Tennessee Code Title 6. Cities and Towns § 6-30-106

(a) An election for the purpose of determining whether or not chapters 30-36 of this title shall become effective for any city shall be called by the county election commission or, if the area is in two (2) or more counties, jointly by the county election commissions of the affected counties, upon the petition in writing of twenty percent (20%) of the number of registered voters of the city or territory voting at the last general election, which petition shall state therein the proposed corporate name and shall designate therein in a sufficient manner the boundaries of the proposed municipal corporation, which may be done by a general reference to the boundaries then existing if there is one, and the boundaries of the councilmanic districts, or shall have attached thereto a map of the area to be incorporated on which the councilmanic districts are shown.

(b) The county election commission shall, in addition to all other notices required by law, publish one (1) notice of the election in a newspaper of general circulation within the territory of the city or of the proposed city and post the notice in at least ten (10) places in the territory.

(c) Except for the provisions of chapters 30-36 of this title that are adopted by reference in other municipal charters, chapters 30-36 of this title apply only to those cities that have adopted chapters 30-36 of this title by referendum as authorized by law.