Restaurant Inspections

The Tennessee Department of Health says, “State law, regulations, and the inspection program are designed to help ensure that food service establishments are safe places to eat. The law requires that restaurants have an unannounced inspection at least once every six months to determine if they are in compliance with applicable rules and regulations at the time of inspection. In addition to routine inspections, unannounced inspections are conducted in response to individual complaints.

“Tennessee uses a 44 item inspection sheet with a maximum of 100 points. Thirteen of the items are considered critical. Critical items, found out of compliance, must be corrected within ten days. Follow-up inspections are conducted to determine compliance on critical items. Failure to correct critical violations or imminent health hazards result in closure of establishments until corrections are made. Serious or repeated violations may result in revocation of the establishment's permit.

“An individual restaurant inspection score is a "snapshot" of the condition of the establishment at the time of inspection. A single inspection score is not necessarily indicative of the inspection history of the facility. The scores are used as a tool by the State and industry to place a value on compliance to the regulations, educate the operators, and thereby encourage corrective action.”

Swimming Pool Inspections

The Division of General Environmental health oversees inspections of public swimming pools in Tennessee.  Environmental specialists, according to the division, inspect every public swimming pool at least once per month while the pool is in operation to ensure compliance with state laws, codes and regulations. 

Child Care Facilities

The Tennessee Division of Environmental Health is responsible for conducting inspections of child care facilities and their food service operations.  Twice each year, the health department inspects each facility for sanitation and safety requirements. 

School Cafeterias

The Tennessee Division of General Environmental Health inspects school foodservice operations to ensure they meet sanitation and safety requirements.  Inspections are made twice a year in most counties in Tennessee.

Organized Camps

The Tennessee Division of General Environmental Health inspects organized camps in the state twice a year to ensure compliance with Tennessee’s organized camps law and its rules and regulations.

Tattoo Artists and Establishments

The Division of General Environmental Health in Tennessee licenses and inspects tattoo artists and establishments in operation across the state, visiting and inspecting each four times per year to ensure compliance with the state’s laws and regulations.