Public Hearings on Residential Building Codes

The Department of Commerce and Insurance is holding a series of public hearings for comments on proposed residential building codes. The dates are as follows:

• October 8, 1 p.m. UT Conference Center, 600 Henley Street, 4th Floor Dining Room, Knoxville, Tennessee
• October 9, 9 a.m. Chattanooga Marriott at the Convention Center, Two Carter Plaza, Ballroom HIJ, Chattanooga, Tennessee
• October 13 1 p.m. UT West Tennessee Agricultural Center, 605 Airways Blvd, Room 150, Jackson, Tennessee
• October 15 1 p.m. Davy Crockett Building, 500 James Robertson Parkway, Room 160, Nashville, Tennessee

The meeting on October 9th is being held in conjunction with the TCSA Annual Fall Conference in Chattanooga. County officials attending that conference can easily attend that hearing which will be in the same facility where our conference is held. No specific code is being proposed at these meetings. The meetings are for the purpose of hearing public comments. As you know, legislation passed this last year that provides for the implementation of statewide residential building codes unless a county or municipality opts out of the law. In those cities and counties that do not opt out, the responsibility for enforcement may rest with the local government, or if the local government chooses not to enforce the codes, the building codes will be administered by the State Fire Marshall's Office.