How much notice is required?

T.C.A. § 66-28-512 requires 30 days written notice. The period runs from the date of delivery to the termination date — not from the date the notice was prepared. A week-to-week tenancy requires at least 10 days' notice. Tennessee does not tier the period by length of occupancy.

How should the notice be served?

T.C.A. § 66-28-106 requires written notice to the last known or designated address contained in the lease agreement, and T.C.A. § 66-28-108 permits email where the tenant gave an email address in the rental agreement. Chapter 28 sets no ranked ladder of methods; personal delivery and certified mail are simply the easiest to prove.

What happens if my fixed-term lease expires?

A fixed-term lease typically expires by its own terms. If the lease itself requires advance notice of non-renewal, failing to give that notice may convert the tenancy to month-to-month on the same terms. Check the lease before assuming the fixed term simply expires.

Can a tenant waive the notice period in advance?

No — a lease provision purporting to authorize less than the statutory notice period is void. The tenant can consent to a shorter period at the time the notice is issued, but cannot prospectively waive the § 66-28-512 minimum through a lease.

What if my notice is defective?

A defective notice (wrong period, improper service, missing required information) generally cannot support an eviction action. The tenant can raise the defect as an affirmative defense in eviction proceedings. The landlord must serve a corrected notice and start the period over, with the tenant typically remaining in possession during the redo.

Do I need to give a reason for non-renewing the tenancy?

Generally no, for Tennessee tenancies that are not covered by a local just-cause ordinance. The notice period under T.C.A. § 66-28-512 — at least 30 days for a month-to-month tenancy, at least 10 days for a week-to-week tenancy — is sufficient and no reason is required. However, anti-retaliation and fair-housing rules still apply — the notice cannot be retaliatory or discriminatory even when no specific reason is required.

What if the tenant has been a long-term resident?

Long-term tenants typically receive the longest notice period under the statute (where tiered). In Tennessee, the notice period is consistent regardless of tenancy length.

What if my lease specifies a different notice period?

A lease that requires more notice than the statute (for example, 90 days where the statute requires 30) is enforceable — the landlord must give the longer period. A lease that requires less notice than the statute is void as to that provision; the statutory minimum still applies.

Can I issue a non-renewal in retaliation for a tenant complaint?

No. T.C.A. § 66-28-514 prohibits non-renewal in retaliation for tenant exercise of protected rights. Issuing a non-renewal that the court finds was retaliatory exposes the landlord to damages, attorney's fees, and potential statutory penalties.

Does a non-renewal need to be in writing?

Yes. T.C.A. § 66-28-512 requires written notice of termination. Oral notice — even if clearly given and acknowledged by the tenant — does not satisfy the statute and cannot support an eviction action.

🏠 Tennessee Operations Forms: Notice of Non-Renewal All Tennessee Landlord Forms Notice to Enter Tenant Notice to Vacate All Tennessee Forms

Free Tennessee Notice of Non-Renewal

The written notice Tennessee landlords use to end a periodic tenancy or decline to renew a fixed-term lease. T.C.A. § 66-28-512 sets the notice period: 30 days written notice. Built for Tennessee landlords.

Tennessee Non-Renewal Notice § 66-28-512 30-Day Notice Free PDF 2026 Edition

▶ Watch overview

Free Tennessee Notice of Non-Renewal — overview

📅WRITTEN NOTICE REQUIRED: T.C.A. § 66-28-512 requires written notice to terminate a periodic tenancy in Tennessee. 30 days written notice. The notice must specify the termination date and be properly served.

⚠SERVICE METHODS: T.C.A. § 66-28-106 requires only that written notice be given to the last known or designated address contained in the lease agreement. Chapter 28 prescribes no ranked ladder of delivery methods, and T.C.A. § 66-28-108 expressly permits electronic notification where the tenant supplied an email address in the rental agreement.

📜STATUTORY AUTHORITY: T.C.A. § 66-28-512 (termination notice periods). T.C.A. § 66-28-106 and § 66-28-108 (how notice is given). T.C.A. § 66-28-514 (anti-retaliation, where applicable). Federal Fair Housing Act and Tennessee fair housing law.

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Notice of Non-Renewal is one of the highest-stakes routine documents in Tennessee landlord-tenant practice. A defective notice — wrong period, improper service, missing required information — cannot support an eviction action, forcing the landlord to start over and pushing recovery of possession back by months. Tennessee non-renewal practice has technical requirements: the clock starts at delivery; notice must be given in writing to the lease address under T.C.A. § 66-28-106; the notice must be in writing with all required elements. The form on this page handles the mechanics correctly; the page itself walks through the analysis step by step.

CA Notice Period

30 days

Authority

§ 66-28-512

Allowed Hours

Business hours

Emergency

No notice required

By Tenant Screening Background Check Editorial Team

Form TypeRoutine Operations

StateTennessee

Authority§ 66-28-512

Updated2026

On this page

What a Notice of Non-Renewal does
Tennessee legal framework
Notice period under § 66-28-512
Authorized delivery methods
Required information for the notice
Common mistakes that void the notice
Tenant remedies for defective notice
Tennessee statute reference table
Frequently asked questions

A Tennessee Notice of Non-Renewal is the written notice a landlord uses to end a periodic tenancy or to communicate that a fixed-term lease will not be renewed at expiration. T.C.A. § 66-28-512 sets the notice-period requirements: at least 30 days’ written notice for a month-to-month tenancy, and at least 10 days’ for a week-to-week tenancy. Notice is given under T.C.A. § 66-28-106. Chapter 28 applies only in counties over 75,000 population by the 2010 federal census (T.C.A. § 66-28-102(a)); elsewhere the lease and the common law govern. Getting the notice right is high-stakes work: a defective notice cannot support an eviction action, and the landlord must start over with a corrected notice — pushing recovery of possession back by months. The form on this page handles the mechanics; the rest of this guide walks through the requirements.

Watch: Tennessee Notice of Non-Renewal explained

▶ Watch: Tennessee Notice of Non-Renewal — § 66-28-512 explained

§ 66-28-512

Tennessee termination-notice statute

24 hrs

presumed reasonable notice period

2 min

to fill out and download the PDF

📅 Notice Period Calculator

Enter the date you’ll deliver the notice. The calculator shows the earliest valid termination date under T.C.A. § 66-28-512.

Notice Delivery Date

Earliest valid termination date

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✎ Complete Your Tennessee Notice of Non-Renewal

§ 66-28-512 requires 30 days written notice. The clock starts at delivery, not at preparation. Pick a termination date that’s at least the required period after the planned delivery date. The termination date should align with the end of a rental period for periodic tenancies.

1 · Notice Dates

Notice Delivery Date

Termination Date (tenancy ends)

2 · Tenant & Property

Tenant Name(s)

Rental Property Address

3 · Landlord Contact

Landlord or Property Manager Name

Landlord Address

Landlord Phone

Landlord Email (optional)

📋 Before You Serve — Pre-Send Checklist

You’ve verified the notice period required by T.C.A. § 66-28-512 (30 days written n