Not legal advice. This is a free reference compiled from official government sources. Laws change and local details matter. Confirm every deadline with the official source or a licensed attorney before you rely on it.
Last verified: · Confidence: medium
Tennessee landlord deadlines
Statewide rules for Tennessee. Cities and counties can add their own rules. Statutes and agency pages: tn.gov.
URLTA counties: ending a month-to-month tenancy takes 30 days' written notice (10 days for week-to-week) Verified
Deadline: At least 30 days before the lease ends (30 days for month-to-month tenancy; 10 days for week-to-week tenancy)
Without a lease (a periodic tenancy), the landlord can end the tenancy without a reason but must give written notice before going to court: at least 30 days for month-to-month rent, 10 days for week-to-week rent.
Who it covers: Applies in the counties where the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies; the booklet lists Anderson, Blount, Bradley, Davidson (Nashville), Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Maury, Montgomery, Rutherford, Sevier, Shelby (Memphis), Sullivan, Sumner, Washington, Williamson and Wilson counties. Other counties follow different statutes.
"Do you pay rent each month? Then the notice must give you at least 30 days to move. If you pay rent each week, it must give you 10 days to move." tn.gov
Notes: Tenn. Code Ann. 66-28-512 as summarized by the booklet. Tennessee does not publish a free official text of the Tennessee Code, so this rule is sourced from the renters' rights booklet of the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, hosted by the Tennessee Department of Health (tn.gov; revised 7/15). Medium confidence: the booklet is a plain-language summary and may lag later amendments; confirm the current Tenn. Code Ann. text.
Last verified 2026-10-24 · Confidence: medium · Status: verified · Report a correction
URLTA counties: unpaid rent needs a written notice giving the tenant 14 days to pay or move, unless the lease waives notice Verified
Deadline: At least 14 days after a written notice for unpaid rent (the tenant can cure by paying within the 14 days), unless the written lease waives notice
For unpaid rent, the landlord generally must give the tenant written notice with at least 14 days to pay or move before going to court; the tenant can stay by paying what is owed within the 14 days. A written lease can waive this notice, in which case the landlord may file a detainer warrant directly. A second breach within 6 months needs only a 7-day notice.
Who it covers: Applies in the counties where the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies; the booklet lists Anderson, Blount, Bradley, Davidson (Nashville), Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Maury, Montgomery, Rutherford, Sevier, Shelby (Memphis), Sullivan, Sumner, Washington, Williamson and Wilson counties. Other counties follow different statutes.
"What if you didn’t pay your rent? Most of the time the landlord must give you at least 14 days to move. He must tell you this in writing." tn.gov
"But, if you have a lease, it may say he can go straight to court." tn.gov
"Failed in s/c Business and Utilities Subcommittee of Commerce Committee" wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Notes: Tenn. Code Ann. 66-28-505 as summarized by the booklet. A 2025 bill to cut the period from 14 to 7 days (HB 1345 / SB 1088) failed in a House subcommittee on March 12, 2025 (capitol.tn.gov). Tennessee does not publish a free official text of the Tennessee Code, so this rule is sourced from the renters' rights booklet of the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, hosted by the Tennessee Department of Health (tn.gov; revised 7/15). Medium confidence: the booklet is a plain-language summary and may lag later amendments; confirm the current Tenn. Code Ann. text.
Last verified 2026-10-24 · Confidence: medium · Status: verified · Report a correction
URLTA counties: late fee only when rent is more than 5 days late (day 1 is the due date; if day 5 is a Sunday or legal holiday, the next business day), at most 10% of the rent owed Verified
Deadline: A late fee may be charged only when rent is more than 5 days late, counting the due date as day 1 (Sunday or legal holiday on day 5: next business day)
The landlord can charge a late fee only if rent is more than five days late. The five days start on the day rent is due; if the fifth day is a Sunday or legal holiday, the tenant can pay on the next business day without a fee. The late fee cannot be more than 10% of the rent owed.
Who it covers: Applies in the counties where the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies; the booklet lists Anderson, Blount, Bradley, Davidson (Nashville), Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Maury, Montgomery, Rutherford, Sevier, Shelby (Memphis), Sullivan, Sumner, Washington, Williamson and Wilson counties.
"If your rent is more than 5 days late, the landlord can charge you extra. The 5 days start the day the rent is due. Is the 5th day on a Sunday or legal holiday? Then you" tn.gov
Base rule used to compute the date: "must pay the rent the next business day. The most the late fee can be is 10% of the rent you owe." tn.gov
Notes: Tenn. Code Ann. 66-28-201(d) as summarized by the booklet (the booklet prints this text in two columns, so it is quoted in two parts). Tennessee does not publish a free official text of the Tennessee Code, so this is sourced from the Legal Aid Society renters' rights booklet hosted on tn.gov (rev. 7/15); confirm the current statute.
Last verified 2026-10-24 · Confidence: medium · Status: verified · Report a correction