Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-2-412

This is the official text of Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-2-412, part of Tennessee’s Code Ann — part of the compiled statutory law of Tennessee, published by the state as "Code Ann." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.

Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

Smoke detectors required in foster care dwellings

Official statutory text

(a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "approved smoke detector" means a device that senses visible or invisible particles of combustion and has been investigated and listed in accordance with standards prescribed by: (1) A nationally recognized and approved independent testing agency laboratory, such as Underwriters' Laboratories' Standard for Single and Multiple Station Smoke Detectors (UL 217); or (2) An agency authorized to make independent inspections by the state fire marshal. (b) No person, agency, institution or home, whether public or private, shall: (1) Provide foster care services within any dwelling unless an approved smoke detector is installed and maintained within such dwelling by the person, agency, institution or home. When activated, the detector shall initiate an alarm that is audible in the sleeping rooms of the dwelling; or (2) Tamper with or remove any smoke detector required by this section, or a component thereof. (c) All smoke detectors required by this section: (1) Shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's directions, unless they conflict with applicable law; and (2) May be wired directly (hardwired) to the building's power supply, powered by a self-monitored battery, or operated with a plug-in outlet fitted with a plug restrainer device, provided the outlet is not controlled by any switch other than the main power supply. (d) Compliance with this section shall not relieve any person, agency, institution or home from the requirements of any other applicable law, ordinance, rule or regulation. Nothing in this section shall be construed to be in derogation of § 68-120-111 . (e) (1) The department of children's services shall enforce this section only for its own foster homes or for agencies that it licenses pursuant to chapter 5, part 5 of this title, and it shall periodically undertake appropriate activities to encourage and ensure compliance. (2) Any violations noted by the department as a result of its inspections of child care agencies pursuant to § 37-5-513 shall be processed in the manner prescribed in that section. (3) The provisions of this section as it applies to persons, agencies, institutions or homes licensed by any other departments of this state to provide foster care for children shall be enforced by those departments. Those departments shall periodically undertake appropriate activities to encourage and ensure compliance. Acts 1990, ch. 619, § 1; 1996, ch. 1079, § 73; 2000, ch. 981, §§ 51, 58.
(a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "approved smoke detector" means a device that senses visible or invisible particles of combustion and has been investigated and listed in accordance with standards prescribed by: (1) A nationally recognized and approved independent testing agency laboratory, such as Underwriters' Laboratories' Standard for Single and Multiple Station Smoke Detectors (UL 217); or (2) An agency authorized to make independent inspections by the state fire marshal.
(1) A nationally recognized and approved independent testing agency laboratory, such as Underwriters' Laboratories' Standard for Single and Multiple Station Smoke Detectors (UL 217); or
(2) An agency authorized to make independent inspections by the state fire marshal.
Multiple Station Smoke Detectors (UL 217); or (2) An agency authorized to make independent inspections by the state fire marshal.
(1) A nationally recognized and approved independent testing agency laboratory, such as Underwriters' Laboratories' Standard for Single and Multiple Station Smoke Detectors (UL 217); or
(2) An agency authorized to make independent inspections by the state fire marshal.
(b) No person, agency, institution or home, whether public or private, shall: (1) Provide foster care services within any dwelling unless an approved smoke detector is installed and maintained within such dwelling by the person, agency, institution or home. When activated, the detector shall initiate an alarm that is audible in the sleeping rooms of the dwelling; or (2) Tamper with or remove any smoke detector required by this section, or a component thereof.
(1) Provide foster care services within any dwelling unless an approved smoke detector is installed and maintained within such dwelling by the person, agency, institution or home. When activated, the detector shall initiate an alarm that is audible in the sleeping rooms of the dwelling; or
(2) Tamper with or remove any smoke detector required by this section, or a component thereof.
(c) All smoke detectors required by this section: (1) Shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's directions, unless they conflict with applicable law; and (2) May be wired directly (hardwired) to the building's power supply, powered by a self-monitored battery, or operated with a plug-in outlet fitted with a plug restrainer device, provided the outlet is not controlled by any switch other than the main power supply.
(1) Shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's directions, unless they conflict with applicable law; and
(2) May be wired directly (hardwired) to the building's power supply, powered by a self-monitored battery, or operated with a plug-in outlet fitted with a plug restrainer device, provided the outlet is not controlled by any switch other than the main power supply.
(d) Compliance with this section shall not relieve any person, agency, institution or home from the requirements of any other applicable law, ordinance, rule or regulation. Nothing in this section shall be construed to be in derogation of § 68-120-111 .
(e) (1) The department of children's services shall enforce this section only for its own foster homes or for agencies that it licenses pursuant to chapter 5, part 5 of this title, and it shall periodically undertake appropriate activities to encourage and ensure compliance. (2) Any violations noted by the department as a result of its inspections of child care agencies pursuant to § 37-5-513 shall be processed in the manner prescribed in that section. (3) The provisions of this section as it applies to persons, agencies, institutions or homes licensed by any other departments of this state to provide foster care for children shall be enforced by those departments. Those departments shall periodically undertake appropriate activities to encourage and ensure compliance.
(1) The department of children's services shall enforce this section only for its own foster homes or for agencies that it licenses pursuant to chapter 5, part 5 of this title, and it shall periodically undertake appropriate activities to encourage and ensure compliance.
(2) Any violations noted by the department as a result of its inspections of child care agencies pursuant to § 37-5-513 shall be processed in the manner prescribed in that section.
(3) The provisions of this section as it applies to persons, agencies, institutions or homes licensed by any other departments of this state to provide foster care for children shall be enforced by those departments. Those departments shall periodically undertake appropriate activities to encourage and ensure compliance.
Acts 1990, ch. 619, § 1; 1996, ch. 1079, § 73; 2000, ch. 981, §§ 51, 58.

Status: in_force

Need a lawyer in Tennessee?

Find a Tennessee lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the Open US Law dataset (Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine (Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.