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Map of Tennessee eviction risk by county

Landlord License Requirements in Tennessee 2026

Rental registration, business licensing, and the consequences of non-compliance under Tenn. Code § 66-28

Local Only Registration scope
Tenn. Code § 66-28 Governing statute
Yes Penalty for non-compliance
Yes Notable local programs
No statewide registration in Tennessee. No statewide rental registration. Tennessee's URLTA applies only in counties of population 75,000+ (urban counties) per § 66-28-102.

A Tennessee landlord does not have to register with the state. There is no statewide rental registration here; any licensing or registration obligation is local (city or county) only. The governing landlord-tenant framework is Tenn. Code § 66-28, the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, which itself applies only in counties with a population of 75,000 or more under § 66-28-102, meaning even the baseline rules shift depending on where your property sits.

That local-only structure makes the address, not the state, the thing that decides your duties. The single highest-stakes consequence shows up in the cities that do run programs: where a permit is required and you operate without one, you can be fined and, in jurisdictions that condition court access on compliance, blocked from filing an eviction until you register. In Nashville-Davidson, an unpermitted short-term rental accrues $500 per day. The sections below map exactly where Tennessee landlords register and what non-compliance costs.

Statewide vs. Local: What Tennessee Actually Requires

Tennessee has no statewide landlord license and no statewide rental registry. The state does not maintain a central list of rental owners, issue a landlord number, or require annual renewal at the state level. Instead, the legal baseline comes from Tenn. Code § 66-28 (the URLTA), and even that does not reach every property: under § 66-28-102, the Act applies only in counties with a population of 75,000 or more. Smaller, rural counties fall outside it entirely.

The practical takeaway: whether you owe any registration duty depends entirely on the city or county where the unit is located. A landlord in an unincorporated rural county may have no registration obligation at all, while an owner in Nashville or Memphis faces a specific local program. Always confirm requirements with the local codes or planning department for the property's jurisdiction.

Where and How to Register in Tennessee

Because registration is local, the programs that matter are city-run. The named jurisdictions Tennessee landlords most commonly encounter are:

To register or confirm whether you must, contact the relevant city's codes, permits, or short-term rental office for the property's address. There is no single state portal that covers all four.

Penalties and the Eviction-Blocking Effect

The clearest financial penalty in Tennessee is Nashville's: operating a short-term rental without a permit accrues $500 per day. That figure compounds quickly, a single unpermitted month can run into five figures, and is separate from any order to cease operating.

The more strategic risk is procedural. In jurisdictions that tie court access to local compliance, a landlord who has not satisfied the applicable registration or permit requirement can be barred from filing or maintaining an eviction until the property is brought into compliance. For a landlord trying to remove a non-paying tenant, an unresolved permit gap can stall the case at the courthouse door. Resolve any local registration issue before you file, not after a judge raises it.

Compliance Checklist for Tennessee Landlords

A practical, address-first sequence keeps you clear of penalties and protects your ability to use the courts:

Local Programs in Tennessee

Nashville-Davidson (STR Permit Program), Memphis (limited proactive inspections), Knoxville, Chattanooga.

Penalty for Non-Compliance

What you risk: Nashville STR without permit: $500/day.

The most consequential penalty in landlord-tenant law is rarely a flat fine, it is the loss of access to the eviction docket. In states and cities where registration gates eviction filings, an unregistered landlord with a non-paying tenant can face months of lost rent before the registration is cured and the case can be filed.

What This Means for Tennessee Landlords

Tennessee places the landlord-registration question at the local level. If you operate in a city with an active rental registry (Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, NYC, Portland, Baltimore and similar), the registration is mandatory at the local level and frequently controls your ability to file for eviction. If you operate in a smaller market with no registry, your only filings will likely be a local business license and applicable state tax registrations.

The single most important diligence step is to call your municipality's housing or code-enforcement department directly and ask: (1) is rental registration required for my property, (2) is it current, and (3) what specifically would block me from filing for eviction on a non-paying tenant. The answers to those three questions are the entire game.

City-Level Eviction Risk in Tennessee

Local registration programs are most common in larger cities. View landlord risk and tenant-law profile by city:

Nashville Memphis Knoxville Chattanooga Clarksville Murfreesboro

Sources & Methodology

Related Guides for Tennessee Landlords

← Tennessee Eviction Risk Overview Fair Housing Protected Classes Squatter Rights & Adverse Possession Security Deposit Limits Rent Increase Rules Eviction Records Lookup

This page was prepared by the Eviction Risk Map research team and reflects the landlord-tenant framework under Tenn. Code § 66-28 (the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) and the named local programs in Nashville-Davidson (STR Permit Program), Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. Last reviewed June 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; because Tennessee registration requirements are set locally and change frequently, confirm current rules with your city's codes or permit office or a licensed Tennessee attorney before acting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a landlord license in Tennessee?

Not from the state. Tennessee has no statewide rental registration or landlord license. Any requirement is local only. The state framework is Tenn. Code 66-28 (URLTA), which applies only in counties of 75,000 or more. Whether you must register depends on your city or county, for example, Nashville-Davidson requires a permit for short-term rentals, while Memphis uses limited proactive inspections.

What happens if I don't register where it's required?

In a city that requires a permit or registration, operating without one exposes you to local penalties. In Nashville-Davidson, running a short-term rental without a permit accrues $500 per day. Beyond fines, in jurisdictions that condition court access on compliance, non-registration can block you from filing an eviction until the issue is resolved.

Can I evict a tenant if my rental isn't registered?

Possibly not, depending on the jurisdiction. Where a city ties court access to local compliance, a landlord who has not met the applicable registration or permit requirement can be barred from filing or maintaining an eviction until the property is brought into compliance. Resolve any local permit or registration gap before you file, not after a judge raises it.

Where do I register as a landlord in Tennessee?

There is no statewide portal, you register with the relevant city. The named local programs are Nashville-Davidson (Short-Term Rental Permit Program), Memphis (limited proactive inspections), Knoxville, and Chattanooga. Contact the codes, permits, or short-term rental office for the city where your property sits to confirm what, if anything, you must file.

Statutory citation: Tenn. Code § 66-28. Last updated August 28, 2026. For informational purposes only, not legal advice. Local rules change frequently; verify with your municipality and consult a licensed Tennessee attorney before relying on these summaries.