Tennessee state law and Metro Code do not prohibit landlord discrimination based on lawful source of income, including Section 8 vouchers; only federal protected classes apply, leaving Nashville voucher holders with no enforceable refusal claim.
Despite repeated Metro Council proposals (most recently BL2022-1380), Nashville has not enacted a source-of-income protection ordinance, and Tennessee's Human Rights Act (TCA 4-21-601) lists race, color, creed, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin — not source of income. MDHA administers the Housing Choice Voucher program and reports widespread voucher refusal. Federal Fair Housing Act protections only apply when income discrimination correlates with a protected class (e.g., disparate impact on disabled or minority tenants). Tenants can file disparate-impact complaints with HUD, but landlords may legally refuse vouchers outright.
No local penalty applies; federal disparate-impact claims under the Fair Housing Act may yield damages and injunctive relief if voucher refusal disproportionately harms a protected class.
See how Nashville's source-of-income discrimination rules stack up against other locations.
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