Clarksville, TN · Montgomery County · Tennessee · No Rent Control · T.C.A. §66-35-102 Explicit Statewide Preemption (2014) · Tennessee URLTA §66-28-101 · No Security Deposit Cap · 30-Day Return + Trust Account · 2× Wrongful-Withholding Penalty + Attorney Fees (§66-28-301(d)) · 14-Day Notice to Pay WITH Cure Right (§66-28-505) · Fort Campbell ~30,000 Military = 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) = ONLY Air Assault Division in US Army · 5th Special Forces Group · 160th SOAR Night Stalkers · BAH E-5 ~$1,350–$1,550 Demand Floor · Austin Peay State University ~1,400 Employees · Montgomery County General Sessions Court 2 Millennium Plaza 37040

Clarksville TN rent increase 2026 Clarksville has no rent control in 2026. Tennessee enacted an explicit statewide rent control preemption statute (T.C.A. §66-35-102, enacted 2014) that prohibits any Tennessee local government from enacting or maintaining any form of residential rent regulation — Clarksville landlords may raise rent any amount. Tennessee URLTA (T.C.A. §§66-28-101 to 66-28-521): no security deposit cap; 30-day return with written itemized statement; trust-account requirement (§66-28-301(a)); 2× wrongful-withholding penalty + attorney fees (§66-28-301(d)); 14-day Notice to Pay WITH tenant cure right (§66-28-505). Fort Campbell (home of the 101st Airborne Division “Screaming Eagles” — the only air assault division in the US Army; ~30,000 military stationed; 5th Special Forces Group; 160th SOAR “Night Stalkers”; BAH E-5 w/dep ~$1,350–$1,550/mo 2026) is the dominant economic force in the Clarksville rental market.

Clarksville, Tennessee — the fourth-largest Tennessee city, home to Fort Campbell and the 101st Airborne Division (the only air assault division in the US Army, with ~30,000 military stationed), and one of the American South’s most BAH-driven rental markets — has no rent control of any kind in 2026.

Tennessee enacted an explicit statewide rent control preemption statute in 2014 (T.C.A. §66-35-102) that affirmatively prohibits any Tennessee city, county, or local government from enacting or maintaining any rent control ordinance. This explicit preemption differs from the legislative-silence frameworks in Ohio and Alabama, but the practical result is the same: no local rent regulation anywhere in Tennessee. Clarksville landlords operate under the Tennessee Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA; T.C.A. §§66-28-101 to 66-28-521) — which imposes no cap on rent amounts but does impose meaningful compliance requirements on security deposits, notice, and the prohibition on self-help eviction.

Clarksville landlords: track Fort Campbell SCRA compliance, Tennessee URLTA deposit timelines, and rent-increase notices for 101st Airborne and 5th SFG tenants in one place.

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Tennessee rent control law: T.C.A. §66-35-102 explicit statewide preemption

Tennessee Code Annotated §66-35-102 (enacted 2014) provides: “A county or municipality shall not enact or maintain any ordinance, rule or regulation that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for private residential property.” This is one of the most clearly worded rent control preemption statutes in the United States. Unlike Ohio (which has no statute addressing rent control in either direction) and Alabama (which similarly has no enabling or preemption statute), Tennessee’s preemption is affirmative and explicit.

Tennessee’s preemption statute was enacted in 2014 during a period when several urban Tennessee markets — particularly Nashville, which was experiencing rapid population growth and rent increases — were discussing local tenant-protection measures. The Legislature preempted any such local action statewide. Under T.C.A. §66-35-102, no Tennessee locality may enact a rent freeze, annual rent increase guideline, rent stabilization ordinance, vacancy control, or any other form of residential rent regulation. The statute applies to all Tennessee counties and municipalities, including Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County, Memphis/Shelby County, and Clarksville/Montgomery County.

This explicit preemption is currently absolute. Unlike New Jersey (N.J. Stat. §2A:42-84.1, which enables municipalities to enact rent control) and California (which requires local enabling and has extensive state oversight of local RSOs), Tennessee’s T.C.A. §66-35-102 leaves no room for local variation: rent is not regulated anywhere in Tennessee at either the state or local level, and may not be. Clarksville landlords operate in a legally certain environment with respect to rent-setting: there is no Clarksville rent board, no Montgomery County annual guideline, no Tennessee state rent cap, and no administrative process for tenants to challenge the amount of a rent increase.

Tennessee URLTA: landlord-tenant framework for Clarksville

Security deposit: no cap, trust-account requirement, 30-day return, and 2× wrongful-withholding penalty (T.C.A. §66-28-301)

Tennessee Code Annotated §66-28-301 governs security deposits for Clarksville residential rentals covered by the Tennessee URLTA (which applies to counties and municipalities with a population of 75,000 or more — Clarksville qualifies). Key provisions:

No deposit cap: Tennessee does not cap the security deposit amount (unlike Alabama’s 1-month cap, New Mexico’s 1-month cap, California’s 2-month cap, and New York’s 1-month cap for stabilized units). A Clarksville landlord may collect any deposit the market will bear. In practice, near-Fort-Campbell competitive conditions typically produce deposits of one to two months’ rent.

Trust-account requirement: T.C.A. §66-28-301(a) requires the landlord to hold the security deposit in a federally insured trust account at a Tennessee banking institution, OR to provide a surety bond in the amount of the deposit. The landlord must notify the tenant in writing of the name and address of the financial institution and the account number within 30 days of receiving the deposit. This trust-account requirement is a meaningful compliance obligation distinct from the deposit return requirement: violating it independently exposes the landlord to liability even if the deposit is otherwise returned timely.

Return timeline: T.C.A. §66-28-301(b)(1) requires the landlord to deliver to the tenant a written itemized statement of any claims against the deposit, together with any remaining deposit balance, within 30 days after the termination of the tenancy and the tenant’s vacating the premises. The itemized statement must describe each claimed damage item and the estimated cost of repair. Missing the 30-day deadline forfeits the landlord’s right to retain any portion of the deposit.

Wrongful withholding penalty: T.C.A. §66-28-301(d) provides that if the landlord fails to comply with the return and itemization requirements, the tenant may recover the entire deposit, plus a penalty equal to the full deposit amount (2× total recovery), plus reasonable attorney fees. For a $1,400 deposit wrongfully withheld, total exposure is $2,800 plus attorney fees. Normal wear and tear is not deductible.

Notice for non-payment: 14-day Notice to Pay WITH tenant cure right (T.C.A. §66-28-505)

Tennessee’s URLTA non-payment eviction notice requirement is among the most tenant-protective of any non-rent-controlled state: T.C.A. §66-28-505 requires the landlord to give written notice to the tenant specifying the amount of rent due and the date by which it must be paid, with not less than 14 days for the tenant to pay or vacate. Tennessee’s 14-day notice includes a statutory cure right: if the tenant pays the full amount of past-due rent within 14 days of receipt of the notice, the rental agreement does NOT terminate. This is more protective than Ohio (3-day, no cure right) and Alabama (7-day, cure right) but the same cure-right principle as Alabama — just twice the notice window.

After the 14-day period expires without full payment, the landlord files a detainer warrant in Montgomery County General Sessions Court. For lease violations other than non-payment, T.C.A. §66-28-505 requires 30 days’ written notice to cure or vacate. For repeat violations within 6 months, the landlord may give a 14-day notice without a cure right.

Prohibition on retaliatory acts (T.C.A. §66-28-514)

Tennessee URLTA §66-28-514 prohibits landlord retaliation against tenants who: (a) complain in good faith to a governmental agency about habitability conditions; (b) complain to the landlord about conditions affecting habitability; or (c) organize or become a member of a tenant organization. The anti-retaliation presumption in Tennessee is 6 months: adverse action within 6 months of protected tenant activity is presumed retaliatory unless the landlord proves an independent non-retaliatory reason with contemporaneous documentation. Retaliatory action entitles the tenant to actual damages or one month’s rent (whichever is greater), plus attorney fees.

Fort Campbell and the Clarksville rental market

Fort Campbell: ~30,000 military, 101st Airborne Division, and the BAH demand engine

Fort Campbell (Fort Campbell Boulevard, Fort Campbell KY/TN 42223; the installation straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee state line between Christian County KY and Montgomery County TN) is the economic anchor of the Clarksville rental market and one of the most consequential military installations for residential rental demand in the United States. Fort Campbell’s approximately 30,000 active-duty military personnel make it the fourth-largest US Army installation by active-duty military strength.

The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) — the “Screaming Eagles” — is the iconic unit of Fort Campbell and is unique in the US Army: it is the ONLY air assault division in the Army, capable of conducting forced-entry operations by landing directly from helicopters rather than parachute. The 101st’s aviation assets include UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters, CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, and OH-58D Kiowa scout helicopters — representing one of the largest concentrations of Army aviation at any single installation. The 101st has been continuously deployed across Iraq, Afghanistan, and Europe since 2001; this high operational tempo means frequent rotations of soldiers on and off the installation, creating sustained rental market turnover and demand.

The 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) — one of the Army’s seven active Special Forces Groups, specializing in special operations in the Middle East region — is also permanently based at Fort Campbell. Special Forces soldiers (18-series; senior NCOs and warrant officers) earn significantly higher pay than line infantry, generating premium rental demand in higher-end near-post neighborhoods. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR; “Night Stalkers”) — the Army’s premier helicopter unit for special operations, famous for the Black Hawk Down operation in Mogadishu (1993) and the Bin Laden raid (2011) — is also based at Fort Campbell, adding another tier of high-seniority military personnel with above-average BAH.

BAH rates and the near-post rental demand floor

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is the most important single variable in the Clarksville rental market. BAH is a tax-free monthly housing allowance indexed annually to the local cost of rental housing (at the 90th percentile of actual rents by housing type and pay grade). All unmarried military members living off-post and all military members with dependents receive BAH. At Fort Campbell, BAH is indexed to the Clarksville TN BAH area (not the Hopkinsville KY area, reflecting where most families live). Approximate 2026 BAH rates for the Clarksville area:

Pay grade (with dependents) Approx. 2026 BAH/mo Housing type targeted
E-4 (Specialist/Corporal) $1,250–$1,350 1–2BR apartment; near-post corridors
E-5 (Sergeant) $1,350–$1,550 2BR apartment or small house; Ringgold Rd / Madison St
E-7 (Sergeant First Class) $1,550–$1,800 2–3BR house; established near-post neighborhoods
O-3 (Captain) $1,600–$1,900 3BR house or premium 2BR; Sango / Rossview
O-4 (Major) $1,700–$2,000 3BR+ house; Sango, Rossview, Madison area
O-6 (Colonel) $2,000–$2,400 4BR+ house; Rossview, highest Clarksville submarkets

Because BAH adjusts annually to the 90th percentile of local rents (not the median), it creates a self-reinforcing mechanism: as Clarksville rents rise, the next BAH adjustment follows, enabling landlords in near-post submarkets to raise rents to the new BAH ceiling without fear of vacancy. Military families are less price-sensitive than civilian renters because their housing benefit is usage-gated: a soldier who does not spend their full BAH on housing does not pocket the difference as readily as a civilian who downscales. In practice, many Fort Campbell families spend at or near their full BAH on rent, supporting the near-post rent floor even in periods of broader market softness.

Fort Campbell also employs approximately 16,000 civilian employees — Department of Army civilians (GS-5 through SES), defense contractors (supporting aviation maintenance, logistics, communications, and special operations), and National Guard and Reserve technicians. These civilian employees earn $45,000–$150,000 and generate additional residential demand independent of BAH, reinforcing the near-post rental market year-round.

Austin Peay State University: ~1,400 employees, ~11,000 students

Austin Peay State University (APSU; 601 College St, Clarksville TN 37044; named for Tennessee Governor Austin Peay, who signed the university’s charter in 1927) is Clarksville’s primary institution of higher education and the second-largest employer in the city (after Fort Campbell). APSU enrolls approximately 11,000 students and employs approximately 1,400 full-time faculty and staff. APSU has one of the highest veteran and active-duty-military student enrollment rates of any Tennessee public university, reflecting its geographic relationship to Fort Campbell: a significant portion of the student body consists of active-duty soldiers, veterans, and military spouses pursuing degrees while stationed at Fort Campbell. APSU faculty earning $55,000–$150,000, graduate students, and upper-division students who rent off campus generate demand in the downtown Clarksville, Madison Street, and University Avenue submarkets convenient to the APSU campus. APSU’s relationship with the military base creates a unique dual-demand dynamic: Austin Peay generates both civilian academic and military-adjacent housing demand simultaneously.

Gateway Medical Center / Tennova Healthcare

Gateway Medical Center (651 Dunlop Lane, Clarksville TN 37040; formerly Clarksville Memorial Hospital; operated by Tennova Healthcare, a Lifepoint Health affiliate) is the primary hospital in the Clarksville-Montgomery County market, with approximately 250 licensed beds and a staff of approximately 1,500–2,000 employees including physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals. Gateway serves a market that includes not only civilian Clarksville residents but also the dependents and retirees of Fort Campbell who use the civilian network. Erlanger Health System operates a facility in Clarksville (Clarksville Outpatient Center). Healthcare workers earning $45,000–$200,000+ generate rental demand across all Clarksville submarkets, with particular concentration in the Dunlop Lane and US-41A corridors convenient to Gateway.

Clarksville rent history and 2026 market outlook

Year Metro avg 2BR/mo Near-post 2BR Sango/Rossview 2BR Market notes
2019 $850–$1,000 $900–$1,300 $950–$1,450 Stable pre-pandemic market; Fort Campbell deployment cycle normal; 101st and 5th SFG ongoing Middle East rotations; APSU steady enrollment; BAH floor established; Gateway Medical steady employment
2020 $870–$1,030 $920–$1,330 $970–$1,480 Minimal COVID-19 impact; Fort Campbell missions continued; DOD essential workers unaffected; APSU shifted to remote learning briefly; military tenant SCRA claims increased slightly during uncertainty; overall market stable
2021 $950–$1,150 $1,050–$1,500 $1,100–$1,700 +10-15% from 2019; Alabama/Tennessee rent increases lower than national peaks but meaningful; BAH annual adjustment follows market; in-migration from Nashville ($1.9k average 2BR vs Clarksville $1.1k) begins driving relocation; Nashville overflow commuters discovered Clarksville (I-24, ~50 miles)
2022 $1,050–$1,300 $1,150–$1,700 $1,250–$1,950 +25-30% from 2019 peak; among highest percentage increases of any mid-size TN market; Nashville commuter spillover intensified; Fort Campbell BAH increase; new Sango/Rossview apartment communities (Clarksville CrossPoint, others) announced; national rent surge coincides with Fort Campbell expansion; tight vacancy
2023 $1,100–$1,350 $1,150–$1,750 $1,250–$2,000 +2-4%; moderate correction from peak; new Sango apartments delivered; Gateway expansion; APSU enrollment growth; BAH adjustment follows market; new construction softened premium submarket slightly; near-post remains tight from Fort Campbell demand
2024 $1,100–$1,400 $1,100–$1,800 $1,200–$1,950 +2-3%; stabilization; Fort Campbell BAH annual adjustment supports military submarket; APSU enrollment stable; Nashville commuter demand steady (I-24 corridor); new multi-family deliveries in Red River district; healthcare employment growth; market well-positioned vs. Nashville premium
2026F $1,100–$1,500 $1,100–$1,800 $1,200–$2,000 +2-4%; stable strong market; Fort Campbell BAH floor maintained; 101st Airborne operational tempo sustained; 5th SFG and 160th SOAR demand premium near-post; Nashville commuter demand continues; APSU growth; Clarksville well below Nashville rents while on same I-24 corridor; limited rent-controlled competition

Clarksville neighborhood rent guide 2026

Neighborhood / Area 1BR 2026 2BR 2026 Key drivers
Sango / Rossview $1,000–$1,500 $1,200–$2,000 Premium suburban east Clarksville; newer construction; Rossview schools; senior officers (O-4 to O-6) and senior NCOs; Nashville commuters; highest rents in metro
Gate 4 / Fort Campbell Boulevard corridor $900–$1,400 $1,100–$1,800 Closest to Fort Campbell Gate 4 (main Clarksville gate); high military tenant concentration; BAH E-5 to O-3 range drives demand; SCRA compliance essential; Class A and B apartment communities
Ringgold Road / Madison Street $850–$1,200 $1,000–$1,600 Established mid-Clarksville corridor; mix of apartments and SFR; E-4 to E-6 military demand; Austin Peay University employees and students; Gateway Medical staff
Downtown Clarksville / Greenwood $800–$1,100 $950–$1,500 Historic downtown near APSU; renovated apartments; loft units; younger demographics; civilian professional and APSU faculty/staff demand; Nashville remote workers discovering walkable Clarksville
Red River / US-79 corridor $800–$1,100 $950–$1,500 Growing northeast Clarksville; new multi-family deliveries (2022–2025); mix of affordability and newer product; Fort Campbell Gate 1 (US-41A) and Gate 7 proximity
North Clarksville / Dover Road $700–$950 $850–$1,200 Most affordable submarket; older housing stock; further from Fort Campbell gates; E-1 to E-3 military and APSU student demand; highest vacancy rate in metro; best affordability for civilian tenants

Tennessee vs. other states: Clarksville landlord-tenant law in national context

State / Jurisdiction Rent Control Status Security Deposit Cap Eviction Notice (Non-Payment) Wrongful Withholding Penalty
Clarksville TN (T.C.A. §66-35-102 preemption; §66-28 URLTA) Explicit statewide preemption (T.C.A. §66-35-102, 2014) — NO local rent control permitted; no statewide cap; no Clarksville ordinance ever enacted No statutory cap (§66-28-301) BUT trust-account requirement for all deposits — unlike Ohio/Texas (no trust requirement) 14-day Notice to Pay WITH cure right (§66-28-505) — most protective of major Tennessee cities; longer than Alabama (7-day) and Ohio (3-day no-cure) 2× full deposit + attorney fees (§66-28-301(d)) — same rate as Alabama/Ohio; but Tennessee's penalty is 2× the FULL deposit (not just wrongfully withheld portion)
Alabama (AURLTA ALA. CODE §35-9A-101) — Montgomery/Huntsville No rent control; no preemption statute; no enabling statute; legislative silence (Dillon's Rule same result) 1-month periodic rent cap (§35-9A-201(a)) — unlike Tennessee (no cap) 7-day Notice to Pay WITH cure right (§35-9A-401(b)) — half of Tennessee's 14-day window 2× wrongfully withheld + attorney fees (§35-9A-201(d)) — same rate but based on wrongfully withheld amount (not full deposit)
Ohio (ORC Ch. 5321) — Dayton/Columbus No rent control; no preemption statute; no enabling statute; Dillon's Rule No statutory cap (ORC §5321.16) — same as Tennessee 3-day notice NO cure right (ORC §1923.04) — much less protective than Tennessee's 14-day with cure 2× wrongfully withheld + attorney fees (ORC §5321.16(C)) — same rate as Tennessee, same structure as Alabama
Oregon (ORS §90.323 statewide cap) Statewide 7% + CPI cap (maximum 9.9%/yr; ORS §90.323); just cause required (§90.427); 90-day advance notice required for large increases No statutory cap (ORS §90.300) — same as Tennessee 10-day notice WITH cure right (§90.394) — less than Tennessee's 14 days 2× + attorney fees (§90.300(16)) — same as Tennessee
California (AB 1482 + RSOs) Statewide 5% + CPI cap max 10%/yr (Civ. Code §1947.12; units >15 yr); local RSOs in LA, SF, Oakland, Berkeley, Santa Monica with additional controls 2-month unfurnished cap (Civ. Code §1950.5) — unlike Tennessee 3-day notice WITH cure right (CCP §1161) — same cure-right principle as Tennessee, less than half the notice window 2× + punitive damages + attorney fees (Civ. Code §1950.5(l)) — stronger than Tennessee
Arkansas (ARLTA Ark. Code Ann. §18-17-101) — Fort Smith No rent control; Dillon's Rule; no enabling or preemption statute; ARLTA enacted 2007 No statutory cap (Ark. Code Ann. §18-17-601) — same as Tennessee 5-day notice with cure right (§18-17-711) — less than Tennessee's 14 days No explicit statutory 2× penalty (unlike Tennessee/Ohio/Alabama) — significant landlord-favorable difference

Clarksville landlord compliance checklist 2026

  1. No rent cap applies — raise rent any amount at renewal with 30 days’ advance notice for month-to-month tenancies: Tennessee T.C.A. §66-35-102 explicitly prohibits any local rent control and there is no statewide rent cap. For fixed-term leases, rent may not be changed during the lease term without the tenant’s written consent. At expiration, offer any new rent. For month-to-month tenancies, provide at least 30 days’ written notice before the increase takes effect. No reason for the increase must be stated. No notice to any Clarksville office, Montgomery County agency, or Tennessee state body is required.
  2. Hold all security deposits in a federally insured trust account at a Tennessee institution — notify tenant within 30 days of the institution name and account number (T.C.A. §66-28-301(a)): this trust-account requirement is independent of the deposit return obligation. Commingling deposit funds with operating accounts violates this provision even if the deposit is returned timely. Open a dedicated deposit trust account and notify the tenant in writing of the institution and account number within 30 days of receiving the deposit.
  3. Return the deposit (or itemized remainder) within 30 days of tenancy termination and tenant vacating (T.C.A. §66-28-301(b)): the 30-day return window is strict. The written itemized statement of damages must be delivered with the partial return, not separately. Missing the 30-day deadline forfeits any right to retain deductions and triggers the 2× penalty.
  4. Wrongful withholding means 2× the FULL DEPOSIT plus attorney fees (T.C.A. §66-28-301(d)): Tennessee’s penalty is calibrated to the full deposit amount, not just the portion wrongfully withheld (unlike Ohio’s and Alabama’s formulation). For a $1,400 deposit where only $400 was arguably withheld wrongfully, the full $1,400 penalty applies. This makes Tennessee’s deposit penalty particularly significant relative to the deposit amount. Document condition at move-in and move-out with time-stamped photographs. Keep all contractor invoices for claimed damage deductions.
  5. Serve a written 14-day Notice to Pay or Quit before filing eviction (T.C.A. §66-28-505): for non-payment, serve the tenant with a written 14-day Notice to Pay or Quit. Tennessee’s 14-day notice includes a statutory cure right: if the tenant pays the full past-due rent within 14 days, the rental agreement does NOT terminate. Only after 14 days expire without full payment may you file a detainer warrant in Montgomery County General Sessions Court. Do not file before the 14-day period is complete.
  6. File eviction in Montgomery County General Sessions Court (2 Millennium Plaza, Clarksville TN 37040; 931-648-5733) — never use self-help: self-help eviction (changing locks, removing belongings, shutting off utilities) is prohibited in Tennessee and entitles the tenant to damages including recovery of possession and monetary damages. Always proceed through the General Sessions Court for detainer warrants.
  7. For Fort Campbell military tenants: understand SCRA before serving any notice: Fort Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division, 5th SFG, and 160th SOAR deploy with high frequency. Before serving any notice related to eviction, lease termination, or rent increase, verify the tenant’s current duty status and any pending deployment orders. SCRA lease termination rights (30 days’ written notice upon PCS orders or deployment of 90+ days) apply regardless of remaining lease term and may not be waived in the lease agreement. SCRA violations expose you to federal civil liability and potential DOJ enforcement. Implement a standard protocol for near-post properties: obtain unit rear-detachment contact information, document all communications, and verify duty status before initiating any eviction or termination proceeding.
  8. Do not retaliate against tenants who complain about habitability or organize (T.C.A. §66-28-514): adverse actions within 6 months of protected tenant activity are presumed retaliatory. Maintain pre-dated documentation of any planned rent increases, renewal policies, or lease-violation responses that predate any tenant complaint. Retaliatory action entitles the tenant to actual damages or 1 month’s rent (whichever is greater) plus attorney fees.

Clarksville TN rent law: frequently asked questions

Does Clarksville or Tennessee have rent control in 2026?

No. Clarksville and all of Tennessee have no rent control of any kind in 2026. Tennessee enacted an explicit statewide rent control preemption statute — T.C.A. §66-35-102 (2014) — that affirmatively prohibits any Tennessee county or municipality from enacting or maintaining any ordinance that controls the amount of rent charged for private residential property. Clarksville landlords may raise rent by any amount at lease renewal. There is no Clarksville rent board, no Montgomery County annual guideline, and no administrative process for tenants to challenge rent increases.

What is Tennessee’s security deposit trust-account requirement?

T.C.A. §66-28-301(a) requires all security deposits to be held in a federally insured trust account at a Tennessee bank, savings institution, or credit union — OR covered by a surety bond in the deposit amount. The landlord must notify the tenant in writing of the institution name and account number within 30 days of receiving the deposit. Commingling deposit funds with operating accounts violates this provision independently. The deposit must be returned (or itemized remainder returned) within 30 days after tenancy termination and tenant vacating; failure triggers the 2× full-deposit penalty plus attorney fees (T.C.A. §66-28-301(d)).

Does Tennessee’s 14-day eviction notice include a cure right?

Yes. T.C.A. §66-28-505 gives the tenant 14 days to pay all past-due rent after receiving a written non-payment notice, and if the tenant pays in full within 14 days, the rental agreement does NOT terminate. This 14-day cure right is more protective than Ohio (3-day, no cure right) and Alabama (7-day, cure right). After 14 days without full payment, the landlord may file a detainer warrant in Montgomery County General Sessions Court. Accepting partial payment during the notice period may waive the eviction right for that notice period; accept payment in full or not at all if an eviction is pending.

What SCRA rights do Fort Campbell military tenants have?

Active-duty service members at Fort Campbell have rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA, 50 U.S.C. §§3901–4043). Key provisions: (1) Lease termination: any lease may be terminated with 30 days’ written notice plus a copy of PCS or deployment orders for 90+ days; no early termination fee permitted. (2) Interest cap: pre-service debt capped at 6% during active duty. (3) Eviction protection: no eviction for non-payment during military service without a court order, for rents below the DOD-adjusted threshold. Given Fort Campbell’s operational tempo (101st Airborne and 5th SFG deploy frequently), verify duty status before any eviction or lease termination notice involving military tenants. SCRA violations expose landlords to federal civil liability.

Which court handles Clarksville TN evictions?

Montgomery County General Sessions Court (2 Millennium Plaza, Clarksville TN 37040; 931-648-5733) handles residential evictions (detainer warrants) for properties within the City of Clarksville and unincorporated Montgomery County, Tennessee. Note: Fort Campbell itself is in both Kentucky (Christian County) and Tennessee (Montgomery County) — but virtually all off-base residential rentals in the Clarksville market are in Tennessee and go to Montgomery County General Sessions Court. For properties in Christian County, KY, the applicable Kentucky law and Christian County District Court in Hopkinsville would govern.

How do Clarksville rents compare to Nashville?

Clarksville is significantly more affordable than Nashville in 2026. Clarksville metro 2BR average: approximately $1,100–$1,500. Nashville metro 2BR average: approximately $1,500–$2,000; East Nashville/Germantown $1,700–$2,800; downtown Nashville $2,000–$3,500. Nashville’s higher rents reflect Amazon, Oracle, HCA Healthcare (Fortune 100 HQ), music industry, and massive in-migration from coastal metros. Nashville’s I-24 corridor commute to Clarksville (~50 miles; ~50–60 minutes outside peak) makes Clarksville increasingly attractive for Nashville employees seeking significantly lower rents. Both markets operate under identical Tennessee law: T.C.A. §66-35-102 preemption, URLTA §§66-28-101 to 66-28-521, no deposit cap, 30-day return, 2× full-deposit penalty, 14-day cure-right notice. The relevant court differs: Montgomery County General Sessions (Clarksville) vs. Davidson County General Sessions (Nashville).

What notice must a Clarksville landlord give before raising rent?

Tennessee does not have an explicit statutory rent increase notice requirement separate from the general tenancy termination notice. For fixed-term leases: rent may not change during the term without the tenant’s written consent; notify the tenant of any new renewal rent 30–60 days before expiration. For month-to-month tenancies: T.C.A. §66-28-512 requires at least 30 days’ written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy; by analogy, rent increases on month-to-month tenancies should be communicated with at least 30 days’ written notice before the new rental period begins. No reason must be stated. No notice to any Clarksville office, Montgomery County agency, or Tennessee state office is required. For WPAFB-equivalent guidance: with Fort Campbell military tenants, always serve notices in writing with certified mail delivery confirmation, keep copies of all notices served, and note the tenant’s current deployment status.

Related RentCeiling resources

  • Tennessee T.C.A. §66-35-102 comprehensive guide — full legal analysis of Tennessee’s explicit statewide preemption; Tennessee URLTA; Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga market data; 2026 outlook
  • Nashville TN rent increase 2026 — same T.C.A. preemption; Amazon HQ2 ~5,000; Oracle HQ ~8,500; HCA Healthcare Fortune 100; music industry; Davidson County; highest Tennessee rents
  • Memphis TN rent increase 2026 — same T.C.A. preemption; FedEx World HQ ~30,000 employees; AutoZone HQ; Shelby County; Mid-South distribution hub
  • Montgomery AL rent increase 2026 — Alabama AURLTA; Maxwell AFB ~14,000 military + civilian; Air University; Hyundai HMMA; military-driven market comparable to Clarksville/Fort Campbell; 7-day cure-right notice (vs. Tennessee 14-day)
  • Dayton OH rent increase 2026 — Ohio ORC Ch. 5321; Wright-Patterson AFB ~27,000; similar military-driven market; Ohio: no deposit cap, 3-day no-cure notice vs. Tennessee: no deposit cap, 14-day cure right
  • Fort Smith AR rent increase 2026 — Arkansas ARLTA; ArcBest Fortune 500 HQ; affordable market; no 2× wrongful-withholding penalty (unlike Tennessee)
  • Compare all jurisdictions — side-by-side caps, notice windows, deposit rules, and overcharge remedies for all covered markets

Clarksville landlords: Fort Campbell’s high deployment frequency makes SCRA compliance essential. Tennessee’s 2× full-deposit penalty (T.C.A. §66-28-301(d)) and 30-day trust-account notice requirement are the primary deposit compliance checkpoints. RentCeiling tracks deposit timelines, rent-increase notices, and Fort Campbell SCRA documentation in one timestamped compliance log.

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