FIRE & BUILDING CODE INSPECTOR 1* - 08182026-80103

State of Tennessee; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Tennessee is seeking a Fire/Building Code Inspector trainee in Chattanooga. The role focuses on inspecting structures for fire hazards, coding compliance, and preparation of corrective action plans.

The entry-level position requires a Bachelor's degree (or relevant associate's degree with substitution options) and a valid driver's license. Training will lead to higher-grade positions within the department. Applicants should be prepared for a thorough external review.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.
• Substitution of a specific associate's degree for the required Bachelor's degree.
• Substitution of experience for education based on fire/building safety related fields.

Responsibilities

• Trains to inspect and verify fire protection and building systems for compliance with state codes.
• Learns to conduct annual fire and building code inspections and investigations of complaints.
• Learns to review plans for code compliance and provide recommendations.

Skills

Mathematics

Systems Analysis

Time Management

Coordination

Reading Comprehension

Education

Bachelor's degree

Associate's degree substitution for Bachelor's

Job description

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time 08/18/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Job Information

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time 08/18/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Closing Date/Time 08/31/2026 11:59PM Central Time

Salary (Monthly) $3,631.00

Salary (Annually) $43,572.00

Job Type Full-Time

City, State Location Chattanooga, TN

Department Commerce and Insurance

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE & INSURANCE, HAMILTON COUNTY

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree

Substitution of a Specific Associate's degree for the Required Bachelor's Degree:

Graduation from an accredited college, university, or technical institute with an associate's degree in fire-protection engineering technology, fire science, engineering technology, and/or construction technology may be substituted for the required Bachelor's degree.

Substitution of Experience for Education:

Qualifying full-time experience in one or a combination of the following areas may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis to a maximum of four years: (1) fire prevention or suppression, (2) engineering or architecture (3) reviewing architectural or engineering plans to determine compliance with fire and building safety codes (4) construction project management (5) arson investigation of commercial or residential building structures; (6) fire or building inspections or design for buildings under construction; or (7) any skilled work in drafting, carpentry, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, inspection; (8) or other related building maintenance or construction trades (e.g., experience equivalent to one year of full-time work in one or a combination of the above listed fields may substitute for one year of the required education).

OR

Graduation from an accredited college, university, or technical institute with an associate's degree and experience equivalent to one year of full-time work in one or a combination of the following: (1) fire prevention or suppression, (2) engineering or architecture (3) reviewing architectural or engineering plans to determine compliance with fire and building safety codes (4) construction project management (5) arson investigation of commercial or residential building structures; (6) fire or building inspections or design for buildings under construction; or (7) any skilled work in drafting, carpentry, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, inspection; (8) or other related building maintenance or construction trades.

Necessary Special Qualifications:

Positions in this class must meet the following requirements: Possess a valid motor vehicle operator license.

Overview

Under close supervision, is responsible for fire and building codes inspection work of average difficulty; performs related work as required. This is the entry-level class in the Fire and Building Code Inspector series. An employee in this class inspects building structures for fire hazards and code violations. This class is flexibly staffed with and differs from Fire and Building Code Inspector 2 in that an incumbent of the latter functions independently at the working level.

• An applicant appointed to this flexibly staffed class will be reclassified to the next higher class in the series after successful completion of a mandatory one-year training period; inadequate or marginal performance during the training period will result in automatic demotion or termination.

Responsibilities

• Trains to inspect and verify the installation and testing of fire protection and detection systems, as well as major building components like foundations, floors, walls, roofs, and mechanical and electrical systems, for compliance with state laws, codes, regulations, and standards.
• Learns to conduct annual fire and building code compliance inspections and investigates complaints to determine violations.
• Learns to inspect blasting sites to ensure compliance with laws and evaluates materials, storage, signage, and vibrations.
• Learns to perform fire code compliance follow-up inspections and may testify under oath about inspection details.
• Learns to interpret codes for external customers, explains violations, and recommends necessary changes.
• Learns to review architectural and engineering plans for compliance and investigates complaints to determine potential violations.
• Learns to obtain required fire safety certifications and conducts meetings on fire safety and prevention.
• Learns to calculate building area and occupant load, monitors blasting vibrations, communicates with stakeholders, and gathers corrective action plans.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies

• Tech Savvy
• Communicates Effectively
• Decision Quality
• Self Development
• Interpersonal Savvy

Knowledges

• Customer and Personal Service
• Design
• Mechanical

Skills

• Mathematics
• Systems Analysis
• Time Management
• Coordination
• Reading Comprehension

Abilities

• Written Comprehension
• Speech Clarity
• Problem Sensitivity
• Speech Recognition

Tools & Equipment

• Personal Computer, Smart Phone, Electronic Devices, Telephone
• Fax/Copy Machine, Printer/Scanner, Calculator, Camera
• Flashlight, Decibel Reader, Tape Measure
• Engineer and Architect Rules, Pitch Level, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
• Fire Safety Equipment, Personal Protectional Equipment

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

• Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.