For volunteer board members
Tennessee HOA Rules for Board Members (2026)
Most Tennessee board members are volunteers who just want to get it right. Below is a plain-English summary of the Tennessee rules that come up when a board enforces its documents, each paired with its statute section and the official text.
Tennessee homeowners associations (no single statute; a few HOA sections in T.C.A. §§66-27-601 to -1002) and condominium associations (the Condominium Act of 2008, §66-27-201 and following; older condominiums also the Horizontal Property Act). Many are nonprofit corporations under Title 48. A condominium may levy reasonable fines only after notice and an opportunity to be heard; an HOA's fining power and process come from its declaration. Tennessee law sets no cure period, hearing timeline or fine cap; your documents control.
- Kindly Board's suggested check-in on the fix (not a Tennessee rule): tennessee law sets no cure period. The fix-by date you wrote in the notice (from your documents, or 10 to 30 days if they're silent) controls; this is only a 14-day reminder to check.
- Kindly Board's suggested hearing date (10 days after the hearing notice; not a Tennessee rule): no Tennessee statute sets a hearing-notice period. Kindly Board suggests at least 10 days so the owner can prepare; your documents control if they say otherwise.
Updated October 2026. Not legal advice.
Key Tennessee deadlines at a glance
| Deadline | What the law says |
|---|---|
| Kindly Board's suggested check-in on the fix (not a Tennessee rule) | Tennessee law sets no cure period. The fix-by date you wrote in the notice (from your documents, or 10 to 30 days if they're silent) controls; this is only a 14-day reminder to check. No comprehensive HOA act (T.C.A. §§66-27-601 to -1002 and Title 48 read; none set) |
| Kindly Board's suggested hearing date (10 days after the hearing notice; not a Tennessee rule) | No Tennessee statute sets a hearing-notice period. Kindly Board suggests at least 10 days so the owner can prepare; your documents control if they say otherwise. No comprehensive HOA act (T.C.A. §§66-27-601 to -1002 and Title 48 read; none set) |
Which Tennessee law applies
Tennessee has no single law for homeowners associations; the declaration, bylaws, rules and any enforcement policy set the violation, hearing and fine process. No Tennessee statute sets HOA violation-notice content, delivery, a cure period, a hearing deadline or a hearing-notice period, and none caps fines for HOAs or condominiums. Tennessee law sets no cure period or hearing timeline; your documents control.
No comprehensive HOA act (T.C.A. §§66-27-601 to -1002 and Title 48 read; none set)
The Condominium Act of 2008 (T.C.A. §66-27-201 and following) applies in full to condominiums created after January 1, 2009. Listed sections, including the fine power (§66-27-402(a)(11)), the lien (§66-27-415) and the records rule (§66-27-417), also apply to older condominiums for events after that date, without overriding their existing documents. Older condominiums otherwise follow the Horizontal Property Act (§66-27-101 and following).
Condominiums: subject to the declaration, the association may charge late fees on assessments and, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, levy reasonable fines. HOAs: no Tennessee statute grants a fining power or sets a fine process; the power and the amount must come from your declaration and governing documents.
Violation notices and the chance to fix in Tennessee
Incorporated associations: suspending or expelling a member (not a fine) needs a fair, reasonable procedure carried out in good faith. A safe harbor is at least 15 days' prior written notice with the reasons, and a chance to be heard, orally or in writing, at least 5 days before the suspension takes effect; mailed notice goes first class or certified.
Assessments, late fees and liens in Tennessee
Condominiums: the association has a lien on a unit for assessments and fines from when they become due; unless the declaration says otherwise, fees, late charges, fines and interest are enforceable as assessments. Foreclosure is judicial, or by power of sale if the declaration provides, with notice to the owner and lienholders first. On written request the association must give a written statement of unpaid assessments within 7 days. HOAs: no state HOA lien statute; lien, collection and foreclosure rights come from your declaration. Talk to a Tennessee attorney before any lien or lawsuit.
Meetings and votes in Tennessee
The Tennessee laws for these communities don't require HOA or condominium board meetings to be open to owners; your bylaws decide whether owners may attend. Condominium owners' meetings: at least once a year, with notice 10 to 60 days ahead stating the time, place, method of attendance and agenda items.
T.C.A. §66-27-408; §§66-27-401 to -419 and Title 48 ch. 58 (no open-meeting rule)
Incorporated associations (Nonprofit Corporation Act): regular board meetings need no notice unless the charter or bylaws require it; special board meetings need at least 2 days' notice to each director of the date, time and place, unless the charter or bylaws provide otherwise.
Records in Tennessee
Condominium financial and other records must be reasonably available to owners. In an incorporated association, a member may inspect and copy core records on written demand at least 5 business days before; the bylaws can't limit that right.
Step by step: a Tennessee violation case
The order Kindly Board walks a Tennessee board through, from the first look to the last letter.
- Check before you start Every case
Know whether you're a condominium or an HOA, what process your documents set, and that the rule is one you can enforce. - Courtesy reminder Optional
Optional friendly reminder. It isn't the written notice unless your documents say so. - Written notice and time to fix Condominiums: before any fine (T.C.A. §66-27-402(a)(11)). HOAs: Kindly Board's fair-process order (your documents may require it)
Written notice to the owner's address on file, with a fix-by date from your documents (10 to 30 days if silent). Certified plus first-class mail is good practice. - Opportunity to be heard Condominiums: before any fine (T.C.A. §66-27-402(a)(11)). HOAs: Kindly Board's fair-process order (your documents may require it)
Give the owner a chance to be heard before any fine. Kindly Board suggests 10 days' notice of the hearing. - Decide and record it Before any fine
Decide as your documents provide and record it in the minutes. - Notice of fine Only after notice and the chance to be heard
Condominiums: reasonable fines after notice and an opportunity to be heard (§66-27-402(a)(11)). HOAs: your declaration. No statutory cap. - Close the case Every case
Confirm the fix and keep the file. Owners may inspect association records.
Tennessee HOA rules: FAQ
What HOA law applies in Tennessee?
Tennessee homeowners associations (no single statute; a few HOA sections in T.C.A. §§66-27-601 to -1002) and condominium associations (the Condominium Act of 2008, §66-27-201 and following; older condominiums also the Horizontal Property Act). Many are nonprofit corporations under Title 48. A condominium may levy reasonable fines only after notice and an opportunity to be heard; an HOA's fining power and process come from its declaration. Tennessee law sets no cure period, hearing timeline or fine cap; your documents control. The main sources: Tennessee law (the Condominium Act of 2008, T.C.A. §66-27-201 and following, HOA sections in §§66-27-601 to -1002, and the Nonprofit Corporation Act; no single HOA statute).
How are days counted for Tennessee HOA deadlines?
Tennessee sets no statutory notice or hearing days for association violations; your documents set the periods. Kindly Board counts calendar days. If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, ask a Tennessee attorney.
What are the key deadlines in a Tennessee HOA violation case?
Kindly Board's suggested check-in on the fix (not a Tennessee rule): tennessee law sets no cure period. The fix-by date you wrote in the notice (from your documents, or 10 to 30 days if they're silent) controls; this is only a 14-day reminder to check. (No comprehensive HOA act (T.C.A. §§66-27-601 to -1002 and Title 48 read; none set)) Kindly Board's suggested hearing date (10 days after the hearing notice; not a Tennessee rule): no Tennessee statute sets a hearing-notice period. Kindly Board suggests at least 10 days so the owner can prepare; your documents control if they say otherwise. (No comprehensive HOA act (T.C.A. §§66-27-601 to -1002 and Title 48 read; none set))
Can Tennessee owners see the association's records?
Condominium financial and other records must be reasonably available to owners. In an incorporated association, a member may inspect and copy core records on written demand at least 5 business days before; the bylaws can't limit that right. (T.C.A. §66-27-417; §48-66-102(a)-(d))