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Eviction Notice Requirements in Tennessee

In Tennessee counties covered by the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, a landlord generally gives a 14-day notice for unpaid rent or a lease violation and 30 days' written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, with different rules in smaller counties.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Tennessee at a glance

Notice for unpaid rent
14 days
14-day notice to pay or the rental agreement terminates (in counties covered by the URLTA); notice may be waived in the lease
Notice for a lease violation
14 days
14-day notice to cure or the rental agreement terminates (7 days for a repeat breach within 6 months)
Ending a month-to-month tenancy
30 days
30 days' written notice before the periodic rental date

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Tennessee

How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Tennessee?

Tennessee rule: 14-day notice to pay or the rental agreement terminates (in counties covered by the URLTA); notice may be waived in the lease.

How much notice is required to evict for a lease violation in Tennessee?

Tennessee rule: 14-day notice to cure or the rental agreement terminates (7 days for a repeat breach within 6 months).

How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month tenancy in Tennessee?

Tennessee rule: 30 days' written notice before the periodic rental date.

Where do the Tennessee rules for eviction notices come from?

They come from Tenn. Code 66-28-505, Tenn. Code 66-28-512, Tenn. Code 66-28-102 and 1 other source. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.

How Tennessee compares

For unpaid rent, 39 jurisdictions allow a shorter notice than Tennessee, and none require a longer one.

What this means in practice

A notice is usually the first step, not the eviction itself. A landlord generally needs a court order before a tenant can be removed, and changing the locks or cutting utilities to force a tenant out is not allowed in most states.

Serve the notice the way state law requires, keep a copy and proof of delivery, and count the days carefully: some states skip weekends and holidays.

Tenants who receive a notice can often stop the process by paying or fixing the problem within the notice period. Local legal aid offices can explain the options.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.