Tennessee Code Title 68. Health, Safety and Environmental Protection § 68-14-713

(a) The commissioner of health shall set the permit fee by rule, promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, for each of the following to operate:

(b) This section does not apply to family child care homes, as defined in § 71-3-501.

(c) If the permit fee is delinquent for more than thirty (30) calendar days, a penalty fee of one-half ( 1/2 ) the permit fee must be assessed, in addition to the permit fee.  If a check is returned for any reason, a penalty fee of one-half ( 1/ 2 ) the permit fee must be assessed in addition to the permit fee.  The permit fee, plus any penalty, must be paid before the permit is issued.

(d) The permit fee, as established by rule under this section, may be increased up to three percent (3%) during a calendar year and up to five percent (5%) during a five-year period beginning January 1, 2026, and during each subsequent five-year period.  For purposes of this section, the permit fee is established on January 1, 2026, and any increase is assessed upon renewal of the food service establishment permit or upon application for a new food service establishment permit.

(e) When an institution operates several group homes within close proximity to each other, the permit fee must be assessed only against the institution and not against each individual group home.

(f) This section does not apply to a blind vendor subject to title 71, chapter 4, part 5.