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Murfreesboro, TN Building Safety: Fire Sprinkler Requirements (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified October 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
Murfreesboro City Code § 7-12(B), (C) and (S)
Deleted
Section R309, automatic fire sprinkler systems, deleted in its entirety
Remaining mandate
Medical care facility in a dwelling unit sprinkled per P2904
Code edition
2024 International Residential Code, adopted in § 7-11
Administered by
Building and Codes Department, Chief Building Official
Late-permit penalty
Two times the established permit fee under § 7-12(L)
Appeal deadline
20 calendar days, plus 3 days if served by mail

Summary

Murfreesboro deletes Section R309, the automatic fire sprinkler section of the 2024 International Residential Code, in its entirety under City Code § 7-12(S). The model code's sprinkler section does not apply to homes covered by the residential code. One narrow mandate survives: a medical care facility inside a dwelling unit, where occupants cannot save themselves, must be sprinkled under Section P2904.

The International Residential Code is hereby specifically amended, modified, or deleted as follows: ... (B) R101.2 is amended by deleting the last portion of the first sentence of the Exception beginning with "where provided with a residential fire sprinkler system complying with Section P2904:" (C) R101.2 is amended by adding the following to item #4. "A medical care facility within a dwelling unit where occupants are incapable of self-preservation, as defined by the 2024 International Building Code, must be sprinkled in accordance with P2904". ... (S) Section R309 on automatic fire sprinkler systems is deleted in its entirety.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 18 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

Chapter 7 adopts the 2024 International Residential Code in § 7-11 for detached one and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories high with separate means of egress, plus their accessory structures. Section 7-12 then lists the local amendments, and three of them control sprinklers. Subsection (S) deletes Section R309 on automatic fire sprinkler systems in its entirety. Subsection (B) strips the phrase "where provided with a residential fire sprinkler system complying with Section P2904:" from the Exception in R101.2, so the scope exception no longer turns on a home having a P2904 system. Subsection (C) adds a carve-out to item 4 of R101.2: a medical care facility within a dwelling unit where occupants are incapable of self-preservation, as defined by the 2024 International Building Code, must be sprinkled in accordance with P2904.

The Building and Codes Department administers these rules, and § 7-12(D) names it as the code compliance agency. The Chief Building Official makes the interpretations. Construction documents for any structure with three or more townhome units go through plans review under § 7-12(H), and the fees for all permitted work are set by the City Council under § 7-12(J). Where a sprinkler system is installed anyway, § 7-12(KK) requires connections to automatic sprinkler systems to meet Murfreesboro City Code § 33-19(F)(3) and the Murfreesboro Cross Connection Control Program Procedures Manual.

The amendment text was last revised by Ord. No. 26-O-34, § 4, dated 9-3-26. An owner who disagrees with how the Chief Building Official applies any of this can appeal to the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals under § 7-12(M) and § 7-16.

Violations & Fines

The sprinkler amendments carry no separate penalty. Enforcement runs through the permit system. Under § 7-12(L), starting work before the permit issues means paying two times the established permit fee, and the Chief Building Official can waive the doubling only on a showing of good cause. A medical care facility in a dwelling that skips the P2904 sprinkler system fails the R101.2 requirement and cannot pass inspection. Orders can be appealed to the Construction Board within 20 calendar days of service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Murfreesboro require sprinklers in new single-family homes?
The residential code's sprinkler section is gone. Murfreesboro City Code § 7-12(S) deletes Section R309 on automatic fire sprinkler systems in its entirety, so the 2024 International Residential Code does not impose a sprinkler requirement on homes built under it in the city. Only the medical care facility rule in § 7-12(C) remains.
What kind of dwelling still has to be sprinkled?
A medical care facility within a dwelling unit where occupants are incapable of self-preservation, as defined by the 2024 International Building Code. Section 7-12(C) adds that to item 4 of R101.2 and requires the facility to be sprinkled in accordance with P2904. Ordinary single-family occupancy does not fall in this category.
Who decides how the sprinkler amendments apply to my project?
The Building and Codes Department, led by the Chief Building Official, administers the residential code under § 7-12(D). Plans for any structure with three or more townhome units are submitted for plans review under § 7-12(H). The Council sets permit fees under § 7-12(J), so confirm the current schedule with the department before applying.
How do I appeal a sprinkler-related decision?
File a written application with the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals within 20 calendar days after the decision was served, or 23 days if it came by mail. The appellant gets at least 10 days' written notice of the hearing, and under § 7-16(L) an appeal stays enforcement, except for Imminent Danger notices and Stop Work orders.
What happens if I start work before getting a permit?
Section 7-12(L) requires payment of two times the established fee for the required permit. The Chief Building Official can waive the doubling where the contractor or other applicant demonstrates good cause for failing to obtain the permit before work began. The waiver is discretionary, so document the reason in writing.

Sources & Official References

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