Eviction Laws in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville is East Tennessee’s anchor city and home to the University of Tennessee, which drives a large and consistently active rental market spanning student housing, young professional rentals, and long-term residential tenants. With a growing tech and healthcare sector and a steady influx of out-of-state renters attracted by relatively affordable rents, demand stays strong across neighborhoods from downtown to West Knoxville. Nonpayment and lease violations — particularly in student-heavy areas — are the most common grounds for eviction in Knox County.
Tennessee is a landlord-friendly state and Knoxville landlords operate under URLTA, which applies in Knox County. Landlords must issue a written 14-Day Notice to Pay or Quit after the 5-day grace period before filing for nonpayment. Curable lease violations require a 14-Day Notice to Cure. Violent or illegal activity triggers a 3-Day Notice to Quit. Once the notice period expires without compliance, landlords file a Detainer Warrant with Knox County General Sessions Court. Tennessee has no rent control, no security deposit cap, and a Writ of Possession is issued 10 days after judgment.
Knoxville & Knox County — Local Rules That Affect Landlords
No rent control. Tennessee state law preempts any local rent regulation, and Knoxville has no ordinances that limit a landlord’s ability to set or raise rents.
Student Rental Considerations. Properties near UT Knoxville often involve co-signers, guarantors, and group leases. Ensure all adults occupying the unit are named on the lease — only named tenants are subject to Detainer Warrant proceedings.
Knox County Business License. Some rental property owners may be required to hold a Knox County or City of Knoxville business license depending on unit count and rental structure. Verify compliance before filing eviction to avoid tenant defenses.
5-Day Rent Grace Period. Under URLTA, rent is not considered late until 5 days after the due date. Issue your 14-Day Notice only after this window has passed.
Knox County General Sessions Court — Where Knoxville Landlords File
Knoxville landlords file Detainer Warrants at Knox County General Sessions Court, located at 400 Main St Suite L-100, Knoxville, TN 37902, phone (865) 215-2490, open Monday through Friday. File your Detainer Warrant with the clerk and pay the applicable filing fee. A summons is served by the sheriff or process server, and a hearing is scheduled no less than 6 days after service. If the tenant does not appear, a default judgment is entered. If the tenant answers, the judge typically rules the same day. A Writ of Possession is issued 10 days after judgment if no appeal is filed. Self-help eviction is illegal in Tennessee; only the sheriff may physically remove a tenant.
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