Tennessee Code Title 6. Cities and Towns § 6-1-301

(a) After the adoption of this charter and the election of the first board of mayor and aldermen, no election for the surrender of this charter shall be called or held for a period of four (4) years from the date the first board takes office.

(b) After the expiration of the four-year period, an election to surrender the charter may be held. In order for a surrender election to be held, a petition requesting surrender of the charter must be filed in the same manner and contain the signatures of the same number of registered voters as provided for the adoption of this charter. The petition must pray for a surrender of the charter and must be accompanied by a cash bond to be posted by the petitioners to cover the cost of the election. In case of a failure to surrender the charter, future elections to surrender it shall not be held more frequently than at four-year intervals.