Tennessee Eviction Just Cause Local Preemption

Tennessee adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act under TCA Title 66, Chapter 28, which governs landlord-tenant relations in counties with populations over 75,000. Outside URLTA counties, common law applies. Neither framework requires landlords to demonstrate just cause to terminate a month-to-month tenancy or decline to renew a lease. The statute requires only 30 days written notice to end month-to-month rentals. Local governments lack authority to impose just-cause eviction requirements because Tennessee follows Dillon's Rule and landlord-tenant matters are governed by uniform state statute, leaving no room for additional local cause requirements.

Local just-cause eviction ordinances would be preempted by state landlord-tenant law and unenforceable against private landlords.