Tennessee Notice to Vacate: Notice Periods and Rules

In Tennessee, tenants give at least 30 days written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and landlords give at least 30 days. For unpaid rent, the notice period is 14 days. The details, exceptions and statute citations are below.

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Tennessee notice periods at a glance

Tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy	30 days Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512(b) (URLTA counties)
Landlord ending a month-to-month tenancy	30 days Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512(b) (URLTA counties)
Notice for unpaid rent	14 days Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-505(a)(2) (URLTA counties); § 66-7-109(a) (all other counties)
End of a fixed-term lease	Statute does not require a notice to end a fixed-term lease on its end date; a tenant who stays on without the landlord's consent is a holdover the landlord can sue for possession (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512(c)), but check the lease for its own notice or renewal terms.
How notice can be delivered	Written notice; the statutes reviewed do not list required delivery methods, and the 14-day period runs from the tenant's receipt (§ 66-28-505), so hand delivery or certified mail with proof of receipt is the practical choice.

The Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (ch. 28) applies only in counties with population over 75,000 per the 2010 census (Davidson, Shelby, Knox, Hamilton and others); in smaller counties no statute sets month-to-month notice and 30 days (one full rental period) is customary. A written lease can waive the nonpayment notice if the waiver is in 12-point bold type (§ 66-28-505(b), § 66-28-201(c)), and there is a statutory 5-day grace period before late fees (§ 66-28-201(d)).

What a Tennessee notice to vacate should include

The names of every tenant on the lease and the full address, including unit number
The date you are giving the notice and the date the tenancy ends
A move-out date that gives at least the minimum notice above, counted from the day the notice is delivered
For unpaid rent: the exact amount owed and how to pay it
Your name, signature and contact details
A record of how and when you delivered it (keep a copy)

Many month-to-month notices must also end on the last day of a rental period, so if rent is due on the 1st, the safest move-out date is the end of a month. Giving more notice than the minimum is fine; giving less usually makes the notice invalid.

Tennessee notice to vacate FAQ

How much notice does a tenant have to give in Tennessee?

For a month-to-month tenancy, at least 30 days in writing (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512(b) (URLTA counties)). If you have a fixed-term lease, check the lease: it may require notice before the end date or renew automatically.

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

To end a month-to-month tenancy without a specific reason, at least 30 days (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512(b) (URLTA counties)).

What is the notice period for unpaid rent in Tennessee?

The tenant gets 14 days to pay or move out (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-505(a)(2) (URLTA counties); § 66-7-109(a) (all other counties)). If the tenant does neither, the landlord can file an eviction case; only a court can order the tenant out.

How do you deliver a notice to vacate in Tennessee?

Written notice; the statutes reviewed do not list required delivery methods, and the 14-day period runs from the tenant's receipt (§ 66-28-505), so hand delivery or certified mail with proof of receipt is the practical choice.

Do I need to give notice at the end of a fixed-term lease in Tennessee?

Statute does not require a notice to end a fixed-term lease on its end date; a tenant who stays on without the landlord's consent is a holdover the landlord can sue for possession (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512(c)), but check the lease for its own notice or renewal terms.

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Sources

Checked October 2026. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules. This page is general information, not legal advice.