Tennessee

Registering as a visitor

When it's required

After 14 days, counted in total over a calendar year.

Deadline

Within 48 hours of establishing a secondary residence, establishing a physical presence at a particular location, or becoming employed, practicing a vocation or enrolling as a student in Tennessee, the person must register or report in person. The 'physical presence' trigger may run from arrival rather than from day 14.

Where

In person with the designated local law enforcement registering agency (sheriff's office or police department) serving the location; TBI maintains the central registry.

Also required if

• Routinely abiding, lodging or residing at a place 4 or more consecutive or nonconsecutive days in any month
• Employment or practicing a vocation in Tennessee 14 or more days in the aggregate per calendar year
• Enrollment as a student 14 or more days in the aggregate per calendar year
• Prior registration obligation in another jurisdiction combined with sufficient contact with Tennessee
• 'Establishing a physical presence at a particular location' under § 40-39-203(a)(1)

Public registry

The law doesn't clearly say whether visitors appear on the public registry.

Tennessee runs a public registry website and § 40-39-206 governs release of information, but no official source was read on whether a visitor's secondary-residence record is published or removed after departure.

Places registrants can't go

• Public/private/parochial schools, licensed day care centers, other child care facilities, public parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, public athletic fieldsMay not be upon or remain on the premises or grounds when the person has reason to believe children under 18 are present (§ 40-39-211(d)(1)(A)). Exceptions exist for students in attendance, permitted parent-guardian conferences with written permission, residents of licensed care facilities, and parents dropping off or picking up their own child after written notice.Applies to: Sexual offenders and violent sexual offenders while mandated to comply with the registration part, including non-residents who trigger registration
• Within 1,000 feet of the property line of such schools, day cares, child care facilities, parks, playgrounds, recreation centers or athletic fieldsMay not stand, sit idly (whether or not in a vehicle) or remain within 1,000 feet when children under 18 are present, absent custody of or responsibility for a child or another specific legitimate reason (§ 40-39-211(d)(1)(B)).Applies to: Sexual offenders and violent sexual offenders subject to registration
• School, day care, child care or recreation center transport vehiclesMay not be in any conveyance owned, leased or contracted to transport students when children under 18 are present (§ 40-39-211(d)(1)(C)).Applies to: Sexual offenders and violent sexual offenders subject to registration
• Residence, living accommodation or employment within 1,000 feet of schools, day cares, child care facilities, parks, playgrounds, recreation centers or athletic fieldsMay not knowingly establish a primary or secondary residence or any other living accommodation, or accept employment, within 1,000 feet of the property line (§ 40-39-211(a)). Later changes in nearby property use do not create a violation.Applies to: Sexual offenders and violent sexual offenders subject to registration; relevant to hotels or homes used as a secondary residence
• Near former victims and their immediate familyMay not reside within 1,000 feet of the property line where a former victim or victim's immediate family resides, come within 100 feet of a former victim, or contact them without consent (§ 40-39-211(b)).Applies to: Sexual offenders, violent sexual offenders, and violent juvenile sexual offenders
• Residence where a minor resides or is presentOffenders whose victim was a minor may not knowingly reside or conduct an overnight visit at a residence where a minor resides or is present, subject to a limited parent exception (§ 40-39-211(c)(1)).Applies to: Sexual offenders and violent sexual offenders whose victim was a minor
• Shared residence with other registrantsThree or more sexual offenders or violent sexual offenders may not establish or inhabit the same primary or secondary residence at the same time, with an exception for non-residentially zoned property (§ 40-39-211(h)(1)).Applies to: Sexual offenders and violent sexual offenders

Laws cited

• T.C.A. § 40-39-211 (eff. Apr. 1, 2020) · Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Sex Offender Registry

Last checked September 19, 2026 · full review September 19, 2026