Fentress County Opts Out of State Building Code Standards

The Fentress County Commission voted Monday to opt out of the Statewide Building Code standards for one- and two-family dwellings.

County Mayor Jimmy Johnson says this isn’t the first time the county has opted out of the standards as they’ve done so for several years.

“You always have certain building codes that you go by such as your electrical, your plumbing, and that type,” Johnson says. “They have inspectors go in and inspect that. But as far as any other building codes outside of the city limits, there hasn’t been [any], so they voted to stay with what they’ve opted out of in prior years.”

Johnson says the county must still abide by the state’s minimal standards with the vote effecting buildings outside of city limits.

Tennessee adopted the standards established by the International Code Council in 2012, which sets limits on various building aspects such as structure height, stairways, and exit configuration.