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Tennessee · Moving out

Tennessee notice to vacate — the 30 days rule and a free letter

In Tennessee’s URLTA counties, either the landlord or the tenant ends a month-to-month tenancy with written notice given at least 30 days prior to the periodic rental date specified in the notice (Tenn. Code § 66-28-512(b)). The catch is coverage: the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies only in counties with more than 75,000 people under the 2010 federal census (§ 66-28-102) — Shelby (Memphis), Davidson (Nashville), Knox (Knoxville), Hamilton (Chattanooga), Rutherford, and the other large counties. In smaller counties, your lease controls, and 30 days is the customary benchmark. Name the rental date your tenancy ends in the letter itself: with rent due on the 1st, notice delivered by September 1 naming October 1 lets you move out September 30. Tennessee’s deposit statute (§ 66-28-301) works differently from most — no fixed day-count refund deadline, but itemization, inspection rights, and a 60-day unclaimed-deposit rule.

30 daystenant month-to-month notice · Tenn. Code § 66-28-512(b)

Not legal advice — general information for Tennessee. Last reviewed: July 2026.

Notice-period check

Your date clears the state minimum

September 1, 2026 gives 35 days' notice — at or above Tennessee's 30 days minimum for month-to-month tenants (Tenn. Code § 66-28-512(b)). If your lease requires more, the lease controls.

Most statutes count notice to the end of a rental period — if rent is due on the 1st, plan to move out on the last day of a month.

[Tenant name(s)]

[Rental address]

July 28, 2026

[Landlord / property manager name]

Landlord / Property Manager

RE: Notice of intent to vacate — [Rental address]

Dear [Landlord / property manager name],

Please accept this letter as my written notice of intent to vacate the rental unit at [Rental address]. My tenancy will end and I will deliver possession of the premises no later than September 1, 2026. This provides at least 30 days of written notice, as required for month-to-month tenancies in Tennessee (Tenn. Code § 66-28-512(b)).

I will remove all personal belongings, return all keys and access devices, and leave the unit in clean condition, normal wear and tear excepted. Please contact me to schedule a move-out inspection.

I will provide a forwarding address for the return of my security deposit before my move-out date.

This notice is delivered via certified mail with return receipt requested on July 28, 2026.

Sincerely,

[Tenant name(s)]
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Tennessee notice rules

  • ✓Give written notice at least 30 days before the periodic rental date SPECIFIED IN THE NOTICE — name the date in the letter; with rent due the 1st, deliver by September 1 naming October 1 to leave September 30.
  • ✓Check whether URLTA covers you: § 66-28-102 limits the chapter to counties over 75,000 people (2010 census). In smaller counties your lease controls, and 30 days is the safe customary period.
  • ✓Week-to-week tenancies need only 10 days’ written notice (§ 66-28-512(a)).
  • ✓Deliver so you can prove the date — certified mail with return receipt, or hand delivery with a signed, dated copy.
  • ✓Before moving out you can request an inspection to compile a signed damage list with the landlord (§ 66-28-301) — do it, and keep your copy.
  • ✓Leave a forwarding address: the landlord sends notice of any refund due to your last known address, and a deposit unclaimed for 60 days after that notification can be removed from the escrow account (§ 66-28-301).

For landlords

The landlord side mirrors yours in URLTA counties: 30 days’ written notice before the periodic rental date (§ 66-28-512(b)). Tennessee has no statewide just-cause or rent-control regime, and state law preempts local rent control — so outside of lease protections, a landlord can non-renew with the same 30 days.

Worked example with real dates

Marcus rents month-to-month in Nashville at $1,750 with rent due on the 1st and wants to be out by September 30, 2026. Davidson County is a URLTA county, so § 66-28-512(b) applies: his written notice must be given at least 30 days before the periodic rental date he names. He delivers a signed letter on August 26 specifying October 1 as the termination rental date and September 30 as his move-out day — 36 days, so the date checker clears it. Before leaving he requests the § 66-28-301 inspection, walks the unit with the landlord, and signs the damage list showing only normal wear. He writes his new Murfreesboro address into the letter so the deposit-refund notification reaches him — if he ignored it for 60 days, the landlord could remove his $1,750 deposit from escrow.

Tennessee notice to vacate FAQ

Does Tennessee’s 30-day rule apply everywhere in the state?

No. The URLTA — including the 30-day rule in § 66-28-512(b) — applies only in counties with more than 75,000 people under the 2010 federal census (§ 66-28-102): Shelby, Davidson, Knox, Hamilton, Rutherford, and the other large counties. In smaller counties, your lease terms control and 30 days’ written notice is the customary, safe practice.

What does “30 days prior to the periodic rental date” mean in Tennessee?

Your letter must name a rental date (the day rent comes due) as the termination point, and the letter must reach the landlord at least 30 days before that date. With rent due the 1st, a notice delivered September 1 or earlier can name October 1 — you move out by September 30. Delivered September 10, the earliest rental date 30 days out is November 1.

How long does a Tennessee landlord have to return my deposit?

Unlike most states, § 66-28-301 sets no fixed day-count deadline. The landlord must keep the deposit in a separate account, itemize any deductions, and send notification of the refund due to your last known address. If you don’t respond within 60 days of that notification, the landlord may remove the deposit from the account — so leave a forwarding address and reply promptly.

Can I do a move-out inspection with my Tennessee landlord?

Yes — § 66-28-301 contemplates the landlord and tenant inspecting the premises together and compiling a comprehensive list of ascertainable damage, which both sign. That signed list becomes conclusive evidence of the unit’s condition, which protects you against surprise deductions. If you skip a properly noticed inspection, you can waive the right to contest the landlord’s list.

Sources

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