Department of Health
John J. Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, Commissioner

The Tennessee Division of General Environmental Health is responsible for the inspection of hotels.

Environmental specialists inspect every hotel at least twice a year or more often as deemed necessary to ensure compliance with the Hotel, Food Service Establishment, and Public Swimming Pool Act of 1985* and the hotel rules and regulations.  Current hotel permits must be displayed in a prominent location for the public to view and the inspection report must be available for public scrutiny. 

*Tennessee Code, Title 68, Chapter 14

The Tennessee Division of General Environmental Health is responsible for the inspection of public swimming pools.

The Division conducts a plan review, required of new public swimming pools, to ensure the pool will meet the minimum construction and installation requirements prior to construction. Prior approval of plans protects applicants from expensive changes after construction and installation. The designer, architect or engineer must certify the structural safety of the pool in the plans and specifications submitted.

Environmental specialists inspect every public swimming pool at least once per month while the pool is in operation to ensure compliance with the Hotel, Food Service Establishment, and Public Swimming Pool Act of 1985* and the rules and regulations.

Training is available regionally in the spring of each year. Contact your local health department for a schedule of training classes.

*Tennessee Code, Title 68, Chapter 14

The Tennessee Division of General Environmental Health conducts inspections of child care facilities, as well as their food service operations.

Child care facilities are inspected twice per year by the health department for sanitation and safety requirements.  Contact your local Department of Human Services for licensing of child care facilities.

See food service establishments for the requirements of food operations within child care facilities.

The Tennessee Division of General Environmental Health conducts inspections of school plants for sanitation and safety requirements.  Inspections of school plants are made two times per year in most counties.  Some counties have requested not to be inspected.  Contact the local county education department for further information.

See food service establishments for the requirements of food operations within schools.

The Tennessee Division of General Environmental Health is responsible for the inspection of organized camps. 

Environmental specialists inspect every organized camp at least twice a year to ensure compliance with Tennessee's organized camps law* and the rules and regulations.

See food service establishments for the requirements of food operations within camps.

*Tennessee Code, Title 68, Chapter 110

The Tennessee Division of General Environmental Health licenses and inspects tattoo artists and establishments in the state of Tennessee. 

Environmental specialists inspect tattoo establishments four times per year to ensure compliance with Tennessee's tattoos and body piercing law* and the rules and regulations.

Other Links:

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration:  Tattoos, Temporary Tattoos and Henna Products
• Medline Plus: Tattoos and Piercings
• Centers for Disease Control:  Can I get HIV from getting a tattoo or through body piercing?
• Mayo Clinic: Tattoos and Piercings:  What you should know before you go under the needle

*Tennessee Code, Title 62, Chapter 38

The Division of General Environmental Health licenses and inspects body piercing establishments at least once per year. 

Environmental specialists inspect tattoo establishments four times per year to ensure compliance with Tennessee's tattoos and body piercing law* and the rules and regulations.