Tennessee Security Deposit Demand Letter
In Tennessee, a landlord has 30 days after move-out to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions (as of 2026; source: Tenn. Code §66-28-301). This letter cites that deadline, states the amount and your forwarding address, and gives the landlord a date to respond before you file. Free, no signup.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
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Tennessee deposit rules at a glance
- Return deadline
- 30 days after move-out
- Deposit cap
- No statutory limit
As of 2026. Source: Tenn. Code §66-28-301 ↗. Want the exact due date? Use the deposit return calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Tennessee landlord have to return the deposit?
30 days after you move out, as of 2026 (source: Tenn. Code §66-28-301). Counted in calendar days; check the statute for whether the clock starts at move-out, lease end, or receipt of your forwarding address, and whether a weekend deadline rolls over. Use the deposit return calculator to get the exact date.
Is there a limit on how much deposit a Tennessee landlord can charge?
Tennessee sets no statutory cap on the security deposit (as of 2026; source: Tenn. Code §66-28-301), so the amount is whatever the lease says. The return deadline still applies to the full amount.
How much can I sue for in Tennessee if the landlord ignores this?
$25,000 in all counties (Tenn. Code Ann. §16-15-501(d)(1)); attorney fees, court costs and discretionary costs are excluded from the limit calculation. Unlimited jurisdiction in forcible entry and detainer (eviction) cases and in actions to recover personal property, including an alternative money judgment. The '$15,000 in some counties' figure on aggregator sites is outdated. The court is the General Sessions Court, and the filing fee is Varies by county: state base filing fee per Tenn. Code Ann. §8-21-401 plus county litigation taxes and service of the civil warrant; typical all-in cost roughly $100-$150 (evictions can run higher). Check the county General Sessions clerk for exact amounts.. As of 2026; source: Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501.
Do I need a lawyer in Tennessee small claims?
Attorneys are Yes — Tennessee places no restriction on attorney representation in General Sessions Court; either side may appear with or without counsel.. Source: Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501 (as of 2026).
Deposit rules in every state, cited to statute: security deposit limits by state.
How Tennessee compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Tennessee: Tenn. Code §66-28-301 ↗.
- Deposit return deadline
Deposit return deadline: 30 days, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 26 other states.
Deposit return deadline in neighboring states — Alabama (60 days), Arkansas (60 days), Georgia (30 days), Kentucky (30 days), Mississippi (45 days), Missouri (30 days), North Carolina (30 days), Virginia (45 days).
The rest of what Tennessee requires
The figures below are Tennessee's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Tennessee page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- No statutory limit Tenn. Code §66-28-301 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 30 days after move-out Tenn. Code §66-28-301 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days Tenn. Code §66-28-301 ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 14 days to pay or quit Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-505; § 66-28-512 (URLTA counties) ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026
- 14 days Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-505; § 66-28-512 (URLTA counties) ↗
- Small claims limit · as of 2026
- $25,000 Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501 ↗
- Where you file · as of 2026
- General Sessions Court · filing fee Varies by county: state base filing fee per Tenn. Code Ann. §8-21-401 plus county litigation taxes and service of the civil warrant; typical all-in cost roughly $100-$150 (evictions can run higher). Check the county General Sessions clerk for exact amounts. Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-15-501 ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit Tennessee Code ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Tennessee DOR / DMV.ORG ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization recommended Tenn. Code §34-6-101 et seq. ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 48-249-102(24), 48-249-203 ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Register of Deeds ('county register', Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-24-101) · no witnesses Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-22-101 ↗
Security deposit demand letter in other states
More Tennessee legal forms
Different state? See security deposit demand letters by state →