Eviction Laws in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is Tennessee’s capital and fastest-growing major city, with a population surpassing 700,000 and one of the most competitive rental markets in the Southeast. Driven by a booming healthcare, music, and tech sector — plus a steady stream of transplants from higher-cost states — the city’s rental demand stays strong year-round. Turnover in popular neighborhoods like East Nashville, Germantown, and The Gulch is high, and nonpayment and lease violations are the most frequent reasons Davidson County landlords end up filing a Detainer Warrant.
Tennessee is a landlord-friendly state and Nashville landlords operate under the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), which applies in Davidson County. Under URLTA, a landlord must issue a written 14-Day Notice to Pay or Quit before filing for nonpayment — after a mandatory 5-day grace period. 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 Davidson County General Sessions Court. Tennessee imposes no rent control, no security deposit cap, and allows a Writ of Possession to be issued 10 days after judgment.
Nashville & Davidson County — Local Rules That Affect Landlords
No rent control. Tennessee state law preempts any local rent regulation, and Nashville has no local tenant protection ordinances that override state URLTA rules.
Metro Nashville Business License. Landlords renting residential property within Metro Nashville may need a business license depending on unit count and structure. Check with the Metro Codes Department before filing evictions to ensure compliance doesn’t become a tenant defense.
Habitability Standards. Nashville’s codes enforcement is active. Tenants in older properties sometimes raise habitability defenses during Detainer Warrant hearings. Document all maintenance requests and repair completions in writing before filing.
5-Day Rent Grace Period. Under URLTA, rent is not considered late until 5 days after the due date. Do not issue a 14-Day Notice until this grace period has passed.
Davidson County General Sessions Court — Where Nashville Landlords File
Nashville landlords file Detainer Warrants at Davidson County General Sessions Court, located at 1 Public Square Suite 302, Nashville, TN 37201, phone (615) 862-5185, open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. File your Detainer Warrant at the clerk’s window and pay the filing fee. The court issues a summons served by a sheriff or process server. A hearing is scheduled no less than 6 days after the tenant is served. If the tenant fails to appear, the landlord receives a default judgment. If the tenant answers, a hearing is held and judgment typically issued the same day. Upon ruling in your favor, a Writ of Possession is issued 10 days after judgment — the sheriff executes physical removal. Self-help eviction is illegal in Tennessee; locking out tenants or shutting off utilities without a court order exposes landlords to damages claims.
|
