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Tennessee · reviewed September 2026

Seasonal RV site agreements in Tennessee

What Tennessee law says about seasonal and annual RV guests, sub-metered electricity, sales tax and online signatures — and the clauses your agreement should carry because of it. Written for park owners, not lawyers.

Guest or tenant?Tennessee's URLTA applies only in counties with more than 75,000 people (2010 census); elsewhere, older common-law/general landlord-tenant rules (Title 66, ch. 7 and 28 detainer procedures) govern.
Metered electricNo Tennessee statute or regulator rule specific to RV park submetering was found; the Tennessee Public Utility Commission does not regulate TVA distributors, so the controlling rules are the local power company's service policies (many prohibit resale at a profit).
Sales / lodging taxPer the Department of Revenue, an RV park or campground that charges only for rental of the site (real property) is exempt from business tax, but if it also sells electricity and/or water those sales are taxable, and if one price bundles site rent and utilities the whole charge is taxable.
Signing onlineUniform Electronic Transactions Act (Tenn. Code Ann. 47-10-101 et seq.)

Short version. Details, citations and sources are below.

Is a seasonal guest a tenant in Tennessee?

Tennessee's URLTA applies only in counties with more than 75,000 people (2010 census); elsewhere, older common-law/general landlord-tenant rules (Title 66, ch. 7 and 28 detainer procedures) govern. URLTA excludes 'transient occupancy in a hotel, motel or lodgings' subject to the transient lodging/room occupancy tax, but it does not mention RV parks or campgrounds and sets no day threshold. A seasonal RV occupant who rents a defined site under a written agreement for months at a time is at risk of being treated as a residential tenant.

What that means for notices and removal

Not specifically addressed for RV sites. If URLTA applies, nonpayment requires a 14-day written notice and other breaches a 14/30-day cure notice (66-28-505); month-to-month tenancies end on 30 days' notice (66-28-512). Removal is by detainer warrant in General Sessions court; self-help removal is risky.

Cite: Tenn. Code Ann. 66-28-101 et seq.; exclusions at 66-28-102

Sub-metering electricity to RV sites in Tennessee

No Tennessee statute or regulator rule specific to RV park submetering was found; the Tennessee Public Utility Commission does not regulate TVA distributors, so the controlling rules are the local power company's service policies (many prohibit resale at a profit). Note that Tennessee treats a campground's separately stated electricity charges as taxable sales (see tax).

Sales and lodging tax on seasonal sites in Tennessee

Per the Department of Revenue, an RV park or campground that charges only for rental of the site (real property) is exempt from business tax, but if it also sells electricity and/or water those sales are taxable, and if one price bundles site rent and utilities the whole charge is taxable. Sales tax on 'accommodations furnished to transients' (with its 90-continuous-day exemption) and local hotel/motel taxes should be checked with DOR for your specific setup.

Cite: Tenn. Dept. of Revenue BUS-49 (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1320-04-05-.56)

Signing agreements online in Tennessee

Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. Electronic signatures are valid for seasonal site agreements when the guest agrees to sign electronically, intends to sign, and the record is kept in a form that can be reproduced and shown not to have changed. Seasonal Sites records the signer’s typed name, email, time, IP address and a SHA-256 fingerprint of the exact text signed, and stores the signed PDF.

Cite: Tenn. Code Ann. 47-10-101 et seq.

Clauses to include in a Tennessee seasonal agreement

These are added on top of the eleven sections in the free template. Adjust the bracketed parts and have a local attorney read the result.

Recreational use, not a residence"The Site is licensed for recreational use only. The Guest maintains a permanent residence elsewhere at the address above, and the Site is not the Guest’s primary residence. Nothing in this agreement creates a residential tenancy." In this state the line between a recreational guest and a residential tenant is what decides which removal process applies, so say it plainly and keep the guest’s home address on file.
Notice periodMatch the notice periods in your termination section to the ones the state uses (14-day notice appears in the rules summarized above) rather than inventing shorter ones; a shorter contractual notice is not enforceable where the statute sets a floor.
Metered electricityBill metered electricity at your actual utility cost and say so in the agreement; where a state or utility tariff speaks to resale, at-cost pass-through is the safe harbor everywhere we looked.
Term length and taxState the exact term dates; a written agreement with a fixed term is usually the evidence a long-stay tax exemption depends on.
Electronic signature consent"The Guest consents to sign this agreement electronically and to receive invoices, receipts and notices by email at the address above." Keep the signer name, email, date/time, IP address and a fingerprint of the signed text.

Get the free seasonal site agreement template

Eleven plain-English sections, Word and PDF, with bracketed fields to fill in. Then paste the Tennessee clauses above into it.

Or skip the paperwork entirely

Seasonal Sites takes this same agreement, fills in each guest’s name, site, rate and dates, emails them a link to sign on their phone, puts the installments on autopay, bills metered electric from your readings, and keeps the signed PDF with the audit record. Renewals for the whole park go out in one click. It works beside whatever reservation system you already use.

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Sources

This page summarizes public sources as of September 2026 for park owners and is not legal or tax advice. Statutes, tariffs and tax rules change; confirm anything you rely on with the agency or an attorney licensed in Tennessee. Found an error? Email hello@seasonalsites.com.