Nashville Short-Term Rental Rules (2026)
Which permit you can get, where, how big the home can be, and what it costs, checked against Metro's code.
Misfit Homes manages 78 short-term rentals in Nashville, has operated here since 2017, and is licensed by the State of Tennessee as a Vacation Lodging Service Firm, license #602. Last checked October 2026.
Check if your address can get a permit
Send us the address. We will tell you which permit it qualifies for, if any.
The rules at a glance
The short version: if you will not live in the home, it has to be in a commercial or mixed-use zone. Everything else follows from that.
| Rule | What Metro requires |
|---|---|
| Permit types | Owner-occupied: the owner, a natural person, lives in the home. Non-owner-occupied: an investor property the owner does not live in. Multifamily units have their own rules. |
| Where investor permits are allowed | New non-owner-occupied permits are only issued in non-residential districts: commercial and mixed-use zones such as DTC, MUN, MUL, MUG, MUI, CS, CL, and some SPs that list the use. Not in R, RS, RM, or AR2a residential zones. |
| Size | An STR property is a dwelling with no more than four sleeping rooms (Metro Code 17.04.060). |
| Safety certification | Since March 1, 2022, single-family and two-family homes need a certification from a Tennessee-licensed architect, engineer, or home inspector. The Fire Marshal inspects multifamily. |
| Fee and filing | The permit fee is $313, due when the application is approved. Applications are emailed to strpapplications@nashville.gov. |
| Taxes | Metro hotel occupancy tax of 7% of gross receipts plus $2.50 per night (Metro Code 5.10), plus Tennessee sales tax (7% state, 2.25% local). Airbnb collects some of this; confirm what is remitted for you. |
| Renewal | Permits renew annually. Renewal requires proof that the hotel occupancy tax has been paid. |
| Sale of the home | Permits are not transferable. A buyer must apply for a new permit under the current rules. |
| Stays of 30 days or more | A stay of 30 or more continuous days by the same occupant is not a short-term rental under Metro's definition. |
Source: Metro Nashville Codes, short-term rentals, and Metro Code 5.10 and 17.04.060. Metro changes these rules; confirm on nashville.gov before you buy or apply.
What this means if you are buying
Check the zoning before you make an offer. A house in an R or RS zone cannot get an investor permit, and an existing permit does not come with the house.
Keep it to four bedrooms or fewer. A five or six bedroom home does not fit Metro's definition of a short-term rental property.
Budget for the taxes from the first booking, and find out exactly which ones each platform collects for you.
Nashville STR rules FAQ
Questions about a specific property?
Book 15 minutes, or call or text with the address.