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Tennessee Scale Certification & Weights and Measures

✓ Verified from official sources — July 11, 2026

Tennessee runs a state-managed weights and measures program — commercial scale owners deal with the state agency directly. If you operate a commercial scale in Tennessee — at a warehouse, farm, recycling yard, retail store, or truck stop — here is who regulates it, what the law requires, and exactly who to contact.

Who inspects commercial scales in Tennessee?

State-run: TDA's Weights and Measures Section inspectors test commercial measuring devices statewide (fuel pumps, scales, LPG meters) and perform package check-weighing and UPC price verification. Owners contact the section at weights.measures@tn.gov / 615-837-5109.

What Tennessee requires of scale owners

Tennessee publishes no device-registration program for scale owners; under Tenn. Code Ann. 47-26-907 all commercial devices must meet NIST Handbook 44/130 technical requirements and NTEP type evaluation. Persons who service/repair devices must hold Service Person/Service Agency licenses and file a Placed In Service Report; public weighing requires a Certified Public Weigher or Weighmaster license.

Devices used to buy or sell by weight must comply with NIST Handbook 44 — in practice this means an NTEP-certified, legal-for-trade scale. Confirm requirements for your device class with the office listed here.

Getting a scale into service — 4 steps

  1. Buy a legal-for-trade (NTEP-certified) scale appropriate for your application and capacity.
  2. Confirm registration and licensing requirements with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture ((615) 837-5109; toll-free 1-800-628-2631; metrology lab (615) 837-5159) before the scale enters commercial use.
  3. Arrange compliant installation and calibration. Where required, placing-in-service must be done by a licensed or registered service company.
  4. Stay compliant. Pass required inspections, keep calibration current, retain service records.

Common questions

Who certifies commercial scales in Tennessee?
State-run: TDA's Weights and Measures Section inspectors test commercial measuring devices statewide (fuel pumps, scales, LPG meters) and perform package check-weighing and UPC price verification. Owners contact the section at weights.measures@tn.gov / 615-837-5109.
What does Tennessee require of scale owners?
Tennessee publishes no device-registration program for scale owners; under Tenn. Code Ann. 47-26-907 all commercial devices must meet NIST Handbook 44/130 technical requirements and NTEP type evaluation. Persons who service/repair devices must hold Service Person/Service Agency licenses and file a Placed In Service Report; public weighing requires a Certified Public Weigher or Weighmaster license.
What is NTEP certification?
NTEP certifies that a scale model meets NIST Handbook 44 standards for commercial use. An NTEP Certificate of Conformance is the standard requirement for legal-for-trade devices across the U.S.
Where do I find official forms and fees?
Use the licensing and forms links in the office panel, or contact the office directly — fee schedules change and some are published only in application documents.

Need calibration, repair, or installation in Tennessee?

Send one request — ScaleRegistry routes it to qualified service providers for your state.

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