Tennessee · TN · Vehicles
Tennessee: Is it legal to pump your own gas?
Self-serve allowed
Tennessee allows self-service gas; the State Fire Marshal enforces the International Fire Code, which permits self-service stations.
The Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office has adopted the 2021 International Fire Code, effective April 17, 2025. That code's motor fuel chapter allows self-service stations with an attendant on duty, and unattended stations where the fire official approves them. Tennessee's listed amendments do not change that chapter. No Tennessee statute or rule found names self-service directly, so this answer is an inference from the code adoption.
What the law says
The International Fire Code (IFC), 2021 edition, published by the International Code Council (ICC)
Sources
- Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office, Currently Adopted Codes Official · tn.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, State Fire Marshal's Office
- Phone
- 615-741-2241
- Website
- tn.gov
How bordering states compare
- Alabama Self-serve allowedAlabama has no law against pumping your own gas; its state fire code is the model code that allows attended self-service stations.
- Arkansas Self-serve allowedArkansas has no ban on self-service gas; its statewide fire code regulates self-service pumps, including unattended ones.
- Georgia Self-serve with limitsGeorgia allows self-service gas, but state law requires each self-service pump to have an attendant present and a local government license.
- Kentucky Self-serve allowedKentucky allows drivers to pump their own gas. Its fire code adopts NFPA 1, which permits self-service stations.
- Mississippi Self-serve allowedMississippi allows self-service gas; state law sets price-sign rules for self-service pumps at retail stations.
- Missouri Self-serve allowedMissouri allows self-service gas, and state rules even cover unattended stations where customers fuel up with no attendant present.
- North Carolina Self-serve allowedNorth Carolina allows self-service gas; state law regulates self-service pumps, and its fire code allows attended self-service stations.
- Virginia Self-serve allowedVirginia allows self-service gas; its Statewide Fire Prevention Code adopts the International Fire Code's self-service fueling rules with minor changes.