Since October 2024, Tennessee law lets permit applicants in locally enforced ("exempt") jurisdictions use third-party plans examiners and inspectors registered with the State Fire Marshal's Office instead of local reviewers. State buildings, educational occupancies and occupancies that need a State Fire Marshal inspection for licensing are excluded.
State law, local scopeTennessee law authorizes a person to engage a third-party plans examiner to review plans and specifications before construction, instead of relying on local or state inspectors. The application includes the examiner's name and the registration number assigned by the State Fire Marshal's Office, along with a sworn statement that the plans comply with applicable codes.
If an applicant uses a third-party inspector, the statute's protections apply only when a third party is used for that inspection and all later inspections of the structure. Using a third party for a single inspection does not bring that inspection under the law.
Local jurisdictions have ten business days to approve a third-party application, report deficiencies, or request more information. If the jurisdiction does not respond, fees are refunded and the applicant may resubmit to the State Fire Marshal's Office, which then has its own ten-business-day window to decide.
Florida Statute 553.791, in effect since 2002, is one of the most detailed private provider laws, with a state-adopted notice form and fixed review deadlines for local jurisdictions. Our Florida guide library is a useful baseline for understanding how any private provider engagement is structured.
Explore the Florida GuidesThis guide is a plain-language educational summary, not legal advice. Legislation and local procedures change; verify against the current statute text and your jurisdiction's requirements before relying on it.
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