Tennessee Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Laws 2026
LawfulStay tracks short-term rental (STR / Airbnb / Vrbo / holiday let / vacation rental) regulations for 13 jurisdictions across Tennessee. Select a city below for current permit requirements, tax rates, and compliance details.
Tennessee at a glance
- Places tracked
- 13 places: 3 active, 10 restricted
- License or registration
- Required in all 12 local places
- Tax on stays
- Applies in all 12 local places
- State law
- Tennessee has no statewide short-term rental license. Statewide rules ›
Tennessee short-term rental questions
Are short-term rentals legal in Tennessee?
In all 13 places we track in Tennessee, short-term rentals are allowed, 10 of them with permit conditions or limits.
Do I need a license for a short-term rental in Tennessee?
All 12 local places we track in Tennessee require a license, permit or registration. Check your city's page for its rules.
Is there a statewide short-term rental law in Tennessee?
Tennessee has no statewide short-term rental license.
Which places in Tennessee have the strictest rules?
On our records: Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Sevierville, Franklin.
Counties in Tennessee
Compare every Tennessee market
Status, licensing, fees, taxes, night caps and penalties for all 13 places in one table, with CSV export and full audits.
State Access →Tennessee Airbnb & Vacation Rental Regulation Overview
The short-term rental regulatory landscape in Tennessee encompasses 13 tracked jurisdictions: 3 with active regulations, 10 with restrictions. Hosts operating on platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com should verify local requirements before listing, as rules vary significantly between cities and regions.
12 of 13 tracked jurisdictions in Tennessee require some form of permit, license, or registration for short-term rental operations. Requirements range from simple online registration to comprehensive permit applications with inspections.
Tax obligations apply in 13 of 13 jurisdictions. Common taxes include occupancy taxes, tourist levies, and sales taxes. Many jurisdictions require hosts to register for tax collection, and some platforms like Airbnb collect and remit taxes automatically in select locations.
Cities with significant restrictions on vacation rentals include Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Knoxville. These jurisdictions typically impose permit caps, zoning limitations, or primary residence requirements.
LawfulStay monitors Tennessee STR regulations daily and updates this page as rules change. Each city page includes detailed permit requirements, fee schedules, tax rates, zoning rules, and penalty information sourced from official government websites.