BEDFORD COUNTY BOARD
OF COMMISIONERS
Resolution No. 25-10
A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT FIRE CODE
WHEREAS, the safety and well-being of the
residents of Bedford County, Tennessee, is of ut-
most importance to the county government; and
WHEREAS, fires pose a significant threat to life,
property, and the environment, necessitating com-
prehensive measures to prevent, control, and miti-
gate fire-related hazards; and
WHEREAS, the implementation of a Fire Code
provides a standardized framework for fire preven-
tion, safety protocols, and emergency response,
thereby enhancing the protection of our community
as well as the first responders charged with the re-
sponsibility for fighting fire; and WHEREAS, adopt-
ing a Fire Code aligns with the county’s commitment
to public safety, ensures consistency with state and
federal regulations, and facilitates effective collab-
oration with emergency services and other relevant
agencies; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of a Fire Code is sup-
ported by the Bedford County Fire Department and
other key stakeholders as a critical step towards re-
ducing fire risks and improving overall community
resilience; and
WHEREAS, the provisions of T.C.A. §5-20-101
ET SEQ. AUTHORIZES SUCH ACTION BY Bed-
ford County, Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of Bedford County,
Tennessee, to adopt the 2021 edition of the Inter-
national Fire Code; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of this code is done
to facilitate proper inspection activities of Bedford
County, Tennessee related to construction and
maintenance of buildings within the unincorporated
boundaries of said County and within those incor-
porated municipalities has not otherwise adopted a
minimum building code respecting the same sub-
ject matter as provided in T.C.A. §5-20-106 and re-
lating to public safety, health and general welfare.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Bed-
ford County Board of Commissioners, that:
The 2021 International Fire Code, as adopted by
the International Code Council (ICC), shall be and
hereby is adopted by this reference as though cop-
ied herein verbatim subject to the amendments and
deletions set forth on Exhibit “A” attached hereto
and incorporated herein by this reference.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Bedford
County Board of Commissioners,
A. That to the extent any language in the said
adopted Fire Code are in any manner contradictory
to, or conflict with, any previously adopted or ex-
isting Resolutions of Bedford County, Tennessee,
the provisions of such Fire Code shall prevail and
any existing Resolutions to the contrary are hereby
repealed and/or amended, as may be required to
conform to the Fire Code, but shall otherwise re-
main in full force and effect.
B. That when reference is made in the said ad-
opted Fire Code to the duties of certain identified or
named officials whose titles differ from the officials
in Bedford County, then the designated official of
Bedford County, Tennessee who duties correspond
to those of the official named in said adopted Fire
Code shall be deemed to be the person responsi-
ble for enforcing the provisions of said adopted Fire
Code.
C. 112.4 of the 2021 International Fire Code. Vi-
olation Penalties. Persons who shall violate a pro-
vision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of
the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install,
alter, repair or do work in violation of the approved
construction documents or directive of the fire code
official, or of a permit or certificate used under pro-
vision of this code, shall be guilt of a [Class A Mis-
demeanor], punishable by a fine of not more than
[1,000] dollars or by imprisonment not exceeding
[11 months and 29 days], or both such fine and
imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues
after due notice has been served shall be deemed
a separate offense.
D. 112.4.1 of the International Fire Code. Abate-
ment of Violation. In addition to the imposition of
the penalties herein described, the fire code official
is authorized to institute appropriate action to pre-
vent unlawful construction or to restrain, correct or
abate a violation; or to prevent illegal occupancy
of a structure or premises; or to stop an illegal act,
conduct of business or occupancy of a structure on
or about any premises.
E. That the Effective Date of this Resolution
shall be in force beginning on July 1, 2025, and af-
ter its passage, the public welfare requiring it.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the Bedford
County Board of Commissioners on the 11 day of
March, 2025.
BEDFORD COUNTY MAYOR
By: _________________________
Chad Graham, Mayor
ATTEST: COUNTY CLERK
By: ________________________
T.C.A. §5-20-101
As used in this chapter, unless the context oth-
erwise requires:
1. “Code” means any published compilation of
rules and regulations that has been prepared by
technical trade associations or model code organi-
zations
regulating building construction, plumbing and
gas installation, fire prevention, any portion of such
rules, or any amendment of such rules; and
2. “Governing body” means the county legislative
body, board of commissioners, county council, or
other body in which the general legislative powers
of a county are vested.
T.C.A. §5-20-106
This chapter shall apply only to the unincorporat-
ed area of a county adopting such a code resolution
and to those incorporated cities and towns within
the county that do not elect, now or hereafter, to
adopt their own codes regulating the same subject
areas.
Exhibit “A”
Section 101.1 – Title. Delete the phrase “[name
of jurisdiction]” and substitute with “Bedford County,
Tennessee.”
Section 103.1 – Creation of Agency. Delete
the phrase “[Insert Name of Department]” and sub-
stitute with “Bedford County Fire Department.”
Section 112.4 – Insert: [OFFENSE 1st Writ-
ten Warning, 2nd $100.00 fine, 3rd $500 fine, 4th
$1,000 and summons to court (Class A Misde-
meanor).]
Section 105 – Permits. This section shall be ad-
opted. See Permit and Fee Schedule.
Section 507.5.1 – Where Required. INSERT:
Exception #3. For new residential subdivisions, hy-
drant distance requirements shall be 500 feet with
the first hydrant location being at the entrance of
the development.
Section 5704.2.9.6.1 – Delete the phrase “[ju-
risdiction to specify}” and substitute with “Bedford
County, Tennessee.”
Section 5706.2.4.4 – Delete the phrase “[ju-
risdiction to specify}” and substitute with “Bedford
County, Tennessee.”
Section 5806.2 - Delete the phrase “[jurisdiction
to specify}” and substitute with “Bedford County,
Tennessee.”
Section 6104.2 - Delete the phrase “[jurisdiction
to specify}” and substitute with “Bedford County,
Tennessee.”
Appendix B – Adopt Section B103 only. The
remainder of this appendix shall NOT be adopted.
Appendix C – This appendix shall be adopted.
Appendix D – This appendix shall be adopted.
Any and all references in Appendix D to any cul-de-
sac sizes shall be amended to reflect a diameter of
80 feet and a minimum road width of 22 feet. (Minor
and Dead-end Streets)
Appendix I – This appendix shall be adopted.
