Permits & Licensing Guide
Complete permit inventory including food service permits, building permits for temporary structures, and fire marshal inspection scheduling.
Departments · Compliance
From food service permits to crowd management plans, ADA compliance to extreme weather protocols — every health and safety requirement your operation must meet to protect guests, staff, and your business during Super Bowl LXIV.
Field Notes
When 150,000+ visitors converge on Nashville for Super Bowl LXIV, every health and safety system will be tested at scale. The businesses that invest in rigorous compliance infrastructure will operate with confidence while unprepared operators face shutdowns, fines, and potentially catastrophic liability.
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Every food service operation in Davidson County — permanent restaurants, temporary vendors, food trucks, catering operations, and pop-up kitchens — must comply with the Metro Nashville Health Department's food safety regulations. During Super Bowl week, enforcement is heightened with additional inspectors deployed across the metro area.
All established restaurants, bars, and food service operations must maintain a current Metro Health Department food service permit. Permits are renewed annually and require a passing score on the Health Department's inspection checklist (minimum 70 points out of 100 on the Nashville grading scale). During the 6 months preceding the Super Bowl, expect increased frequency of routine inspections. Establishments with scores below 80 should proactively address deficiencies now, as a failing inspection during Super Bowl week results in immediate closure until re-inspection — potentially costing thousands of dollars in lost revenue during the most profitable week of the decade.
Operations serving food for 14 consecutive days or fewer at a specific location require a Temporary Food Establishment (TFE) permit. This includes pop-up kitchens, festival food booths, catering tents, and temporary concession stands. TFE applications require: a menu with preparation methods for each item, equipment list, water source plan (potable water supply and wastewater disposal), handwashing station specifications (minimum one per food prep area), food storage temperature management plan, and waste disposal arrangement. Pre-operation inspection is mandatory — no food may be served until the inspector grants approval. Apply at least 30 days before your event to ensure inspector availability.
Every person who handles, prepares, or serves food must hold a valid food handler certification. Tennessee accepts certifications from several approved providers, including ServSafe, StateFoodSafety, and the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals. Certifications are valid for 5 years and must be available on-site for inspector review. For Super Bowl week, ensure that all temporary and seasonal staff complete certification before their first food-handling shift. Online certification courses can be completed in 2–4 hours and cost Contact for pricingper person. This is one of the most cost-effective compliance investments available — and one of the most commonly cited violations during event inspections.
The Metro Health Department enforces strict temperature control requirements: cold foods must be maintained at 41°F (5°C) or below, and hot foods at 135°F (57°C) or above. The "danger zone" (41°F–135°F) is the primary focus of health inspectors during event food service. Temporary food operations face additional challenges — outdoor events in February Nashville weather (average highs around 50°F with potential for rain) create unique temperature management considerations. All food operations must have calibrated thermometers, temperature logs maintained hourly, and documented corrective action procedures when temperature excursions occur. Inspectors will check temperature logs during unannounced visits.
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The National Fire Protection Association's Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) establishes the minimum requirements for crowd management in assembly occupancies. Every event exceeding 500 attendees in Nashville must have a documented crowd management plan that meets NFPA 101 standards.
NFPA 101 requires crowd managers for all assembly occupancies exceeding 250 persons. The ratio is 1 trained crowd manager per 250 occupants. Crowd management plans must document: trained crowd manager assignments and locations, communication equipment and protocols, emergency evacuation routes and assembly points, procedures for managing queues, crowd surges, and entry/exit flows, medical emergency response protocols, and coordination procedures with Metro Nashville Police and Fire. Plans must be submitted to the Nashville Fire Marshal for review at least 72 hours before the event. The Fire Marshal may require modifications or additional resources based on the plan review. All crowd managers must complete documented training in crowd dynamics, emergency evacuation, and first aid.
NFPA 101 specifies minimum egress (exit) requirements based on occupant load. Assembly occupancies require a minimum of two means of egress when the occupant load exceeds 49, and additional exits as load increases. Exit width is calculated at 0.2 inches per person for level travel and 0.3 inches per person for stairs. Exit signs must be illuminated (internally or externally) and visible from 75 feet. Emergency lighting must provide a minimum of 1 foot-candle at floor level for 90 minutes on battery backup. During Super Bowl events, egress plans must account for heightened crowd density, unfamiliar visitors who don't know exit locations, and potential panic scenarios. Practice drills with staff are strongly recommended.
The Desk
Every event and venue operating during Super Bowl week must have a documented Emergency Action Plan. The Nashville Fire Marshal and Metro Police require EAPs for all events exceeding 500 attendees, and best practices recommend them for any commercial operation during the event period.
Nashville's February weather can include severe thunderstorms, high winds, ice storms, and occasional tornado watches. Your EAP must include specific protocols for each weather scenario: trigger criteria for shelter-in-place vs. evacuation, designated shelter locations for outdoor events, communication procedures for alerting attendees, and wind speed thresholds for temporary structure safety (most temporary tents must be evacuated at sustained winds above 35 mph or gusts above 45 mph). Monitor the National Weather Service Nashville office forecasts and designate a weather monitoring officer for the duration of your event.
Your EAP must include medical emergency procedures: location of on-site first aid stations, identification of nearest hospital emergency departments (Vanderbilt University Medical Center, TriStar Centennial, Saint Thomas Midtown), protocols for cardiac events (AED locations and trained operators), heat/cold exposure treatment procedures, and mass casualty incident protocols. Events exceeding 5,000 attendees should have on-site EMS resources. The NFL typically coordinates medical resources for official events, but unofficial gatherings and private events must arrange their own medical coverage.
Document fire emergency procedures including: fire suppression equipment locations (extinguishers, sprinkler zones), evacuation routes and assembly points, fire department notification procedures (call 911 first, then activate internal protocols), designated fire watch personnel for events using open flames, pyrotechnics, or cooking equipment, and procedures for shutting down electrical and gas systems. The Nashville Fire Marshal requires fire watches whenever hot work, open flame cooking, or pyrotechnics are used at temporary events.
Establish a clear communication chain that includes: primary and backup communication methods (radio, cellular, hardwired), emergency contact list for all key personnel (event director, security chief, medical lead, fire watch, law enforcement liaison), public address system procedures for announcements, social media protocols for emergencies (designate a single authorized communicator), and coordination channels with Metro Nashville Emergency Communications Center (911/311). During Super Bowl week, cellular networks will be heavily congested — plan for backup communication methods.
The Desk
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to all temporary structures, event venues, and public-facing operations. Compliance is not optional, and the Department of Justice actively monitors mega-events for ADA violations.
All temporary structures must provide accessible routes with a maximum slope of 1:12 (8.33%), minimum 36-inch clear width (44 inches preferred), and firm, stable, slip-resistant surfaces. Ramps must have handrails on both sides when the rise exceeds 6 inches. Accessible entrances must be provided at the same location as general entrances — separate "accessible" entrances are not compliant. For temporary tents and booths, ground-level access is preferred; when elevated platforms are used, ramps must be provided. Accessible seating areas must provide clear sightlines equivalent to general seating, and companion seating must be adjacent. Accessible restroom facilities must be provided at the same ratio as general facilities.
All signage must include tactile elements (raised characters and Braille) for permanent identification signs, and must meet contrast ratio requirements (light on dark or dark on light, with a minimum 70% contrast ratio). Directional and informational signs must be mounted at 48–60 inches above finished floor. For events with public address announcements, provide visual equivalents (message boards, scrolling text) for hearing-impaired attendees. ASL interpreters should be available upon request for official programs and presentations. Websites and digital communications related to the event must meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards for digital accessibility.
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Fire safety is the Nashville Fire Marshal's primary enforcement focus during mega-events. Every temporary structure, tent, and event venue must meet stringent fire safety requirements before public occupancy is authorized.
Portable fire extinguishers must be provided at a ratio of one per 3,000 square feet, with a maximum travel distance of 75 feet to the nearest extinguisher. For cooking operations, Class K extinguishers are required within 30 feet of the cooking equipment. Extinguishers must be mounted, visible, unobstructed, and inspected monthly with annual maintenance certification tags current. For tented structures exceeding 2,500 square feet, automatic sprinkler systems may be required depending on occupancy classification and the presence of cooking operations. All fire suppression equipment must be commercially serviced and tagged — consumer-grade extinguishers do not meet code requirements.
The fire marshal calculates maximum occupancy based on use classification: assembly without fixed seating requires 7 net square feet per person; standing-only areas allow 5 square feet per person; dining areas require 15 net square feet per person. Exit width is calculated at 0.2 inches per occupant for level travel. All exits must be clearly marked with internally illuminated EXIT signs visible from 75 feet. Emergency lighting systems must provide minimum 1 foot-candle illumination at floor level for 90 minutes on battery backup. Exit doors must swing in the direction of egress travel, must not be locked or blocked during occupancy, and must not require special knowledge to operate (no deadbolts, chains, or non-standard hardware on exit doors).
All tent fabrics must be certified as flame-retardant, with a current flame-retardancy certificate available on-site for inspector review. Staking and anchoring must be engineered for local wind loads — Nashville's February wind gusts can exceed 40 mph. Tent sidewalls must not obstruct exits. Cooking operations under tents require a minimum 10-foot clearance between cooking equipment and tent fabric, plus a commercial hood and fire suppression system. Heating equipment under tents must be properly vented, separated from combustibles, and supervised by fire watch personnel at all times during operation.
All temporary electrical installations must be performed by licensed Tennessee electricians and inspected before use. Extension cords must be commercial-grade, properly rated for the connected load, and cannot be used as permanent wiring. Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are required on all outdoor receptacles and within 6 feet of water sources. Generator installations must maintain minimum clearances from tents and structures (20 feet minimum), with proper fuel storage and fire suppression. Electrical panels must be accessible and clearly labeled. The Nashville Electrical Inspector may require separate inspection of temporary power installations.
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Temporary workers, event staff, and construction crews are protected by OSHA regulations regardless of employment duration. Sanitation standards for public events are governed by both local health codes and industry best practices.
All temporary workers — including event staff, setup/teardown crews, security personnel, and seasonal hires — are entitled to OSHA workplace protections. Employers must provide: hazard communication training (Right-to-Know) before first shift, personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate to job duties, access to clean drinking water and restroom facilities, fall protection for work at heights above 6 feet, and a safe workplace free from recognized hazards. Staffing agencies and event producers share OSHA responsibilities for temporary workers — both the staffing agency and the host employer can be cited for violations. During Super Bowl setup and teardown, OSHA compliance is particularly critical due to compressed timelines, unfamiliar work environments, and mixed workforces from multiple contractors operating simultaneously.
The industry standard for portable restroom ratios at outdoor events is 1 unit per 100 guests for events lasting 4+ hours. For events with significant alcohol service, increase the ratio to 1 per 75 guests. ADA-accessible units must comprise at least 5% of total units, with a minimum of 1 accessible unit per cluster. Units must be serviced at least daily for multi-day events, with more frequent servicing for high-traffic locations. Handwashing stations must be provided at a ratio of 1 per every 4 restroom units, with soap, water, and paper towels. Position restroom clusters along event perimeters and near food service areas, with clear directional signage. During Super Bowl week, portable restroom demand will far exceed normal supply — book your vendor at least 6 months in advance.
The Desk
Use these planning ratios to size your health and safety infrastructure. These are industry-standard minimums — exceed them where possible, especially during mega-events when demand consistently exceeds normal projections.
The Desk
Medical preparedness and weather contingency planning are the final layers of a comprehensive health and safety program. During mega-events, these capabilities are tested more frequently than any other aspect of event operations.
Events exceeding 5,000 attendees should provide at least one dedicated first aid station, staffed by certified EMTs or paramedics, with additional stations at a ratio of 1 per 5,000 attendees. Stations must be stocked with basic first aid supplies, AED (automated external defibrillator), oxygen, and immobilization equipment. Clear signage must direct attendees to first aid locations. Communication equipment must connect first aid staff to the event command center and 911 dispatch. During Super Bowl events, the most common medical incidents are alcohol-related illness, slip-and-fall injuries (especially in February weather), cardiac events in the 50+ demographic, and heat/cold exposure. Train first aid staff on these specific scenarios.
Nashville's February weather is unpredictable: average highs around 50°F, average lows around 30°F, but with potential for ice storms, freezing rain, and wind chills below 20°F. Your extreme weather protocol must include: cold weather thresholds triggering heated shelter availability, ice/snow removal procedures for walkways and event surfaces (slip hazards are the #1 injury cause at cold-weather outdoor events), wind speed monitoring with evacuation triggers for temporary structures, severe thunderstorm and tornado watch/warning procedures (Nashville is in Tornado Alley), and heat illness protocols for unseasonably warm days. Designate a Weather Safety Officer responsible for monitoring NWS forecasts and making real-time operational decisions.
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