There Is a Newer Version of this Section
  1. 2023 Tennessee Code
  2. 2021 Tennessee Code (here)
  3. 2020 Tennessee Code
  4. View All Versions
View Our Newest Version Here

2021 Tennessee Code
Title 68 - Health, Safety and Environmental Protection
Chapter 14 - Hotels, Food Service Establishments and Swimming Pools
Part 6 - Guests of Lodging Establishments
§ 68-14-602. Right to Refuse Use of Lodging Establishment — Grounds

Universal Citation:
TN Code § 68-14-602 (2021)
Learn more This media-neutral citation is based on the American Association of Law Libraries Universal Citation Guide and is not necessarily the official citation.
Previous Next
  1. An innkeeper has the right to refuse or deny any accommodations, facilities or privileges of a lodging establishment to:

    1. Any person who is unwilling or unable to pay for accommodations and services of the lodging establishment. The innkeeper has the right to require the prospective guest to demonstrate the person's ability to pay by cash, valid credit card or a validated check. The innkeeper may require a parent of a minor to:

      1. Accept, in writing, liability of the guest room costs, taxes, all charges by the minor and any damages to the guest room or its furnishings caused by the minor while a guest at the lodging establishment; and

      2. Provide the innkeeper with a valid credit card number to cover the guest room costs, taxes, charges by the minor and any damages to the guest room or its furnishings caused by the minor; or

      3. If the credit card is not an option, give the innkeeper:
        1. An advance cash payment to cover the guest room costs and taxes for all room nights reserved for the minor; plus

        2. A fifty-dollar cash deposit towards the payment of any charges by the minor or any damages to the guest room or its furnishings, which cash deposit will be refunded to the extent not used to cover any such charges or any damages as determined by the innkeeper following room inspection at check-out;

    2. Any person who is visibly intoxicated and who is disorderly so as to create a public nuisance;

    3. Any person whom the innkeeper reasonably believes is seeking accommodations for any unlawful purpose, including the unlawful possession or use of controlled substances or controlled substance analogues by such person in violation of the Tennessee Drug Control Act of 1989, compiled in title 39, chapter 17, part 4, or the use of the premises for the consumption of alcoholic beverages by any person under twenty-one (21) years of age in violation of § 1-3-113(b);

    4. Any person whom the innkeeper reasonably believes is bringing into the lodging establishment items or substances that may be dangerous to other persons, such as firearms or explosives; or

    5. Any person when the lodging establishment is acting to restrict the number of persons who shall occupy any particular guest room in the lodging establishment.

  2. The innkeeper refusing or denying accommodations, facilities or privileges of a lodging establishment for any of the reasons specified in subsection (a) shall not be liable in any civil or criminal action or for any fine or penalty based upon such refusal or denial, except that such accommodation, facilities or privilege of a lodging establishment shall not be refused or denied based upon the person's race, creed, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, marital status or age, other than as provided in this part.
Previous Next
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. Tennessee may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.