Tennessee Eviction Process: The 14-Day Notice, the Detainer Warrant and the 10-Day Appeal

In Tennessee, a landlord who wants a tenant out has to give written notice, then file a detainer warrant in General Sessions Court, win the case, and wait out the appeal period before the sheriff can act [2][3]. How much notice the tenant gets depends on the reason for the eviction and on the county, because Tennessee has two sets of landlord-tenant rules.

Two sets of rules: URLTA counties and the rest

Tennessee’s URLTA applies only in counties that had more than 75,000 people in the 2010 census [1]. That covers the state’s big urban counties, including Shelby (Memphis), Davidson (Nashville), Knox (Knoxville), Hamilton (Chattanooga), Rutherford, Williamson and Montgomery [2][10]. In smaller counties, older general landlord-tenant law applies instead [3].

The county list has changed over the years as the population cutoff changed, so if you live in a mid-sized county, ask the General Sessions clerk or a legal aid office which rules apply to you.

The notice

For unpaid rent or damage, the 14 days are a chance to fix things. If you pay what you owe, or pay for or repair the damage, within the 14 days, the landlord can’t evict you for it [2][3]. That works once: if the same problem happens again within six months, you can be evicted even if you fix it again [2][3]. A 2025 bill to cut the 14-day notice to 7 days failed in a House subcommittee, so 14 days remains the rule [4].

The detainer warrant and the hearing

If the notice period passes and the problem isn’t fixed, the landlord files a detainer warrant with the General Sessions Court clerk. General Sessions courts have no dollar limit in eviction cases [9]. In Davidson County, filing costs $145.75, plus $52 for each additional defendant [7].

The warrant is usually delivered by a sheriff’s deputy; it can be another adult, but not the landlord or someone who works for the landlord [3]. The court date must be at least 6 days after you’re served [3][5].

Go to court. If you don’t, you lose automatically [3]. At the hearing, tell the judge if your notice was too short or if you paid and the landlord took the money; bring receipts or cancelled checks [2]. Knox County hears eviction cases on Tuesdays and offers free mediation on the docket day [8].

After the judgment

If the judge rules for the landlord, you have at least 10 days to move out [2][3]. During those 10 days, either side can appeal to Circuit Court. The 10 days start the day after the judgment, and if the last day falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day [6]. In Davidson County, an appeal costs $284.50, or you can file a pauper’s oath if you can’t afford it [6][7]. An appeal doesn’t automatically let you stay in the home [2][3].

After the 10 days, the landlord can get a writ of possession, and the sheriff’s department can remove the tenant and their belongings [2][3]. In Knox County, landlords can ask for the writ from day 11 through day 90 after judgment; after that, the court must first confirm the judgment is still valid [8]. In Davidson County, the sheriff must serve a writ of restitution within 20 days of its issue [5].

What a landlord can’t do

A landlord can’t change the locks, shut off lights, water or gas, or put your belongings out to force you to leave, even if you’re behind on rent or broke the lease. The landlord has to go to court [2][3]. In URLTA counties, the landlord also can’t set your things out until the sheriff comes [2].

Where to get help

• Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands: free help line, 1-800-238-1443 [2][3].
• Tennessee Consumer Affairs Division: takes complaints from tenants in URLTA counties and tries to mediate with the landlord [10].
• Your county’s General Sessions clerk: for court dates, forms and fees. Clerks can’t give legal advice [8].