Tennessee fire inspection rules
The Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office, in the Department of Commerce and Insurance, licenses fire extinguisher and sprinkler businesses through its Permits and Licenses Unit.
Tennessee listings are not loaded yet
FireInspectorNear lists companies from the Arkansas and Oklahoma license lists only. Tennessee's own license records are not loaded yet, so a Tennessee company appears here only if Arkansas or Oklahoma licensed it too.
Until they are, check any Tennessee company on the state's own license search linked below, and ask for the license or registration number before work starts.
Who licenses fire protection companies in Tennessee
The State Fire Marshal's currently adopted codes include the 2021 International Fire Code with Tennessee amendments.
Fire alarm companies are certified as alarm systems contractors through the Department of Commerce and Insurance alarm contractor program, not the Fire Marshal.
Sources: State Fire Marshal Permits and Licenses Unit; State adopts IFC 2021; Fire alarm contractors are certified separately
Who may inspect and service
Fire sprinkler work requires a State Fire Marshal certificate of registration as a Fire Sprinkler Systems Contractor with a licensed Responsible Managing Employee.
An alarm company must employ a licensed Designated Qualifying Agent, and both must hold the classification (such as Fire Alarm Systems) for the work.
A licensed Fire Extinguisher Specialist may open their own extinguisher company.
A Tennessee Extinguisher Technician may service extinguishers and fixed systems only under the direct supervision of a licensed Extinguisher Specialist, and the permit costs $30.
Sources: Sprinkler contractor registration with an RME; Alarm company and qualifying agent share classifications; Extinguisher specialist may run a company; Technicians work under a Specialist
License types
The State Fire Marshal issues fire extinguisher firm and branch registrations and Specialist and Technician licenses.
Sprinkler licensing covers the sprinkler firm or contractor registration and the Responsible Managing Employee (RME) license.
Tennessee law does not split sprinkler registration into residential and commercial types.
Alarm contractor and qualifying agent classifications are Fire Alarm Systems, Burglar Alarm Systems, Monitoring and CCTV.
A Tennessee sprinkler Responsible Managing Employee must be a registered professional engineer or architect or hold NICET Level III certification.
An Extinguisher Specialist needs a manufacturer's exam and school, a competency letter from the employing firm, a state exam and $75 in fees.
Sources: Extinguisher firm, specialist and technician; Sprinkler firm and RME license; Alarm classifications; RME needs an engineer, architect or NICET Level III; Extinguisher Specialist requirements
What inspections and tags must show
Nashville requires every service provider doing inspection, testing and maintenance on life safety systems in its jurisdiction to file reports through Inspection Reports Online.
Report types Nashville lists include annual fire alarm, annual sprinkler, annual fire pump and 5 year internal pipe.
Nashville also lists annual and semi-annual hood suppression reports and semi-annual kitchen hood cleaning.
Since October 27, 2025, Memphis requires service providers to file every compliant and noncompliant system test report through InspectionReportsOnline.net (IROL).
Memphis wants clear reports within 30 days, deficient reports within 5 days, and critical problems reported to the fire department immediately and uploaded within 24 hours.
Sources: Nashville requires online ITM reporting; Memphis requires online ITM reports
Getting licensed in Tennessee: fees and insurance
An initial alarm systems contractor company application costs $500 plus $50 per classification.
An initial alarm qualifying agent application costs $200 plus $50 per classification, after passing a PSI exam.
Alarm company applications include a certificate of insurance meeting T.C.A. 62-32-315.
A qualifying agent needs a post high school degree, or national certification plus three years of alarm installation experience.
Fire extinguisher license testing is done through Morris & McDaniel; training is offered through FPC.
A Tennessee fire sprinkler contractor must post a $10,000 surety bond or show a Board of Contractors certificate for fire sprinkler work.
Sprinkler contractor registration costs a $100 application fee and $500 at issuance, with $200 renewals and a $100 late renewal fee.
The sprinkler RME license costs a $25 application fee and $200 at issuance, with $75 renewals.
A fire extinguisher firm needs a $10,000 surety bond, and the state must confirm it keeps a shop equipped to service what it sells and installs.
An extinguisher firm registration costs $350 in total ($300 plus a $50 application fee) and $200 to renew, plus $50 for hydrostatic testing.
Sources: Alarm company application fee; Extinguisher exam vendor; Sprinkler contractor bond or contractor license; Sprinkler RME fees; Extinguisher firm bond and shop check
Checking a company's license in Tennessee
The department's Verify a License link opens its public license search.
Search Tennessee licenses
The official Tennessee license search, run by the state.
Search Tennessee licensesCommon questions
Does FireInspectorNear list Tennessee fire inspection companies?
Not yet. The site lists companies from the Arkansas and Oklahoma license lists, so a Tennessee company shows only if one of those states licensed it. Check a Tennessee company on the state's own license search.
Who may inspect fire extinguishers in Tennessee?
Fire sprinkler work requires a State Fire Marshal certificate of registration as a Fire Sprinkler Systems Contractor with a licensed Responsible Managing Employee.