Building Safety in Chattanooga, TN (2026)

Chattanooga City Code § 20-116

When the director of public health or the housing inspector determines that the presence of lead paint or lead bearing substances upon any premises creates a health hazard to children or other persons he shall issue a ten (10) day notice to the owner or occupant to eliminate the hazard; however, at the discretion of the director of public health or of the housing inspector, additional time may ...

Chattanooga City Code § 21-192

Elevators, escalators and dumbwaiters shall be maintained in compliance with ASME A 17.1. The most current certificate of inspection shall be on display at all times within the elevator or attached to the escalator or dumbwaiter, be available for public inspection in the office of the Structure Operator or be posted in a publicly conspicuous location approved by the Code Official. The inspectio...

Chattanooga City Code § 10-3 (2018 IRC § R313 Amendment)

Section R313.1 Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems for Townhouses is deleted in its entirety... Section R313.2. One and Two Family Dwelling Automatic Fire Systems is deleted in its entirety... The state fire marshal and local building officials shall not mandate automatic fire sprinkler systems for three-family dwellings and four-family dwellings where structures are under five thousand (5,000) sq...

Chattanooga City Code § 21-128(o)(1)

Doors providing access to a dwelling unit, rooming unit or housekeeping unit that is rented, leased or let shall be equipped with a deadbolt lock designed to be readily openable from the side from which egress is to be made without the need for keys, special knowledge or effort and shall have a minimum lock throw of one (1) inch. Such deadbolt locks shall be installed according to the manufactu...

Chattanooga City Code § 10-3(m) (amending IBC § 101.4.7.1)

Alterations, repairs or rehabilitation work may be made to any existing structure, building, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system without requiring the structure, building, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system to comply with all the requirements of the technical codes, provided that the alteration, repair, or rehabilitation work conforms to the requirements of the technical ...

Chattanooga City Code §§ 14-2, 14-12

The National Electrical Code, 2023 edition (NFPA 70: National Electrical Code, International Electrical Code Series) is hereby adopted as the official electrical code of the City. Such Code is adopted by reference pursuant to the provisions of T.C.A. § 6-54-501 through § 654-506. ... No alteration or change shall be made in the wiring of any building or premises... without first securing from t...

Chattanooga City Code §§ 27-1, 27-3 (amending IPC § 106.1)

Section 106.1 and all its subsections are deleted in their entirety and the following language is substituted in lieu thereof: 106.1 Where required. Any properly licensed contractor who desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any plumbing system, the ...

Chattanooga City Code § 10-4

Any person who shall fail to correct any defect in his work within a reasonable time after having been duly notified of such defects by the chief building inspector or his assistants, shall not receive any further permit until such defect or defects have been corrected. Immediately after the correction of such defect or defects the chief building inspector shall be notified of such corrections....