Just cause eviction rules in Knoxville, TN — sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances — list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Knoxville follows Tennessee URLTA at TCA 66-28, which permits no-fault non-renewal at lease end. The state does not require just-cause eviction, and local just-cause ordinances would be preempted.
Tennessee Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies to Knox County and governs eviction procedures. Landlords may decline to renew a lease without cause, and month-to-month tenancies can be terminated with 30 days written notice. During the lease term, evictions require statutory grounds such as nonpayment, lease violation, or property damage. Knoxville cannot adopt a stronger just-cause framework because TCA 66-28 occupies the field. Tenants do retain habitability, retaliation, and discrimination protections under URLTA and federal Fair Housing Act standards.
Self-help eviction such as lockouts, utility shutoffs, or property removal is prohibited under URLTA and exposes landlords to actual and statutory damages plus attorney fees.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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