Cannon County Landlord-Tenant Law

Tennessee landlord guide — county ordinances, courthouse info & local rules

Cannon County Rental Market Overview

Cannon County is one of the smallest and most rural counties in the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area — a distinction that shapes its rental market in important ways. Woodbury, the county seat, sits in the Upper Cumberland hills roughly 55 miles southeast of Nashville, offering genuine rural character while remaining within commuting distance of Murfreesboro’s booming Rutherford County job market. With 100% of the population living in rural areas (per census classification), no urban clusters, and only 24% of housing units renter-occupied, Cannon County is a thin but stable rental market where landlords face limited competition and strong long-term tenant relationships.

At 14,506 residents, Cannon County is well below Tennessee’s 75,000 URLTA threshold — non-URLTA rules apply. Tenancy is governed by common law and general Title 66 provisions. Evictions proceed through the 16th Judicial District’s General Sessions Court at 200 West Main Street in Woodbury. Phone: (615) 563-4461. With only a handful of active rental disputes processed per month in a county this small, the court moves efficiently and judges tend to know the local landlord community by reputation.

Cannon County Ordinances & Local Rules

Tennessee State Law Framework

⚡ Quick Overview

14

Days Notice (Nonpayment)

14

Days Notice (Violation)

30-45

Avg Total Days

$130

Filing Fee (Approx)

💰 Nonpayment of Rent

Notice Type 14-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate

Notice Period 14 days

Tenant Can Cure? Yes

Days to Hearing 6-14 days

Days to Writ 10 days

Total Estimated Timeline 30-45 days

Total Estimated Cost $175-$400

⚠️ Watch Out

Tennessee has a dual-track eviction system. The URLTA (§66-28-505) applies to counties with population over 75,000 (covering ~75% of the population including Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga). Non-URLTA counties use §66-7-109. Notice periods are 14 days for both tracks for nonpayment. Tenants have a mandatory 5-day grace period (§66-28-201(d)). The 14-day notice cannot be sent until after the 5-day grace period expires. If the same nonpayment recurs within 6 months, landlord can issue a 7-day unconditional quit notice (§66-28-505(a)(2)(B)). Filing fees vary by county ($100-$200).

📜 Eviction Laws Main 📊 Compare This State

Underground Landlord

📝 Tennessee Eviction Process (Overview)

1. Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
2. Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
3. File an eviction case with the General Sessions Court. Pay the filing fee (~$130).
4. Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
5. Attend the court hearing and present your case.
6. If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
7. Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Tennessee eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice. Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections. For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Tennessee attorney or local legal aid organization.

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Underground Landlord

🔍 Reduce Your Risk Before Signing a Lease: Tennessee landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly reduce their risk of ending up in eviction court. Understanding tenant screening in Tennessee — including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need Tennessee's eviction process, proper tenant screening can help you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.

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Cannon County Landlord Guide: Rural Rentals in the Nashville MSA Fringe

Cannon County is a genuinely rural county in a metropolitan statistical area — an unusual combination that creates specific opportunities and challenges for landlords. Woodbury and the surrounding communities offer something increasingly rare in the Nashville orbit: authentic small-town Tennessee living at prices that reflect the county’s limited rental market infrastructure rather than Middle Tennessee’s broader demand surge. As Nashville’s growth has pushed steadily outward through Williamson, Rutherford, and Wilson counties, Cannon County has seen quiet but real increases in interest from commuters and remote workers seeking land, space, and lower cost of living.

Understanding Non-URLTA in Cannon County

With a population of 14,506, Cannon County falls well below the URLTA threshold. Landlords operate under common law and Tennessee’s general Title 66 provisions. This means the statutory habitability maintenance obligations, repair-and-deduct rights, and anti-retaliation protections that URLTA provides in larger counties do not apply here in statutory form. In practice, courts have recognized an implied warranty of habitability in residential leases, but enforcement is through common law breach-of-contract remedies rather than URLTA-specific procedures. For landlords, this framework is generally more flexible — you are not subject to the URLTA’s mandatory response timelines or the statutory repair-and-deduct remedy — but solid lease documentation and proactive maintenance remain your best protection against disputes.

The Thin Rental Market: Advantage and Risk

Only 24% of Cannon County’s occupied housing units are renter-occupied, compared to statewide averages around 30–35%. This means landlords face limited direct competition from other rental properties — a well-maintained three-bedroom home in Woodbury with a functional HVAC system and updated fixtures stands out in a market where comparable rentals are scarce. The flip side is that tenant replacement is difficult. Cannon County’s rental pool is small, and a vacancy can sit longer than in urban markets. Long-term tenant retention should be a core management priority: responsive maintenance, reasonable lease renewal terms, and personal landlord-tenant relationships pay dividends in a market this size.

Filing at the Woodbury Courthouse

Cannon County General Sessions Court operates from the Cannon County Courthouse at 200 West Main Street (also described as 1 Public Square), Woodbury, TN 37190. Phone: (615) 563-4461. The courthouse is an architecturally notable two-story brick structure with a distinctive clock cupola and a mosaic county map in the floor of the central lobby — a reminder that Woodbury is a functioning county seat with an engaged local judiciary. File your detainer warrant here after the 14-day notice period expires. The Cannon County Sheriff enforces writs of possession post-judgment.