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PrepBnB · Compliance

Tennessee · Short-Term Rental Compliance

Nashville Short-Term Rental Permit Guide

Nashville requires an STRP Permit for every short-term rental. Type 1 (owner-occupied) is allowed in most residential zones; Type 2 (non-owner-occupied) has been blocked in residential zones since January 1, 2022 and is only available in approved non-residential/mixed-use zones. Permits cost $313 annually and require proof of $1M liability insurance, fire-safety compliance, and 24/7 reachable local responsible party within 25 miles. Combined tax burden is 16.25% plus a $2.50/night per-room fee.

Permit
Short-Term Rental Property (STRP) Permit — Type 1 (owner-occupied) / Type 2 (non-owner-occupied)
Annual fee
$313
Occupancy tax
16.25%
Fine range
$50.00–$500 per day (unlicensed) or per violation (repeat)

Informational only — not legal advice. Our information can be wrong or out of date. Always confirm with Nashville directly before applying, paying, or accepting bookings. We do not file applications or returns on your behalf.

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What the city requires

Requirements checklist

  • 1
    Annual STRP Permit
    $313/yr for both Type 1 and Type 2. Renewed annually by each permit's own anniversary date (not a unified fiscal deadline). Requires proof of current property insurance and Hotel Occupancy Tax payment.
  • 2
    Combined occupancy tax
    7% TN state sales + 2.25% local sales + 7% Metro Hotel Occupancy Tax = 16.25%, plus a $2.50/room/night nightly fee. Metro HOT was raised from 6% to 7% on July 1, 2023 for Titans stadium debt service.
  • 3
    Insurance + safety
    $1,000,000 minimum liability coverage. UL217 smoke detectors in every sleeping area and along egress paths; Fire Marshal inspection required for multi-family/common-hallway units. Posted floor plan required.
  • 4
    Zoning restrictions
    Type 2 permits halted in residential zones (AR2A, R, RS, RM) since Jan 1, 2022 — allowed only in MUN, MUL, MUG, MUI, OG, OR20-40, CN, CL, CS, CA, CF, DTC, SCN, SCC, SCR. Existing Type 2 permits cannot transfer to new owners.
  • 5
    Occupancy + responsible party
    Max 4 sleeping rooms, (rooms × 2) + 4 occupants (cap 12). Single-party rentals only. Type 2 responsible party must live within 25 miles and be available 24/7 during rental periods.
  • 6
    Neighbor notification + listing display
    Adjacent property owners notified in person or by certified mail at initial permit. Permit number must appear in standardized format on every Airbnb/VRBO listing; permits are publicly searchable via Metro's database.

Verified April 2026 against nashville.gov/departments/codes/short-term-rentals, Substitute Ordinance BL2020-187, and TN Dept. of Revenue SUT-48. Enforcement focus is fraudulent owner-occupied claims. As of mid-2025 only ~10% of the ~9,000 active Nashville Airbnb/VRBO listings hold valid permits. No specific mandated Airbnb/VRBO data-sharing statute in TN.

Official filing portal: https://epermits.nashville.gov/

Other jurisdictions

Operating in more than one city?

Informational only — not legal advice. STR ordinances change frequently, sometimes mid-year. Always verify current requirements with Nashville before applying for a permit or accepting a booking.

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