Tennessee Eviction Notice Law
Tennessee's notice period for unpaid rent is 14 days (14-day notice to pay or vacate). For a lease violation it is 14 days, and the tenant gets a chance to fix the problem.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Not legal advice. A defective notice can restart an eviction case; ask a Tennessee attorney or court self-help center before serving one. See our disclaimer.
Tennessee eviction notice rules at a glance
| Notice for unpaid rent | 14 days (14-day notice to pay or vacate)Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-505 (TAA 2025 compilation), Legal Aid Society booklet on tn.gov, Renters' Rights (URLTA counties) |
|---|---|
| Notice for a lease violation | 14 days (chance to cure)Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-505(a) (TAA 2025 compilation), Legal Aid Society booklet on tn.gov, Renters' Rights (URLTA counties) |
| Ending a month-to-month tenancy (no-fault) | 30 days (either side)Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512(b) |
What Tennessee law says
What notice must a Tennessee landlord give before filing an eviction for unpaid rent?
In URLTA counties, for unpaid rent give written notice that the lease ends unless the rent is paid within 14 days of receipt; if the lease contains a bold 12-point waiver of notice, you may file a detainer warrant right after the grace period without notice (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-505(a)(2), (b)) (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-505 (TAA 2025 compilation)).
How much notice is required for a lease violation in Tennessee?
In URLTA counties, for a material lease violation give written notice describing the breach; if it can be fixed by payment or repairs the lease ends unless remedied within 14 days, otherwise it ends at least 14 days after receipt, and a repeat within 6 months needs only 7 days' notice (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-505(a)) (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-505(a) (TAA 2025 compilation)).
How much notice ends a month-to-month tenancy in Tennessee?
Within the 17 URLTA counties, either the landlord or the tenant can end a month-to-month tenancy with written notice delivered at least 30 days before the rent date named as the end date (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512(b)).
How Tennessee compares
37 of 49 verified jurisdictions use a shorter unpaid-rent notice.
None of Tennessee's 8 neighbors follows the same rule.
| Unpaid rent · lease violation | States |
|---|---|
| 14 days · 14 days, with cure | Tennessee |
| Being verified | Alabama |
| 3 days · 14 days, with cure | Arkansas, Mississippi |
| 3 business days · no statewide rule | Georgia |
| No statewide rule · no statewide rule | Kentucky |
| No statewide rule · 10 days | Missouri |
| 10 days · no statewide rule | North Carolina |
| 14 days · 21 days, with cure | Virginia |
Local rules in Tennessee
Tennessee's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Tenn. Code Ann. Title 66, Ch. 28), which holds the deposit and late-fee rules below, applies only in counties with more than 75,000 people per the 2010 federal census (currently Anderson, Blount, Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Maury, Montgomery, Rutherford, Sevier, Shelby, Sullivan, Sumner, Washington, Williamson and Wilson). In other counties these statutory rules do not apply and the lease and general contract law govern.