Tennessee building code
Tennessee has adopted 2021 IBC. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the Tennessee cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- 2021 I-Codes (IBC/IFC/IMC/IPC/IFGC/IECC-C/IEBC/IPMC, effective 2025-04-17) with 2018 IRC + 2018 IECC-R and 2017 NEC
- Prior edition
- 2012 I-Codes (IBC/IFC/IMC/IPC/IFGC/IECC/IEBC 2012 with amendments) for SFMO commercial codes
- Code authority
- Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office, Department of Commerce & Insurance (Division of Fire Prevention)
Edition changeover: Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-04-17 (plans could still be submitted under prior codes during a 120-day grace period ending 2025-08-15) may still be reviewed under the 2012 I-Codes (IBC/IFC/IMC/IPC/IFGC/IECC/IEBC 2012 with amendments) for SFMO commercial codes.
Adopted code by discipline
| Discipline | Adopted code | Local amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Building | 2021 IBC | n/a |
| Residential | 2018 IRC | n/a |
| Existing buildings | 2021 IEBC | n/a |
| Fire | 2021 IFC | n/a |
| Electrical | 2017 NEC based on 2017 NEC (NFPA 70) | n/a |
| Mechanical | 2021 IMC | n/a |
| Plumbing | 2021 IPC | n/a |
| Energy | 2021 IECC based on 2021 IECC (commercial) / 2018 IECC (residential) | n/a |
| Fuel Gas | 2021 IFGC | n/a |
Overlays that can apply
Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for Tennessee. They apply by parcel, not jurisdiction-wide, so confirm the parcel before assuming one is in play. Check CAL FIRE's fire hazard severity viewer and FEMA's flood map service.
- Seismic design category overlay
Sources
- https://www.tn.gov/commerce/fire/codes-enforcement/history.html
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/tennessee/Tenn-Comp-R-Regs-0780-02-23-.02
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/tennessee/Tenn-Comp-R-Regs-0780-02-01-.02
- https://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/reference/statewide-building-standards
- https://aiatn.org/tn-state-fire-marshal-codes-adoption-update/
- https://www.iccsafe.org/adoptions
Common questions
What building code does Tennessee use?
Tennessee uses 2021 IBC. It is administered by the Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office, Department of Commerce & Insurance (Division of Fire Prevention). The prior edition was 2012 I-Codes (IBC/IFC/IMC/IPC/IFGC/IECC/IEBC 2012 with amendments) for SFMO commercial codes.
Do cities in Tennessee amend the state code?
Local amendments are adopted by ordinance at the city or county level. Confirm with the building department that reviews your permit.
Which edition applies to a permit already in review in Tennessee?
Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-04-17 (plans could still be submitted under prior codes during a 120-day grace period ending 2025-08-15) may still be reviewed under the 2012 I-Codes (IBC/IFC/IMC/IPC/IFGC/IECC/IEBC 2012 with amendments) for SFMO commercial codes.
Check a plan set against Tennessee code
Knowing the adopted edition is the easy half. Architechtura reads your drawings, resolves which of these provisions actually apply to the project, and returns the corrections a plan checker would write up, each one cited to the section it came from.
Your first check is free, no card required.
Compiled from published state and municipal adoption ordinances. Local governments amend their codes on their own schedule, and a pending ordinance can change what applies to your permit. Confirm the governing edition with the building department before you submit. This page is reference information, not a code determination.