Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 57-4-103 (2026)
Applicability of chapter - Referendum - Form of question
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a)
- (1) This chapter shall be effective in any jurisdiction which authorizes the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in a referendum in the manner prescribed by § 57-3-106; provided, that, in addition to any other method authorized for holding an election pursuant to § 57-3-106, an election may be held for such sales upon adoption of a resolution by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the legislative body of a county or municipality.
- (2)
- (A) Except as provided in subdivision (a)(2)(B), if the county election commission receives the necessary resolution or the petition requesting the referendum not less than forty five (45) days before the date on which an election is scheduled to be held, except for referenda scheduled to be held with the regular November general election which shall be held pursuant to § 2-3-204, the county election commission shall include the referendum question contained in subsection (b) on the ballot.
- (B) In counties having a population of not less than eight hundred twenty-five thousand (825,000) nor more than eight hundred thirty thousand (830,000), according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census, if the county election commission receives the necessary petition requesting the referendum not less than thirty (30) days before the date on which an election is scheduled to be held, the county election commission shall include the referendum question contained in subsection (b) on the ballot.
- (3) If any county has authorized the sale of alcoholic beverages for sale for consumption off premises pursuant to § 57-3-106, then any municipality wholly or partially within the boundaries of the county may conduct a referendum to authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises within the corporate boundaries of the municipality.
- (4)
- (A) If a municipality which has created a tourism development zone as defined in § 7-88-103 has not authorized the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in a referendum, then such municipality is authorized to conduct a referendum to authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises within the corporate boundaries of such municipality in accordance with this subdivision (a)(4). Notwithstanding § 57-3-106(c) and (f)(2), the county election commission shall place the question on the ballot of the November 2012, general election; provided, that all costs associated with the referendum election shall be paid for by the municipality to which this subdivision (a)(4) applies.
- (B) The question submitted to the voters shall be in the following form for this election:
For legal sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in ____________________ (here insert name of political subdivision).
Against legal sale alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in ____________________ (here insert name of political subdivision).
- (5) When a municipality is located partly within a county that has a metropolitan form of government and the county has approved sales of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises and partly within another county that has not approved sales of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, a referendum in the municipality shall be held only in that portion of the municipality located in the county that has not approved sales of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. The referendum result shall not affect the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in the portion of the municipality located in the county having a metropolitan form of government.
- (6) If any municipality located in any county having a population of not less than sixty-six thousand two hundred (66,200) nor more than sixty-six thousand three hundred (66,300), according to the 2010 federal census or any subsequent federal census, has authorized the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in a referendum in the manner prescribed by § 57-3-106, then any municipality having a population of not less than eight hundred fifty-five (855) nor more than eight hundred sixty-five (865) located within the boundaries of such county may conduct a referendum to authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises within the corporate boundaries of such municipality, notwithstanding the population requirements of § 57-3-101(a)(13) or § 57-3-106(b)(1). The referendum shall be conducted in the manner prescribed by § 57-3-106.
- (7) If any municipality located in any county having a population of not less than twenty-nine thousand four hundred (29,400) nor more than twenty-nine thousand five hundred (29,500), according to the 2010 federal census or any subsequent federal census, has authorized the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in a referendum in the manner prescribed by § 57-3-106, then any municipality having a population of not less than five hundred thirty (530) nor more than five hundred thirty-nine (539), according to the 2010 federal census or any subsequent federal census, located within the boundaries of such county, may conduct a referendum to authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises within the corporate boundaries of such municipality, notwithstanding the population requirements of § 57-3-101(a)(14) or § 57-3-106(b)(1). The referendum shall be conducted in the manner prescribed by § 57-3-106.
- (8) If any municipality located in any county having a population of not less than forty-one thousand eight hundred (41,800) nor more than forty-one thousand nine hundred (41,900), according to the 2010 federal census or any subsequent federal census, has authorized the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in a referendum in the manner prescribed by § 57-3-106, then any municipality having a population of not less than four hundred sixty (460) nor more than seven hundred eighty-five (785), according to the 2010 federal census or any subsequent federal census, located within the boundaries of such county, may conduct a referendum to authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises within the corporate boundaries of such municipality, notwithstanding the population requirements of § 57-3-101(a)(14) or § 57-3-106(b)(1). The referendum must be conducted in the manner prescribed by § 57-3-106.
- (9) If any municipality located in any county having a population of not less than sixty-six thousand two hundred (66,200) nor more than sixty-six thousand three hundred (66,300), according to the 2010 federal census or any subsequent federal census, has authorized the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in a referendum in the manner prescribed by § 57-3-106, then any municipality having a population of not less than three hundred ten (310) nor more than three hundred nineteen (319), according to the 2010 federal census or any subsequent federal census, located within the boundaries of such county, may conduct a referendum to authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises within the corporate boundaries of such municipality, notwithstanding the population requirements of § 57-3-101(a)(14) or § 57-3-106(b)(1). The referendum must be conducted in the manner prescribed by § 57-3-106.
- (b) At any such election, the only question submitted to the voters shall be in the following form:
For legal sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in ______________ (here insert name of political subdivision).
Against legal sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in ______________ (here insert name of political subdivision).
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 237, s 2, eff. 4/22/2021.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 891, s 2, eff. 5/3/2018.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 692, s 2, eff. 4/9/2018.
Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 201, s 2, eff. 4/20/2015.
Acts 1967, ch. 211, § 4; 1971, ch. 59, § 1; 1972, ch. 510, § 1; 1975, ch. 71, §§ 1, 2; 1977, ch. 445, § 1; modified; T.C.A., § 57-164; Acts 1984, ch. 877, § 1; 1987, ch. 456, § 2; 1988, ch. 551, § 1; 1992, ch. 711, § 1; 1993, ch. 518, §§ 18, 21; 1998, ch. 618, § 2; 2005, ch. 262, § 1; 2006, ch. 607, § 1; 2007 , ch. 52, § 1; 2008 , ch. 778, §§ 1, 2; 2011 , ch. 447, §§ 9, 10; 2012, ch. 1035, §§ 1, 2.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7
cases, 1981–2019 · leading case: Taylor v. Armentrout, 632 S.W.2d 107 (Tenn. 1981).
Taylor v. Armentrout, 632 S.W.2d 107 (Tenn. 1981). “The referendum, held under TCA § 57-4-103, was conducted according to the provisions of § 57-3-106.”
Bemis Pentecostal Church v. State, 731 S.W.2d 897 (Tenn. 1987). “In August, 1984, the City of Jackson held a local option referendum to determine whether liquor-by-the-drink would be approved by the residents of the city pursuant to T.C.A. § 57-4-103. Prior to the referendum, Plaintiffs participated in a campaign to oppose the adoption of…”
State ex rel. Amvets Post 27 v. Beer Bd. of Jellico, 717 S.W.2d 878 (Tenn. 1986). “The statutory provision not applicable, T.C.A. § 57-4-103, has to do with municipal referenda on the issue of on-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages.”
Coffee Cnty. Bd. of Educ. v. City of Tullahoma (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 57-4-103 (a)(1). A tax of fifteen percent (15%) of the sales price of all alcoholic beverages sold for consumption on the premises is assessed.”
Coffee Cnty. Bd. of Educ. v. City of Tullahoma, 574 S.W.3d 832 (2019). “, 2017 WL 6598557 , at *2-3 (citing Tenn. Code Ann. § 57-4-103 (a) ). The Eastern and Middle Section panels of the Court of Appeals also reached different conclusions, pivoting off the threshold ambiguity determination.”
Bradley Cnty. Sch. Sys. v. The City of Cleveland, Tennessee, 575 S.W.3d 515 (2019). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 57-4-103 (a) (2013) ("This chapter shall be effective in any jurisdiction which authorizes the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in a referendum in the manner prescribed by § 57-3-106.”
Washington Cnty. Sch. Sys. By & Through The Washington Cnty. Bd. Of Educ. v. The City Of Johnson City, Tennessee (2017). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 57-4-103 (a) (2013 & Supp.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 57-4-103(a)(1) — 1 case
Coffee Cnty. Bd. of Educ. v. City of Tullahoma (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 57-4-103 (a)(1). A tax of fifteen percent (15%) of the sales price of all alcoholic beverages sold for consumption on the premises is assessed.”
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