Tennessee Tenant Rights Guide

Last updated: April 2026

Tennessee has no rent control anywhere in the state — it's prohibited by state law. Landlords can raise rent by any amount with proper notice. Tennessee's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies in counties with populations over 75,000 (covering Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga); elsewhere, common law governs.

What Protections Tennessee Tenants Do Have

Even without rent control, Tennessee law gives renters meaningful rights in these areas:

Check your address to see what tenant protections apply to your rental.

Major Cities in Tennessee

• Alcoa — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Arlington — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Athens — No rent control. Tennessee prohibits local rent control ordinances statewide (Tenn. Code § 66-35-102
• Atoka — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Bartlett — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Brentwood — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Bristol — No rent control. Tennessee prohibits local rent control ordinances statewide (Tenn. Code § 66-35-102
• Chattanooga — No rent control; Tennessee state preemption prohibits it. URLTA applies.
• Clarksville — No — Tennessee state law prohibits rent control (Tenn. Code § 66-35-102). Landlords may raise rent b
• Cleveland — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Clinton — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Collegedale — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Collierville — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Columbia — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Cookeville — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Crossville — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Dickson — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Dyersburg — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• East Ridge — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Elizabethton — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Fairview — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Farragut — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Franklin — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Gallatin — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Germantown — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Goodlettsville — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Greeneville — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Hartsville/Trousdale County — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Hendersonville — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Hixson — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Jackson — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Johnson City — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Kingsport — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Knoxville — No rent control; Tennessee state preemption prohibits it. URLTA applies.
• La Vergne — No rent control. Tennessee prohibits local rent control ordinances statewide (Tenn. Code § 66-35-102
• Lakeland — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Lawrenceburg — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Lebanon — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Lenoir City — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Lewisburg — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Manchester — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Martin — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Maryville — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• McMinnville — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Memphis — No rent control; Tennessee state preemption prohibits it. URLTA applies.
• Millington — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Morristown — No rent control. Tennessee prohibits local rent control ordinances statewide (Tenn. Code § 66-35-102
• Mount Juliet — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Murfreesboro — No — Tennessee state law prohibits rent control (Tenn. Code § 66-35-102). Landlords may raise rent b
• Nashville — No rent control; Tennessee state preemption prohibits it. URLTA applies.
• Nashville-Davidson — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Nolensville — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Oak Ridge — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Oakland — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Paris — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Portland — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Red Bank — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Sevierville — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Shelbyville — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Smyrna — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Soddy-Daisy — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Spring Hill — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Springfield — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Tullahoma — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• Union City — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.
• White House — No rent control; Tennessee state protections apply.

Tennessee Tenant Resources

These organizations offer free or low-cost help to Tennessee renters:

• Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & The Cumberlands — Free civil legal services for low-income residents of Middle Tennessee including Nashville, covering housing and eviction.
• Memphis Area Legal Services — Free legal help for low-income residents of Shelby County (Memphis area), including tenant rights.
• Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services — Directory of legal aid organizations and self-help resources across Tennessee.