Tennessee · TN

Tennessee Landlord-Tenant Laws 2026

Security deposit limits, eviction notice requirements, rent increase rules, and every compliance deadline for Tennessee landlords. 345 cities covered.

Based on Tennessee state statutes. Updated August 2026.

Tennessee Landlord Law Summary

In Tennessee, landlords must return security deposits within 30 days, provide 14-day eviction notice for nonpayment, and do not cap rent increases. No just cause eviction requirement.

Tennessee Landlord Rules at a Glance

Key compliance requirements every Tennessee landlord must follow.

Rule	Requirement
Security Deposit Cap	No statutory limit
Deposit Return Deadline	30 days
Eviction Notice (Nonpayment)	14 days written notice
Rent Cap	No statewide cap
Entry Notice	24 hours notice
Late Fee Cap	10% of monthly rent (applies to units where rent is $2,000/mo or less)
Grace Period	5 days
Just Cause Eviction	Not required

Software that tracks Tennessee compliance deadlines →

What Happens If You Violate Tennessee Landlord-Tenant Law

Security deposit violation: Tenant may recover the deposit if landlord fails to comply with return requirements.

Late deposit return: Miss the 30-day deadline and tenants can sue for up to 2x the withheld amount.
Improper eviction notice: Wrong notice period or procedure = case dismissed. You restart from zero and owe additional court costs.
Illegal entry: Entering without 24-hour notice = harassment claim. Tenants can terminate the lease and sue for damages.
Fair housing violation: First offense: $16,000+ federal fine. Repeat: $65,000+. Plus actual damages, attorney fees, and potential criminal penalties.

These penalties are why many Tennessee landlords hire property managers. Compare property management fees by state to see if it makes sense for your portfolio.

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Tennessee Landlord-Tenant Statutes

The laws that govern residential rentals in Tennessee.

Tennessee Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Tenn. Code §66-28-101 et seq.

Governs residential tenancies including security deposits, habitability, eviction, and tenant rights.

Tennessee Landlord Law Topics

Explore detailed rules by topic for any Tennessee city.

Eviction Process & Notice Requirements

View Tennessee rules by city →

Maintenance & Habitability Standards

View Tennessee rules by city →

Property Registration Requirements

View Tennessee rules by city →

Top 50 Tennessee Cities — Landlord Law Coverage

The largest Tennessee cities by population, with median rent and deposit cap data. Click any city for detailed landlord-tenant law coverage.

City	Population	Median 2BR Rent
Nashville-Davidson	715,884	$1,730/mo
Memphis	618,639	$1,274/mo
Knoxville	198,162	$1,471/mo
Chattanooga	187,030	$1,390/mo
Clarksville	180,716	$1,346/mo
Murfreesboro	165,430	$1,730/mo
Franklin	88,558	$1,730/mo
Johnson City	73,337	$1,132/mo
Jackson	68,264	$1,260/mo
Hendersonville	63,618	$1,730/mo
Spring Hill	57,637	$1,349/mo
Smyrna	57,418	$1,730/mo
Kingsport	56,704	$1,044/mo
Bartlett	56,030	$1,118/mo
Collierville	51,317	$1,274/mo
Gallatin	50,355	$1,730/mo
Cleveland	49,086	$1,233/mo
Lebanon	48,112	$1,730/mo
Columbia	47,445	$1,349/mo
Brentwood	45,265	$1,730/mo
Mount Juliet	42,912	$1,730/mo
Germantown	40,267	$1,274/mo
La Vergne	39,597	$1,730/mo
Cookeville	36,657	$1,014/mo
Oak Ridge	33,397	$1,471/mo
Maryville	32,436	$1,471/mo
Morristown	32,099	$1,135/mo
Bristol	27,854	$1,044/mo
Farragut	25,579	$1,118/mo
Shelbyville	25,132	$1,017/mo
East Ridge	21,961	$1,118/mo
Tullahoma	21,001	$959/mo
Springfield	19,494	$1,730/mo
Sevierville	18,102	$1,159/mo
Goodlettsville	17,429	$1,730/mo
Dickson	16,744	$1,730/mo
Dyersburg	15,968	$925/mo
Greeneville	15,776	$925/mo
Nolensville	15,437	$1,730/mo
White House	15,340	$1,730/mo
Arlington	15,305	$1,274/mo
Athens	14,731	$926/mo
Elizabethton	14,302	$1,132/mo
Lakeland	14,147	$1,118/mo
McMinnville	13,790	$1,118/mo
Portland	13,578	$1,730/mo
Alcoa	13,349	$1,471/mo
Manchester	13,272	$959/mo
Soddy-Daisy	13,234	$1,118/mo
Lewisburg	13,135	$1,041/mo

All 345 Tennessee Cities

Click any city to view its specific landlord-tenant laws, deadlines, and free calculators.

Nashville-Davidson 715,884 Memphis 618,639 Knoxville 198,162 Chattanooga 187,030 Clarksville 180,716 Murfreesboro 165,430 Franklin 88,558 Johnson City 73,337 Jackson 68,264 Hendersonville 63,618 Spring Hill 57,637 Smyrna 57,418 Kingsport 56,704 Bartlett 56,030 Collierville 51,317 Gallatin 50,355 Cleveland 49,086 Lebanon 48,112 Columbia 47,445 Brentwood 45,265 Mount Juliet 42,912 Germantown 40,267 La Vergne 39,597 Cookeville 36,657 Oak Ridge 33,397 Maryville 32,436 Morristown 32,099 Bristol 27,854 Farragut 25,579 Shelbyville 25,132 East Ridge 21,961 Tullahoma 21,001 Springfield 19,494 Sevierville 18,102 Goodlettsville 17,429 Dickson 16,744 Dyersburg 15,968 Greeneville 15,776 Nolensville 15,437 White House 15,340 Arlington 15,305 Athens 14,731 Elizabethton 14,302 Lakeland 14,147 McMinnville 13,790 Portland 13,578 Alcoa 13,349 Manchester 13,272 Soddy-Daisy 13,234 Lewisburg 13,135 Crossville 12,652 Hartsville/Trousdale County 12,271 Red Bank 12,065 Lawrenceburg 11,990 Lenoir City 11,754 Collegedale 11,476 Millington 11,467 Martin 11,000 Union City 10,954 Atoka 10,593 Oakland 10,488 Paris 10,343 Clinton 10,337 Fairview 10,240 Winchester 9,978 Brownsville 9,386 Signal Mountain 8,916 Jefferson City 8,761 Thompson's Station 8,580 Covington 8,568 Milan 8,292 Pulaski 8,276 Lexington 7,988 Humboldt 7,840 Ripley 7,626 Dayton 7,362 Savannah 7,311 La Follette 7,242 Church Hill 7,232 Fayetteville 7,047 Newport 6,973 Greenbrier 6,951 Munford 6,751 Lynchburg, Moore County 6,748 Loudon 6,652 Sweetwater 6,628 Jonesborough 6,480 Henderson 6,412 Pigeon Forge 6,357 Millersville 6,299 Kingston 6,218 Harriman 6,171 Erwin 5,989 Lafayette 5,839 Dunlap 5,804 Rockwood 5,635 Ashland City 5,586 McKenzie 5,586 Mount Carmel 5,556 Medina 5,526 Pleasant View 5,488 Smithville 5,392 Madisonville 5,318 Bolivar 5,136 Sparta 4,915 Mount Pleasant 4,824 Coopertown 4,698 Rogersville 4,633 Whiteville 4,561 Huntingdon 4,504 Selmer 4,482 Forest Hills 4,479 Oak Hill 4,457 Harrogate 4,403 Louisville 4,347 Waverly 4,275 White Bluff 4,161 Algood 4,117 Trenton 4,092 Livingston 4,040 Hohenwald 3,892 Unicoi 3,818 Oneida 3,815 Gatlinburg 3,701 Etowah 3,690 Camden 3,683 Jasper 3,621 Dandridge 3,617 Centerville 3,567 Somerville 3,525 Tiptonville 3,437 Oliver Springs 3,398 Tusculum 3,367 Newbern 3,274 Bean Station 3,071 South Pittsburg 2,976 Dresden 2,953 Brighton 2,881 Woodbury 2,849 New Tazewell 2,803 Westmoreland 2,784 Kingston Springs 2,775 Monterey 2,746 Piperton 2,689 Belle Meade 2,594 Maynardville 2,581 White Pine 2,571 Mosheim 2,544 Bells 2,475 Mountain City 2,463 Decherd 2,444 Tazewell 2,354 Alamo 2,333 Dyer 2,321 Waynesboro 2,319 Jacksboro 2,279 Adamsville 2,276 Estill Springs 2,270 Carthage 2,264 Clifton 2,257 South Fulton 2,197 Caryville 2,191 Plainview 2,175 Blaine 2,139 Ridgetop 2,134 Jellico 2,132 Parsons 2,112 Jamestown 2,077 Lookout Mountain 2,053 Halls 2,049 Pegram 2,034 Greenfield 2,018 Walden 1,979 Spring City 1,948 Lakesite 1,938 Baxter 1,934 Surgoinsville 1,913 Three Way 1,909 Cross Plains 1,893 Pikeville 1,880 Dover 1,875 Chapel Hill 1,854 Berry Hill 1,840 Bluff City 1,839 Burns 1,813 New Johnsonville 1,806 Loretto 1,802 Gruetli-Laager 1,784 Cowan 1,770 Huntsville 1,735 McEwen 1,717 Charlotte 1,708 Vonore 1,666 Rocky Top 1,640 Decatur 1,630 Norris 1,620 Ridgely 1,613 Whitwell 1,612 Kimball 1,607 Watertown 1,605 South Carthage 1,580 Englewood 1,553 Spencer 1,539 Bruceton 1,503 Graysville 1,496 Benton 1,444 Tracy City 1,435 Troy 1,417 Monteagle 1,403 Celina 1,399 New Market 1,383 Gordonsville 1,380 Gleason 1,359 Mason 1,354 Sneedville 1,349 Tennessee Ridge 1,345 Rutledge 1,331 Cornersville 1,323 Powells Crossroads 1,282 Kenton 1,257 Ardmore 1,224 Red Boiling Springs 1,214 Greenback 1,194 Erin 1,192 Rossville 1,166 Altamont 1,152 Rutherford 1,141 Linden 1,093 Luttrell 1,064 Winfield 1,004 Orlinda 993 Bradford 991 Alexandria 990 Obion 976 Lobelville 968 Gainesboro 967 New Hope 961 Atwood 955 Eagleville 942 Wartburg 942 Sharon 926 Crump 925 Friendsville 912 Collinwood 906 Charleston 895 Huntland 891 Scotts Hill 885 Henning 876 Rockford 819 St. Joseph 819 Byrdstown 812 Coalmont 811 Trezevant 806 Decaturville 805 Niota 802 Eastview 779 Tellico Plains 777 Morrison 771 Bulls Gap 765 Bethel Springs 749 Crab Orchard 732 Middleton 716 Puryear 708 Hollow Rock 699 Michie 668 Wartrace 666 Philadelphia 663 Gates 654 Adams 653 Townsend 616 Friendship 615 Allardt 590 Maury City 584 Vanleer 582 Palmer 570 Baneberry 567 Moscow 562 Ethridge 557 Calhoun 555 Petersburg 549 Pleasant Hill 548 Sunbright 540 Trimble 535 Elkton 533 Gallaway 530 Doyle 526 Minor Hill 514 Hornbeak 506 Big Sandy 492 Gadsden 474 Gilt Edge 474 Pittman Center 461 Baileyton 457 Beersheba Springs 451 Copperhill 451 Ducktown 451 Henry 449 Ridgeside 447 Saltillo 424 Bell Buckle 420 Guys 419 Sardis 416 Stanton 413 Clarksburg 383 Gibson 372 Burlison 369 Dowelltown 361 Watauga 360 Stantonville 345 Liberty 339 Woodland Mills 339 Grand Junction 338 Williston 338 Ramer 328 Cumberland City 315 Centertown 314 Lynnville 312 Cumberland Gap 311 Cedar Hill 300 McLemoresville 291 Garland 285 Parker's Crossroads 283 Auburntown 281 Milledgeville 277 Finger 275 Toone 269 Hornsby 259 Braden 252 Rives 246 Yorkville 230 Parrottsville 224 Oakdale 201 Samburg 201 Medon 191 Enville 186 Slayden 178 Mitchellville 158 La Grange 122 Saulsbury 113 Viola 110 Normandy 107 Silerton 97 Orme 85 Hickory Valley 80 Cottage Grove 66

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Free Tennessee Landlord Calculators

Calculate compliance limits for any Tennessee city. No signup required.

Rent Increase Calculator

Calculate maximum allowable rent increase in Nashville-Davidson →

Security Deposit Calculator

Calculate deposit limits and return deadlines in Nashville-Davidson →

Eviction Timeline Calculator

Calculate eviction notice periods and court timelines in Nashville-Davidson →

Late Fee Calculator

Calculate maximum legal late fees in Nashville-Davidson →

PM Cost Calculator

Compare self-managing vs. hiring a property manager →

Manage Your Tennessee Rentals with LeaseBase

Everything you need to self-manage rental properties in Tennessee — compliance tracking, rent collection, and more.

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Frequently Asked Questions — Tennessee Landlord Laws

Does Tennessee cap late fees?

Yes, for units where rent is $2,000/month or less, late fees are capped at 10% of monthly rent. A 5-day grace period is required before charging late fees.

What is the eviction process for nonpayment in Tennessee?

Landlords must give a 14-day written notice. If the tenant does not pay within 14 days, the landlord may file a detainer warrant for eviction in general sessions court.

Does Tennessee have rent control?

No. Tennessee preempts local rent control and has no statewide cap. Landlords may increase rent by any amount with 30 days notice for month-to-month tenancies.

Compliance tracking for your Tennessee properties

LeaseBase monitors Tennessee landlord-tenant law changes, tracks deadlines, and alerts you before penalties apply — across every city in your portfolio.

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How we researched this page: This guide covers all Tennessee landlord-tenant statutes, verified against official government sources. Rent data comes from HUD Fair Market Rents (FY2026). Last updated: August 2026.

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Reviewed by Rachid Abadli

Founder & CEO, LeaseBase · Sacramento landlord · Self-managing since 2019

LeaseBase is a property management platform — not a law firm. Consult an attorney for legal advice specific to your situation.

Tennessee Landlord-Tenant Laws 2026

Tennessee Landlord Law Summary

Tennessee Landlord Rules at a Glance

What Happens If You Violate Tennessee Landlord-Tenant Law

Tennessee Landlord-Tenant Statutes

Tennessee Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Tennessee Landlord Law Topics

Security Deposit Laws

Eviction Process & Notice Requirements

Rent Increase Laws

Landlord Entry & Access Rules

Maintenance & Habitability Standards

Late Fee Limits

Lease Termination & Renewal

Fair Housing Protections

Tenant Screening Rules

Required Landlord Disclosures

Rent Control

Property Registration Requirements

Top 50 Tennessee Cities — Landlord Law Coverage

All 345 Tennessee Cities

Generate a Free Tennessee Lease Agreement

Free Tennessee Landlord Calculators

Rent Increase Calculator

Security Deposit Calculator

Eviction Timeline Calculator

Late Fee Calculator

PM Cost Calculator

Manage Your Tennessee Rentals with LeaseBase

Frequently Asked Questions — Tennessee Landlord Laws

Compliance tracking for your Tennessee properties

Tennessee Landlord-Tenant Laws 2026

Tennessee Landlord Law Summary

Tennessee Landlord Rules at a Glance

What Happens If You Violate Tennessee Landlord-Tenant Law

Tennessee Landlord-Tenant Statutes

Tennessee Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Tennessee Landlord Law Topics

Security Deposit Laws

Eviction Process & Notice Requirements

Rent Increase Laws

Landlord Entry & Access Rules

Maintenance & Habitability Standards

Late Fee Limits

Lease Termination & Renewal

Fair Housing Protections

Tenant Screening Rules

Required Landlord Disclosures

Rent Control

Property Registration Requirements

Top 50 Tennessee Cities — Landlord Law Coverage

All 345 Tennessee Cities

Generate a Free Tennessee Lease Agreement

Free Tennessee Landlord Calculators

Rent Increase Calculator

Security Deposit Calculator

Eviction Timeline Calculator

Late Fee Calculator

PM Cost Calculator

Manage Your Tennessee Rentals with LeaseBase

Frequently Asked Questions — Tennessee Landlord Laws

Compliance tracking for your Tennessee properties

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