How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, before starting a nonpayment case a landlord must serve a written notice giving the tenant 14 days to pay the rent due. This is Tenn. Code §§ 66-28-512, 66-28-505, 66-28-201.
| What | Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Notice before a nonpayment case | 14 days |
| What the notice demands | Pay the rent due, or the tenancy can end |
Notes
Tennessee's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies ONLY in counties with a population over 75,000; elsewhere the lease and the common law govern and none of these periods apply. Rent is not late until the five-day grace period in § 66-28-201 has run, and the 14-day notice follows that. There is no general entry-notice period — § 66-28-403 requires 24 hours only for showings in the final 30 days of the tenancy — and no statute on rent-increase notice.
Source
Tenn. Code §§ 66-28-512, 66-28-505, 66-28-201
Read the statute in the Tennessee Code (Tennessee General Assembly): capitol.tn.gov.
The linked sections open Justia’s free copy of the code, because the state’s own site has no stable address for each section.
Checked against the statute on September 11, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
Seayora computes the notice this rule requires from the tenancy’s own dates — for a renewal offer, a rent increase or a served notice — and will not serve one that is short unless the owner records a reason. The answer above is the rule the product enforces.
Guides on this rule
- Can a Landlord Send an Eviction Notice by Email or Text? — The federal E-SIGN Act excludes eviction notices, so state law decides how a notice to pay or quit must be served. California, New York and Florida rules.
- Rent Receipt Laws: When a Landlord Must Give a Receipt — When a landlord must give a rent receipt in New York, Maryland, Texas and California, what it must say, cash payment rules, and New York’s late-rent notice.
Compare this rule in every state
More Tennessee rules
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- How much can a landlord charge for a late rent fee in Tennessee?
- Is there a grace period for paying rent in Tennessee?
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- Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Tennessee?
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- Every Tennessee rule on one page
The same question in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii