(a) A person commits burglary who, without the effective consent of the property owner:

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class D felony2 to 12 yearsup to $5,000
class E felony1 to 6 yearsup to $3,000
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 39-13-1002

  • Effective consent: means assent in fact, whether express or apparent, including assent by one legally authorized to act for another. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Owner: means a person, other than the defendant, who has possession of or any interest other than a mortgage, deed of trust or security interest in property, even though that possession or interest is unlawful and without whose consent the defendant has no authority to exert control over the property. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Person: includes the singular and the plural and means and includes any individual, firm, partnership, copartnership, association, corporation, governmental subdivision or agency, or other organization or other legal entity, or any agent or servant thereof. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Property: means anything of value, including, but not limited to, money, real estate, tangible or intangible personal property, including anything severed from land, library material, contract rights, choses-in-action, interests in or claims to wealth, credit, admission or transportation tickets, captured or domestic animals, food and drink, electric or other power. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
(1) Enters a building other than a habitation, or any portion of the building, not open to the public, with intent to commit a felony, theft, or assault;
(2) Remains concealed, with the intent to commit a felony, theft, or assault, in a building;
(3) Enters a building and commits or attempts to commit a felony, theft, or assault; or
(4) Enters any freight or passenger car, automobile, truck, trailer, boat, airplane, or other motor vehicle with intent to commit a felony, theft, or assault or commits or attempts to commit a felony, theft, or assault.
(b) As used in this section, “enter” means:

(1) Intrusion of any part of the body; or
(2) Intrusion of any object in physical contact with the body or any object controlled by remote control, electronic or otherwise.
(c) Burglary under subdivision (a)(1), (2), or (3) is a Class D felony.
(d) Burglary under subdivision (a)(4) is a Class E felony.