Tennessee State Building Code — 2021 I-Codes via State Fire Marshal SBCO (TN)
Tracked preemption from the Tennessee overlay bundle.
Overview
← All state preemptionsTennessee overlay roll-upTennessee zoning wikiTennessee building codesFederal overlaysGlossaryFederal-conflict: Yes
Effective
2025-04-17
Sunset
—
Authority
state
Scope
state:TN
Other Tennessee preemptions
Tennessee Voluntary Attainable Housing Incentive Programs — IZ Ban Carve-OutTennessee Short Term Rental Unit Act — Statewide STR GrandfatheringTennessee §6-54-127 — Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning & Rent Control BanTennessee Heritage Protection Act — Memorials on Public PropertyTennessee Agricultural District and Farmland Preservation ActTennessee Industrial Development Board TIF — Economic Impact Plan DistrictsTennessee NPDES Stormwater & Riparian Buffer — Construction & MS4 PermitsTennessee Public Chapter 1101 (1998) — UGB / PGA / RA Growth Plan Regime
Trigger predicate
When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.
always true
Preempted fields
4 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.
| Field | Op | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
building_code.adopted_edition | override | I-Codes 2021 (IBC, IFC, IRC, IMC, IPC, IFGC, IECC, IEBC, IPMC) | Statewide minimum effective 2025-04-17; transition window for previously-submitted plans through 2025-08-15 |
building_code.enforcement_authority | override | state_fire_marshal_codes_enforcement_section_default | SBCO Codes Enforcement Section enforces in non-opted-in jurisdictions; localities may certify their own code enforcement to the State Fire Marshal |
residential_code.local_opt_out_eligibility | add | two_thirds_governing_body_vote_to_exempt_1_2_family | TCA §68-120-101(a)(8): a municipality may exempt one- and two-family dwellings from statewide standards by 2/3 affirmative vote of its governing body |
residential_code.county_default_exemption | add | counties_may_decline_to_adopt_residential_code | 1-2 family residential code adoption is opt-in for counties; many TN counties have no residential code, leaving SFD/duplex construction unregulated outside municipal limits |
Citation
Authority source
Tenn. Code Ann. §§68-120-101 through 68-120-123 (Statewide Building Construction Safety Standards); Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. Ch. 0780-02-23 (State Building Code rules); 2025 SBCO codes adoption notice
§ §68-120-101 et seq.
Research notes
TN is one of the few states where 1-2 family residential code adoption is genuinely optional at the county level — material to underwriting rural SFD/build-to-rent sites. Commercial code is mandatory statewide. Energy code: TN amended IECC 2021 with state-specific modifications (no ERI path requirement for residential). Federal conflict check: HUD 24 CFR Part 3280 preempts state/local construction standards for HUD-code manufactured homes (see TN_13_24_211_MANUFACTURED_HOME_PARITY); FHA/VA insurance may require code compliance even where state doesn't. Flag every jurisdiction with `sbco_opt_out_status` (full opt-out / partial / SFD-exempt / default-SFM) and `sbco_residential_opt_out_status` for 1-2 family.