Tennessee Rent Control Preemption Statewide Ban

Under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 66-35-102, no county, metropolitan government, municipality, or local governmental unit may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution that controls the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property. The statute applies statewide and renders any local rent stabilization measure void. The only narrow exception is property owned by the local government itself or property subject to a written agreement tied to public financing. Landlords across all 95 counties may set and adjust rents based on market conditions, subject only to lease terms and federal fair housing laws.

Any local rent control ordinance is preempted, void, and unenforceable as a matter of state law.