How long does an eviction take in Tennessee?
For unpaid rent, expect about 5.5 weeks from the first notice to the lockout in Tennessee, and anywhere from 4.5 to 11.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Tennessee eviction timeline, step by step
- Notice to pay or leave 14 dayssecondary source
14 days (counties over 75,000; Tenn. Code § 66-28-505); smaller counties follow § 66-7-109 source - File the case and get a judgment about 7-30 days (typical 14)official source
Detainer warrant served at least 6 days before the hearing source - Judgment to lockout 10-14 daysofficial source
Writ of possession after the 10-day appeal period source - If the tenant appeals 10-day windowofficial source
10 days to appeal to circuit court (heard fresh); bond required for the tenant to keep possession source
Timeline model: notice + filing-to-judgment window + judgment-to-lockout window; the high case adds 21 days for a contested hearing. Methodology.
Can the tenant pay and stay?
Can pay in full during the notice period. secondary source source
Eviction costs in Tennessee
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $145.75 | Nashville (Davidson County) only: Nashville (Davidson County) General Sessions detainer filing fee $145.75; other counties differ official source source |
| Serving the tenant | $30-$77 | Not verified for Tennessee; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Sheriff/marshal lockout | $75-$180 | Not verified for Tennessee; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Lawyer, uncontested | $500-$1,500 | National rough estimate, not state-specific estimate |
| Lawyer, contested | $2,000-$5,000+ | National rough estimate estimate |
| Median gross rent | $1,284/mo | Census ACS 2024 1-year (±$16) data file |
Tenant protections
| Statewide rent control | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Statewide just-cause rules | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Right to counsel for tenants | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Seasonal or weather limits | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Required mediation / pre-filing program | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Local rules | Check | Nashville launched a right-to-counsel program in 2026. |
Eviction cost calculator for Tennessee
| What | Typical | Low to high |
|---|
Full timeline and sources · Total = rent × (months behind + months to evict + months to re-rent) + court fees + lawyer + turnover. How we calculate.
Tenant screening
Reserved for a tenant-screening partner (credit, eviction and background checks). No partner yet; nothing here is a recommendation.
Rent-guarantee insurance
Reserved for a rent-guarantee or landlord insurance partner that covers unpaid rent and eviction costs. No partner yet.
Landlord-friendliness score: 79/100
Timeline 35.4/50 · right to cure 14/20 · statewide protections 30/30. How the score works.
Tennessee eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Tennessee?
A nonpayment eviction in Tennessee typically takes about 5.5 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 4.5 to 11.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an EvictionMath estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked 2026-10-17.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Tennessee?
14 days (counties over 75,000; Tenn. Code § 66-28-505); smaller counties follow § 66-7-109.
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Tennessee by paying the rent?
Can pay in full during the notice period.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Tennessee?
The filing fee we found is $145.75 (Nashville (Davidson County) only). That is a local example, not a statewide fee, and other courts charge different amounts. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
Is Tennessee landlord-friendly for evictions?
Tennessee scores 79 out of 100 on the EvictionMath landlord-friendliness score (timeline 35.4/50, right to cure 14/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
| Field | Source type | Link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice period | secondary source | www.nolo.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Court deadlines | official source | law.justia.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Judgment to lockout | official source | law.justia.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Appeal | official source | law.justia.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Filing fee | official source | circuitclerk.nashville.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Service fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Lockout fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Median rent | official source | census.gov (ACS B25064) | 2026-10-17 |
Not yet verified for Tennessee: service fee, lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are left blank, never guessed. Found an error? Laws change; tell us via the newsletter reply.
Compare similar states
Tennessee (79, 5.5 wk) · Connecticut (80, 5.5 wk) · Alabama (77, 6 wk) · Illinois (77, 6 wk) · Rhode Island (77, 4.5 wk)