Landlord and Tenant

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not explicitly state that local governments can pass ordinances requiring registration without the new law's framework.

Landlord Registration Act

This bill changes Tennessee's landlord registration law to apply statewide and allows landlords with five or more units to submit one form if information is identical for each unit.

What This Bill Does

• Removes the requirement that landlord registration only applies in Davidson County.
• Permits local governments to require residential landlords to register by passing an ordinance or resolution, specifying types of dwelling units and setting a fee not exceeding $10 per year.
• Allows landlords with five or more units to submit one form if all required information is identical for each unit.

Who It Names or Affects

• Landlords who own, lease, or sublease properties in Tennessee.
• Local governments that enforce building codes and can pass ordinances requiring landlord registration.

Terms To Know

Ordinance

A local law made by a city or town government.

Resolution

An official statement of opinion or decision made by a group, such as a city council.

Limits and Unknowns

• Local governments are not required to pass an ordinance or resolution before June 30, 2025.
• The bill does not specify what happens if local governments do not adopt the requirement by this date.

Official Summary Text

Present law requires e
ach landlord of one or more dwelling unit
s
in Davidson County
to furnish the following information with the agency or department of local government that is responsible for enforcing building codes in the jurisdiction where the dwelling units are located:



The landlord or the landlord's agent's name, telephone number, and physical address, which does not include a post office box
.



The street address and unit number, as appropriate, for each dwelling unit that the landlord owns, leases, or subleases or has the right to own, lease, or sublease.

T
his bill removes the provision limiting the applicability of the above only to properties in Davidson County and, instead, provides that the above requirement
applies to a municipal, metropolitan, or county government that adopts
such requirement
by passag
e of an ordinance or resolution. The ordinance or resolution must specify the types of dwelling units that require registration and set the amount of the fee, not to exceed
$10 per year. However, a
local government that is subject to this
requirement
on
or before June 30, 2025, is not required to pass an ordinance or resolution pursuant to
this bill.

This bill also adds that f
or properties that contain five or more dwelling
units subject to this requirement
, a landlord may submit one form for the entire
property if all the required information is the same for all the dwelling units on the same property.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 592
By Walley

HOUSE BILL 648
By Doggett

HB0648
001756
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section
66-28-107, relative to landlord registration.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 66-28-107(a), is amended by adding
the following language as a new subdivision (4):
(4) For properties that contain five (5) or more dwelling units, a landlord may
submit one (1) form for the entire property if all the required information is the same for
all the dwelling units on the same property.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 66-28-107, is amended by deleting
subsection (c) and substituting:
(c)
(1) This section applies to a municipal, metropolitan, or county
government that adopts this section by passage of an ordinance or resolution.
The ordinance or resolution must specify the types of dwelling units that require
registration and set the amount of the fee, not to exceed the amount specified in
subdivision (a)(2).
(2) A local government that is subject to this section on or before June
30, 2025, is not required to pass an ordinance or resolution pursuant to
subdivision (c)(1).
SECTION 3. This act takes effect on July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.