How long does an eviction take in Tennessee?
For unpaid rent, expect about 5.5 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 4.5 to 11.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in Tennessee actually earn?
We'll prefill Tennessee's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $1,284/mo
- Property tax 0.45%–0.46%
- Insurance $655–$1,197/yr
- Vacancy 5.9%–6.7%
The Tennessee eviction timeline
Each step comes from Tennessee's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 5.5 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
14 days14 days after the tenant receives the notice to pay what's owed or the lease ends (Tenn. Code § 66-28-505(a)(2), in counties covered by the URLTA; smaller counties follow § 66-7-109); a lease clause in 12-point bold can waive the notice, but not the tenant's grace period (§ 66-28-505(b))
- 2
File and get a judgment
7–30 days · typical 14Detainer warrant served at least 6 days before the hearing
- 3
Judgment to lockout
10–14 daysWrit of possession after the 10-day appeal period
- 4
If the tenant appeals
10-day window10 days to appeal to circuit court (heard fresh); bond required for the tenant to keep possession
Can the tenant pay and stay? Can pay in full during the notice period. official source Source ↗
What an eviction costs in Tennessee
Court fees come from the fee schedules we found, and each one says where it applies. Fees we couldn't verify are labeled Unverified and use the national default range. The calculator above adds them to your lost rent.
Court filing fee
Nashville (Davidson County) only$145.75Nashville (Davidson County) General Sessions detainer filing fee $145.75; other counties differ
Serving the tenant
Unverified · national default$30–$77No official amount verified for Tennessee yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Sheriff or marshal lockout
Unverified · national default$75–$180No official amount verified for Tennessee yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$1,284/moTennessee median gross rent, ±$16. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
Statewide rent control: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Statewide just-cause rules: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Right to counsel for tenants: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Seasonal or weather limits: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Required mediation or pre-filing program: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Local rules: Nashville launched a right-to-counsel program in 2026.
Tennessee scores 79 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
Tennessee eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Tennessee?
A nonpayment eviction in Tennessee typically takes about 5.5 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 4.5 to 11.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Tennessee?
14 days after the tenant receives the notice to pay what's owed or the lease ends (Tenn. Code § 66-28-505(a)(2), in counties covered by the URLTA; smaller counties follow § 66-7-109); a lease clause in 12-point bold can waive the notice, but not the tenant's grace period (§ 66-28-505(b)).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Tennessee by paying the rent?
Can pay in full during the notice period.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Tennessee?
The filing fee we found is $145.75 (Nashville (Davidson County) only). That is a local example, not a statewide fee, and other courts charge different amounts. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Tennessee?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in Tennessee costs a landlord roughly $2,400 to $3,500: about 5.5 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $1,284/month (about $1,600), court and service fees of about $251-$403 (some are national defaults because we could not verify them), and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 11.5 weeks can pass $5,800. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is Tennessee landlord-friendly for evictions?
Tennessee scores 79 out of 100 on the LandlordCost landlord-friendliness score (timeline 35.4/50, right to cure 14/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
Not yet verified for Tennessee: service fee, lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are labeled unverified, never guessed. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Notice period (backup)secondary sourcenolo.com ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Judgment to lockoutofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Appealofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Filing feeofficial sourcecircuitclerk.nashville.gov ↗
- Service feeunverifiednone found
- Lockout feeunverifiednone found
- Right to cureofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
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