Tennessee Code Title 13. Public Planning and Housing § 13-21-309

(1) Investigate conditions in the municipality, in order to determine which residential rental dwelling units in the municipality are deteriorated or in the process of deteriorating;

(2) Administer oaths, affirmations, examine witnesses, issue subpoenas and receive evidence;

(3) Enter upon the premises for the purpose of making examinations and inspections; provided, that the public officer may enter inside the dwelling unit only with the consent of a person in possession, with a validly issued search warrant, or in the event of an emergency presenting an immediate threat to the health, safety, and welfare of a person in possession. Entry shall comply in all respects with the fourth amendment to the Constitution of the United States as well as article I, § 7, of the Constitution of Tennessee. Entry shall be made in such manner as to cause the least possible inconvenience to a person in possession;

(4) Appoint and fix the duties of any officers, agents and employees that the public officer deems necessary to carry out the purposes of the residential rental inspection ordinance; and

(5) Delegate any of the public officer's functions and powers under the residential rental inspection ordinance to any officers and agents as the public officer may designate.