Tennessee Code Title 71. Welfare § 71-3-522

(1) “Child care family home” means a family child care home that is operated in an occupied residential dwelling;  and

(2) “Local governing authority” means the governing body of the municipality or county where a child care family home is located.

(b)(1) Except as required by subdivision (b)(2), a local governing authority shall treat a child care family home as residential property in the application of local regulations, including:

(2) A local governing authority shall apply the standards adopted by the state fire marshal pursuant to § 68-120-101 to a child care family home for the following:

(1) Stricter requirements than those established by the division of fire prevention;  or

(2) Any additional regulations that do not apply to other residential properties.