Tenn. Code Ann. § 6-1-205: Effect of vote

(a) If the majority of the votes cast are in favor of the adoption of this charter, it shall be deemed to have been adopted. The newly adopted charter shall not be effective until the first board takes office as provided in § 6-1-207 . Except for the provisions of this charter that are adopted by reference in other municipal charters, the provisions of this charter apply only to those municipalities that have adopted this charter by referendum as authorized by law.

(b) Following the defeat of an incorporation in an election held pursuant to § 6-1-202 , no new petition for an election may be filed until after the expiration of four (4) years; provided, however, that if the territory included in the boundaries of the newly proposed municipal corporation includes less than fifty percent (50%) of the actual territory subject to incorporation in the previous election, the new petition may be filed after the expiration of two (2) years.