § 68-120-101

• One- and two-family dwellings use the 2018 IRC. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law or the provisions of this chapter, the required minimum codes and standards for the construction of one (1) and two (2) family dwellings, townhouses, and additions thereto of thirty (30) square feet or more of interior space in the State of Tennessee shall be those prescribed in the following publications…¹
• Residential sprinklers not mandatory. Section R313 Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems is not mandatory, pursuant to T.C.A. § 68-120-101(a)(8).¹
• IRC electrical chapters replaced. Chapters 34-43 relating to Electrical Installations are deleted and electrical standards adopted in 0780-02-01 Electrical Installations shall apply.¹
• Statewide minimum standards set by rule. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law or the provisions of this chapter, the required minimum standards for fire prevention, fire protection, and building construction safety in the state of Tennessee shall be those prescribed in the following publications…²
• Existing buildings. Any existing building which conformed to the standards legally effective at the time of its construction shall not be subject to the standards adopted by reference in Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-02-.01, unless the nonconformity of the building to such standards poses a serious life safety hazard.²
• Exempt jurisdictions audited. The Division shall audit each exempt jurisdiction no less than once every three (3) years.²
• State program applies where no exemption or opt-out exists. The State Residential Building Code Enforcement Program applies to one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses in areas of the state that have not: 1) received an exemption from the State Fire Marshal's Office by having local building codes enforced by the local government, or 2) opted out of state residential building codes and enforcement by a 2/3 vote of the city or county's legislative body.⁴
• Opt-out requires a two-thirds resolution and expires. This requires a city to pass a resolution by a two-thirds vote of the governing body exempting one- and two-family dwellings in its jurisdiction from the applicability of the statewide standards and to forward the resolution to the state fire marshal.⁵
• Act on three- and four-family dwellings. As enacted, requires the statewide building construction safety standards to allow a local government to amend the adopted building code for three-family dwellings and four-family dwellings in accordance with the standards…⁶
• Low-slope roof energy provision. As enacted, clarifies that, as of July 1, 2025, the roof solar reflectance and thermal emittance requirements of the International Energy Conservation Code for low-sloped roofs do not apply to the 2021 International Code Council adoption…⁶

Applies to

State program applies where no exemption or opt-out exists⁴

Can local rules be stricter?

Except as provided in T.C.A. § 68-120-101, or otherwise approved in writing by the Division, no political subdivision of the state of Tennessee shall adopt or enforce any ordinance prescribing less stringent standards of fire prevention, fire protection, or building construction safety than those established in this chapter.²

What local governments may change

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-02-.05(3), 0780-02-23-.12 · in effect April 17, 2025²

• Statewide minimum; local governments may go further. …no city, county, town, municipal corporation, metropolitan government, or political subdivision of the State of Tennessee shall adopt or enforce any ordinance prescribing less stringent standards of fire prevention, fire protection, or building construction safety than those established hereunder.¹
• Local exterior materials ordinances. A local government, as authorized by T.C.A. § 68-120-101(b)(7), may adopt an ordinance or resolution related to exterior construction materials for aesthetic purposes only.¹
• Statewide minimum; local governments may go further. Except as provided in T.C.A. § 68-120-101, or otherwise approved in writing by the Division, no political subdivision of the state of Tennessee shall adopt or enforce any ordinance prescribing less stringent standards of fire prevention, fire protection, or building construction safety than those established in this chapter.²
• Lessening local codes needs prior review. The locally adopted codes and standards may not be lessened without submitting a draft of the ordinance for local adoption to the Division for review and approval prior to becoming effective.²
• Unapproved lesser amendments invalid. If a local jurisdiction adopts less stringent codes and standards without prior approval in writing from the Division, then the locally adopted amendment to the building construction and fire safety codes shall be invalid.²
• Ordinances forwarded within 60 days. …shall forward all relevant local ordinances to the Division within sixty (60) days of adopting the ordinance.²

Can local rules be stricter?

Except as provided in T.C.A. § 68-120-101, or otherwise approved in writing by the Division, no political subdivision of the state of Tennessee shall adopt or enforce any ordinance prescribing less stringent standards of fire prevention, fire protection, or building construction safety than those established in this chapter.²

Residential code in Tennessee cities

The edition each city enforces, from the city’s own adoption page or ordinance.

For permits, exemptions and owner-builder rules, see Tennessee building permits. To compare editions across states, see the code adoption map.