The notices and their periods
- 14-Day Notice to Pay or Quit — for nonpayment in URLTA counties (T.C.A. § 66-28-505). A 5-day grace applies before late fees; the lease can waive the notice, so check it.
- 14-Day Cure or Quit, then 7-Day Repeat — a curable lease violation gets 14 days to fix; if substantially the same violation recurs within six months, a 7-day notice with no cure applies (§ 66-28-505(a)(2)(B)).
- 3-Day Notice to Quit — for violent or dangerous acts or serious illegal activity (§ 66-28-517).
Ending a tenancy and serving notice
To end a month-to-month tenancy without cause in a URLTA county, give 30 days' written notice (T.C.A. § 66-28-512).
Evictions are filed as a detainer warrant in General Sessions Court. Tennessee's URLTA applies only in counties over 75,000 population; in non-URLTA counties the notice rules aren't standardized and often track the lease or the rental period.
The URLTA-county split
Tennessee's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies only in counties with more than 75,000 people (including Davidson/Nashville, Shelby/Memphis, and Knox/Knoxville). The 14-day pay-or-quit and the other periods above are URLTA rules. In smaller, non-URLTA counties, notice requirements vary — confirm your county's status first.
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How long is the Tennessee nonpayment notice?
In URLTA counties, 14 days to pay or quit (T.C.A. § 66-28-505). Non-URLTA counties aren't standardized by statute.
What happens if the same violation repeats in Tennessee?
A repeat of substantially the same violation within six months allows a 7-day notice to quit with no chance to cure (§ 66-28-505(a)(2)(B)).
Does the URLTA apply to my Tennessee rental?
Only if the property is in a county with more than 75,000 people. Otherwise notice rules track the lease or common law — verify your county.
More notice types: Pay or Quit · Cure or Quit · Unconditional Quit · eviction notices overview. By state: California · Texas · Florida · New York · Illinois · Pennsylvania · Ohio · Georgia · North Carolina · Michigan · New Jersey · Virginia · Washington · Arizona · Massachusetts · Indiana · Missouri · Maryland · Wisconsin · Minnesota · South Carolina · Alabama · Louisiana · Kentucky · Oregon · Oklahoma · Connecticut · Utah · Nevada · Iowa · Arkansas · Mississippi · Kansas · New Mexico · Nebraska · Idaho · West Virginia · Colorado · Hawaii · New Hampshire · Maine · Montana · Rhode Island · Delaware · South Dakota · North Dakota · Alaska · Vermont · Wyoming · Washington, D.C..
WriteMyNotice.com is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm, and this page is general information, not legal advice. Eviction rules are strict and vary by state, county, and city — many cities add rent-control or just-cause requirements on top of state law, and an improper or mistimed notice can get an eviction case delayed or dismissed. Verify the current requirements for your property's location and, for contested or high-stakes evictions, consult a landlord-tenant attorney. Statute references verified June 2026.