Can Your Lease Still Say "No Guns" After January 1, 2027?
Pull out your current lease and search for the words "firearms prohibited." If that clause is in there, it has an expiration date, and it's coming sooner than most Tennessee landlords realize.
Tennessee Senate Bill 350, now Public Chapter 606, stops residential landlords from banning lawful firearm possession in their rentals. It also gives tenants the power to sue when a landlord crosses the line.
This guide breaks down what the law covers, which properties are exempt, what you can still control, and how to update your paperwork before renewals roll in. At HALO Properties, our team brings years of hands-on experience owning and managing real estate across Hendersonville, Gallatin, Mt. Juliet, Nashville, and the surrounding Middle Tennessee communities, and we're tracking this change closely for the owners we serve.
Key Takeaways
- Gun bans are ending: Landlords can no longer prohibit tenants, household members, or guests from lawfully possessing firearms, firearm parts, or ammunition.
- Renewals trigger compliance: Existing anti-firearm clauses become unenforceable the next time a lease is renewed, extended, or amended.
- Three areas are protected: The rental unit, vehicles in tenant or guest parking, and the paths connecting the two.
- Common area rules survive: You may still require firearms to be concealed, holstered, or cased in shared spaces.
- Violations get expensive: Tenants can pursue damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees.
What Tennessee Senate Bill 350 Actually Does
At its core, the law takes firearm bans out of the landlord's toolbox for most residential rentals.
Under Public Chapter 606, a residential landlord cannot prohibit a tenant, a member of the tenant's household, or a guest from lawfully possessing, carrying, transporting, or storing firearms, firearm parts, or ammunition on the rental property. That covers lease clauses, community rules, and addenda alike.
The bill passed both chambers in the 2026 session and was signed by Governor Bill Lee. You can review the official bill text and legislative history on the Tennessee General Assembly Bill Information Portal.
When the New Firearm Lease Rules Take Effect
Timing matters here, because the law doesn't flip a switch on every lease at once.
Leases Signed or Changed on or After January 1, 2027
The law applies to any residential lease entered into, amended, extended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027. A brand-new lease signed in February 2027 must comply from day one.
Existing Leases With Firearm Bans
If a current lease already bans firearms, that clause stays in place until the lease is renewed or modified. At that point, it becomes unenforceable. In practice, a simple rent adjustment or term extension in 2027 is enough to wipe out an old firearm restriction.
Where Landlords Can No Longer Restrict Firearms
The law spells out three specific areas where lawful firearms are protected.
Inside the Rental Unit
Tenants can keep lawfully owned firearms and ammunition inside their home or apartment. This is the heart of the law and the area landlords have the least room to regulate.
Vehicles in Tenant and Guest Parking
Firearms stored in vehicles parked in tenant or guest parking areas are also protected. This matters most for apartment communities and multi-family properties with shared lots.
Paths Between Parking and the Unit
Common corridors, stairwells, and walkways that you control and that tenants use to travel between their unit and their vehicle are covered too. A tenant can't be barred from moving a firearm along that route.
What Landlords Can Still Control
The law limits your options, but it doesn't leave you without any say over safety in shared spaces.
Common Area Carry Rules
You may still require that firearms carried through shared or public spaces stay concealed, holstered, or stored in a carrying container. If a tenant ignores those transport rules, standard lease enforcement can apply.
There's an important catch. You cannot use a common area violation as a backdoor way to ban firearms inside the unit. Enforcement has to target the transport rule itself.
Lawful Possession Only
The law protects only lawful possession. People who are legally prohibited from owning firearms, such as individuals barred under federal or state felony laws, gain no new rights under this statute. Strong, consistent tenant screening remains your best front-line tool for placing qualified residents.
Firearm policy is no longer a rule you write into the lease. It's a rule you manage in the hallways, the parking lot, and the paperwork around them.
Properties Exempt From Public Chapter 606
Not every rental falls under the new rules, and a few property types are carved out entirely.
The law does not apply to:
- Properties leased by a state agency or department
- Mental health and substance abuse facilities
- Department of Children's Services facilities
- Licensed hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living, and memory care facilities
- Certain independent living facilities and school properties governed by separate statutes
For most Hendersonville landlords renting single-family homes, townhomes, or apartments, none of these exemptions will apply. If you own a specialized property, confirm its status with a Tennessee attorney before 2027.
The Legal Risk of Ignoring the Law
The enforcement provisions are what make this law worth taking seriously.
A tenant whose rights are violated can sue the landlord for declaratory relief, injunctive relief, actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees. Punitive damages and fee-shifting can quickly turn a single outdated lease clause into a five-figure problem.
Risk also comes from small moments, like a leasing agent telling an applicant "we don't allow guns here" or a maintenance tech reporting a firearm as a violation. Every person who speaks for your property needs to understand the new rules.
How to Prepare Your Hendersonville Rentals Now
A little preparation in late 2026 can save you from expensive mistakes in 2027.
Audit Your Lease Templates
Review every lease, addendum, and renewal form you use. Remove or rewrite any language that bans firearms in the unit, in tenant vehicles, or along the path between them.
Rewrite Community Rules
If you manage shared spaces, update your community rules so they address only concealment, holstering, or carrying containers. Make sure the wording can't be read as a ban in disguise.
Train Anyone Who Speaks for You
Leasing staff, vendors, and maintenance teams should know what they can and can't say. Clear scripts reduce the chance of an offhand comment becoming evidence in a lawsuit.
Keep Lease Enforcement Consistent
Fair, documented enforcement protects you if a dispute ever reaches court. If you have questions about how our team handles lease compliance, our owner FAQs are a helpful place to start.
The safest lease in 2027 isn't the strictest one. It's the one that follows the law and is enforced the same way every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions we expect Hendersonville landlords to ask most as the deadline approaches.
Do I have to rewrite my lease before January 1, 2027?
Not immediately, since existing clauses stay in place until the lease is renewed, extended, or amended. However, any renewal or change after that date makes a firearm ban unenforceable, so updating your templates now is the smarter move.
Can I still ban open carry in my apartment hallways?
You can require that firearms in shared or public areas be concealed, holstered, or kept in a carrying container. You cannot use those rules to stop a tenant from keeping a lawful firearm inside the unit.
Does this law apply to my single-family rental?
Yes, if it's a residential lease and the property doesn't fall into an exempt category. Single-family homes are covered just like apartments.
Stay Compliant and Protect Your Investment With HALO
Tennessee's new firearm lease rules change what you can put in writing, but they don't have to put your rental income at risk. With updated leases, clear common area rules, and consistent enforcement, you can stay compliant and keep your property running smoothly.
HALO Properties helps Hendersonville owners stay ahead of new Tennessee laws through full-service Hendersonville property management, from lease preparation to eviction protection. Call us at 615.822.1022 or contact us to schedule a consultation and get your leases ready for 2027.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed Tennessee attorney about your specific situation.
