Smyrna, TN Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

Title 12, Chapter 8 of the Smyrna Municipal Code adopts the International Property Maintenance Code, 2024 edition, and calls it "the property maintenance code" (Section 12-801). The chapter does not split rental housing from owner-occupied housing, so a landlord in the Town of Smyrna, Tennessee answers to the same adopted code as a homeowner. Section 12-802 lists the local edits made by the Town Council.

The edits that touch daily living conditions are precise. Section 302.1 Sanitation gains a sentence: "Furniture intended for indoor use shall not be stored or used outdoors." Section 304.14 Insect screens is filled in with "April 1 to October 1." Section 602.3 Heat supply runs from October 1 to April 30. Section 602.4 Occupiable work spaces uses the same October 1 and April 30 dates. Section 302.4 Weeds is deleted entirely, and Sections 13-103 and 13-104 of the municipal code regulate the height of weeds and grass instead. Section 102.3 Application of other codes loses its last sentence, and Section 106 Means of appeal is redirected so that "Board of Appeals" reads "Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals."

Dilapidated housing has a second track in Title 13, Chapter 2. Section 13-201 records the Town Council's finding that structures exist in the town that are unfit for human occupation because of dilapidation, defects increasing fire or accident hazards, lack of ventilation, light or sanitary facilities, or other unsafe or unsanitary conditions.

Enforcement belongs to the codes enforcement and inspection division, which Section 12-903 makes responsible for enforcing the town's housing codes and health codes. Section 12-904 authorizes entry to premises or structures at reasonable times, subject to constitutional limits, and an administrative inspection warrant is available when entry is refused. Section 12-1005 lets the Board hear appeals of decisions by the housing official. Section 12-1007 allows extensions of time of not more than 120 days each where a deadline would cause undue hardship, and a request for a further extension is filed with the housing office not less than 30 days before the current one expires.