Hendersonville, TN Building Safety: Fire Sprinkler Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- 3+ attached Group R-2 units
- Standard
- NFPA 13R (up to 4 stories)
- Above 4 stories
- Full NFPA 13 required
- Single-family homes
- IRC R313 deleted, not mandatory
Summary
Hendersonville requires automatic fire sprinklers in new multi-family buildings of three or more attached units, using NFPA 13R up to four stories and full NFPA 13 above that.
An approved automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for the following new or renovated buildings or structures: .....1)Assembly (A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4): All buildings or structures 5,000' square feet gross floor area or more; .....2)Educational (Group E): All buildings or structures; .....3)Institutional (I-1,1-2,1-3,1-4): All buildings or structures; .....4)Residential (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4): All residential buildings or structures as follows; .....i)Hotel/motel R-1 and R-2: NFPA13. .....ii)Lodging and rooming houses R-1 and R-2: NFPA13. .....iii)Board and care facilities R-3 and R-4 with 16 or less occupants - NFPA13R; with more than 16 occupants - NFPA13. .....iv)Multi-family R-2 (attached) three or more attached units up to four stories - NFPA13R; three (3) or more attached units more than four stories - NFPA 13.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
As amended by Ordinance 2025-03, NFPA 101 Section 9.7 requires an automatic sprinkler system in new or renovated Group R-2 multi-family buildings with three or more attached units: NFPA 13R up to four stories, full NFPA 13 above four stories. Board and care facilities with 16 or fewer occupants also use NFPA 13R. Detached one- and two-family homes are not swept in this way - the city separately deleted IRC Section R313, so whole-house sprinklers there stay optional rather than mandatory.
Violations & Fines
Building without the required sprinkler system blocks occupancy approval; violating an adopted fire code provision carries a fine of up to $50, each day of continuing violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hendersonville require sprinklers in a new single-family house?
When do new apartments need fire sprinklers?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hendersonville
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