(a) No new fire department may be established or recognized within Tennessee without the approval of the local elected governing body. This approval shall include the geographical territory to be covered by the new fire department.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 68-102-306

  • fire department: means a department of a municipality, county, or political subdivision, or an organization, agency, or entity that offers its services, for or without pay, for the purpose of suppressing fires, performing rescue services, or for other emergency response purposes. See Tennessee Code 68-102-302
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) No governmental unit, person, organization, agency, or entity shall represent themselves to be or have a fire department as defined in this part without first obtaining a certificate of recognition from the state fire marshal’s office, in accordance with § 68-102-304.
(c) No governmental unit, person, organization, agency, or entity shall receive or solicit money from any source, including local, state, or federal government, for the purpose of operating a fire department as defined in this part, unless the governmental unit, person, organization, agency, or entity maintains a valid certificate of recognition from the state fire marshal’s office.
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