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State Summary
Got a Tennessee HOA fine? §66-27-401 requires notice and a hearing for condo fines — and there's no statutory cap. Know your rights — free guide.
Governing Law: Tennessee Condominium Act of 2008, Unit Owners' Association (Part 4) — TN Code §66-27-401 et seq.
Researched by Brandon Sorensen
Tennessee has no general statewide HOA statute. Condominium associations are governed by the Tennessee Condominium Act of 2008 — Unit Owners' Association provisions (TN Code §66-27-401 through §66-27-418) for associations formed after January 1, 2009, and by the Tennessee Horizontal Property Act (TN Code §66-27-101 through §66-27-123) for older condo associations. Non-condominium (single-family) HOAs are governed mainly by their declarations/CC&Rs and, where organized as nonprofits, the Tennessee Nonprofit Corporation Act (Title 48).
Unlike Florida and Georgia, Tennessee currently lacks a comprehensive, unified HOA regulatory code that applies statewide. This means Tennessee homeowners have fewer statutory protections than those in neighboring states — but also fewer restrictions on what HOAs can prohibit. Your governing documents (CC&Rs, bylaws, and rules) are extremely important and often define your rights and the HOA's enforcement authority.
Tennessee legislators once proposed a comprehensive "Tennessee Homeowners Association Act" (Senate Bill 405 / House Bill 610) in 2015-2016, which would have created a unified regulatory framework similar to Florida and Georgia. That bill died in committee in 2016 and was never enacted; no general statewide HOA act has passed since. Until one does, understanding your specific HOA's governing documents and the limited statutory framework is critical.
This guide covers Tennessee HOA law, what protections you DO have, how to fight violations, and how Tennessee compares to neighboring states like Georgia and Kentucky.
Max Fine
No statutory cap (varies by governing documents)
Aggregate Cap
Determined by HOA bylaws
Notice Period
Varies (no specific statutory minimum)
Hearing
Condo assocs: notice + opportunity to be heard (§66-27-402); others per documents
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How to challenge a Tennessee HOA fine when there is no statewide statute — your condo hearing rights, documentation strategy, and dispute letters.
Read Guide →The board duties Tennessee statute actually imposes — record access, open meetings, insurance, and the 2023 reserve-study rule — and how to force compliance.
Read Guide →Why Tennessee sets no statutory fine cap, how liens attach for any unpaid amount, and how the state compares to Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky.
Read Guide →Maps the board's duties under the Tennessee Condominium Act (§66-27-401 et seq.), the older Horizontal Property Act, and the Nonprofit Corporation Act. Covers unit-owner record inspection (§66-27-417), open meetings (§66-27-408), insurance (§66-27-413), and the 2023 reserve-study rule (§66-27-403(g) — every 5 years for common elements over $10,000), plus why the 2016 statewide HOA Act (SB 405/HB 610) died in committee.
Read the full Tennessee HOA laws guide →Explains why Tennessee sets no statutory fine cap — your CC&Rs control the amount, though condo associations may only levy "reasonable" fines after notice and a hearing (§66-27-402(a)(11)). Details the lien risk under §66-27-415, which attaches for any unpaid amount with no minimum threshold and allows judicial or non-judicial foreclosure within 6 years, then compares Tennessee's rules side-by-side with Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky.
Read the full Tennessee HOA fine-limits guide →Walks through Tennessee's fining process: condominium associations must give notice and an opportunity to be heard under §66-27-402, while non-condo HOAs are governed by your CC&Rs. Covers verifying the notice elements, photo and records-request documentation, the selective-enforcement defense, a fill-in dispute letter, internal appeals and voluntary mediation ($200–400/session), and when a $500+ fine or a §66-27-415 lien threat justifies hiring an attorney.
Read the full Tennessee dispute guide →Tennessee law does not impose a statewide maximum fine. The maximum fine is determined by your HOA's governing documents (CC&Rs, bylaws, and rules). Unlike Florida ($100 per violation), Tennessee allows HOAs to set their own fine amounts if their governing documents permit it. Always check your CC&Rs for fine authority and limits.
Yes. Under TN Code §66-27-415, a condominium association has a lien on your unit for unpaid assessments and fines once they become due. The lien is enforceable when recorded in county records. This is a significant risk in Tennessee compared to Florida (which requires $1,000+ debt for lien eligibility). The association must enforce the lien (by foreclosure) within 6 years of recording; after that, it expires.
Tennessee sets no specific minimum notice period in days. For condominium associations, fines do require notice and an opportunity to be heard under TN Code §66-27-402, but no day count is specified; your governing documents control the timeline. Non-condo HOAs rely on their CC&Rs for notice and hearing procedures. Many HOAs provide 14-30 days notice, but this is not set by statute, so always check your documents.
Tennessee and <a href="/states/florida" class="text-primary-600 hover:text-primary-700 underline">Florida</a> differ significantly: (1) <a href="/states/florida" class="text-primary-600 hover:text-primary-700 underline">Florida</a> caps fines at $100 per violation; Tennessee has no statutory cap. (2) <a href="/states/florida" class="text-primary-600 hover:text-primary-700 underline">Florida</a> requires independent 3-member hearing committees; Tennessee does not require a hearing committee by statute (though condominium associations must give notice and an opportunity to be heard before fines under §66-27-402). (3) <a href="/states/florida" class="text-primary-600 hover:text-primary-700 underline">Florida</a> prohibits liens under $1,000; Tennessee allows liens for any unpaid fine. (4) <a href="/states/florida" class="text-primary-600 hover:text-primary-700 underline">Florida</a> has a 5-year statute of limitations for foreclosure; Tennessee allows foreclosure within 6 years. Tennessee offers fewer protections, making your CC&Rs and bylaws even more critical.
Explore detailed guides for specific violation types, including your rights, sample response letters, and appeal strategies.
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Every state has different HOA rules. Compare Tennessee's with these high-traffic state guides, or see all 50 in the Max HOA Fine in Every State master table.
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Primary government sources, so you can read the law yourself rather than take our summary for it. Links checked 2026-08-12.