What zoning rules apply to STRs in Clarksville?

Non-owner occupied units in R-1 and R-2 zones are strictly regulated and require a Special Exception permit from the Board of Zoning Appeals.

What should Clarksville hosts know about total tax rate is high?

Total tax rate is high at 17.5% when combining state, local sales, and county occupancy taxes.

What are the key requirements for Clarksville hosts?

Permits are not transferable between owners; a new owner must apply for a new permit upon sale.

What should Clarksville hosts know about the city requires a local?

The city requires a local contact person available 24/7 to respond to complaints within 45 minutes.

Clarksville

Prohibited

TennesseeUpdated Mar 27, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 7, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Clarksville requires all short-term rental operators to obtain an annual permit from the Building and Codes Department, pass a fire safety inspection, and maintain liability insurance.

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Banned in all/most residential zones
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To run an Airbnb in Clarksville, you must apply for an annual permit and pay a $50 fee. Your property must pass a safety inspection by the Fire Marshal, and you'll need to show proof of at least $1 million in liability insurance. Depending on your neighborhood's zoning, you may need a special exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals if the home isn't your primary residence.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.2%

Permit fee$50

Processing time2-4 weeks

Max fine$50

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Non-owner occupied units in R-1 and R-2 zones are strictly regulated and require a Special Exception permit from the Board of Zoning Appeals.
2Total tax rate is high at 17.5% when combining state, local sales, and county occupancy taxes.
3Permits are not transferable between owners; a new owner must apply for a new permit upon sale.
4The city requires a local contact person available 24/7 to respond to complaints within 45 minutes.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

Clarksville prohibits STRs in the following property types: Recreational Vehicles, Campers, Tents.
Clarksville allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, Duplex, Multi-Family.
Clarksville does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.

Requirements12 rules

Clarksville requires STR registration. The permit is called "Short-Term Rental Permit". Apply through Building and Codes Department. Processing time: 2-4 weeks. Renewal is required.
Clarksville STR warning: Non-owner occupied units in R-1 and R-2 zones are strictly regulated and require a Special Exception permit from the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Application process8 rules

Clarksville STR permit - Step 2: Obtain Business Licenses. Register for both a City of Clarksville and a Montgomery County business license through the Finance or County Clerk's office. Required documents: Photo ID, SSN or EIN. Time: 1-2 weeks. Cost: 30.

Fees & costs1 rule

Clarksville charges a registration fee of $50 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

Clarksville charges a Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax of 0.08%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO generally collect and remit the 8% occupancy tax and sales taxes in Tennessee.
Tennessee has a state sales tax of 0.07% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions4 rules

Clarksville limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: 2 persons per bedroom plus an additional 2 persons, with a maximum cap of 10 persons.
Clarksville enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM.
Clarksville occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom plus an additional 2 persons, with a maximum cap of 10 persons.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Clarksville requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Fire escape plan must be posted, Interconnected smoke alarms, Functioning CO detectors in units with gas appliances or attached garages.

Penalties2 rules

Clarksville enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $50 fine. Second offense: Suspension of permit. Third offense: Revocation of permit. Daily fine: $50 per day. Maximum fine: 50. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Clarksville: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

Clarksville: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Clarksville exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Clarksville

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning

Check the official Clarksville zoning map. If in R-1 or R-2 and non-owner occupied, you must apply for a Special Exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals.

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Obtain Business Licenses

Register for both a City of Clarksville and a Montgomery County business license through the Finance or County Clerk's office.

1-2 weeks$30

Documents needed

Photo ID
SSN or EIN

Official resource

Step 3

Schedule Fire Inspection

Contact Clarksville Fire Rescue to perform the required safety inspection of the dwelling unit.

1 weekFree

Official resource

Step 4

Submit STR Permit Application

Submit the completed application to the Building and Codes Department with the $50 fee and all supporting documentation including insurance certificates.

2 weeks$50

Documents needed

Certificate of Insurance
Business Licenses
Passed Fire Inspection
Proof of Ownership

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Clarksville

Prohibited

TennesseeUpdated Mar 27, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 7, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Clarksville requires all short-term rental operators to obtain an annual permit from the Building and Codes Department, pass a fire safety inspection, and maintain liability insurance.

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Banned in all/most residential zones
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.2%

Permit fee$50

Processing time2-4 weeks

Max fine$50

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Non-owner occupied units in R-1 and R-2 zones are strictly regulated and require a Special Exception permit from the Board of Zoning Appeals.
2Total tax rate is high at 17.5% when combining state, local sales, and county occupancy taxes.
3Permits are not transferable between owners; a new owner must apply for a new permit upon sale.
4The city requires a local contact person available 24/7 to respond to complaints within 45 minutes.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

Clarksville prohibits STRs in the following property types: Recreational Vehicles, Campers, Tents.
Clarksville allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, Duplex, Multi-Family.
Clarksville does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.

Requirements12 rules

Clarksville requires STR registration. The permit is called "Short-Term Rental Permit". Apply through Building and Codes Department. Processing time: 2-4 weeks. Renewal is required.
Clarksville STR warning: Non-owner occupied units in R-1 and R-2 zones are strictly regulated and require a Special Exception permit from the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Application process8 rules

Clarksville STR permit - Step 2: Obtain Business Licenses. Register for both a City of Clarksville and a Montgomery County business license through the Finance or County Clerk's office. Required documents: Photo ID, SSN or EIN. Time: 1-2 weeks. Cost: 30.

Fees & costs1 rule

Clarksville charges a registration fee of $50 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

Clarksville charges a Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax of 0.08%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO generally collect and remit the 8% occupancy tax and sales taxes in Tennessee.
Tennessee has a state sales tax of 0.07% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions4 rules

Clarksville limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: 2 persons per bedroom plus an additional 2 persons, with a maximum cap of 10 persons.
Clarksville enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM.
Clarksville occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom plus an additional 2 persons, with a maximum cap of 10 persons.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Clarksville requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Fire escape plan must be posted, Interconnected smoke alarms, Functioning CO detectors in units with gas appliances or attached garages.

Penalties2 rules

Clarksville enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $50 fine. Second offense: Suspension of permit. Third offense: Revocation of permit. Daily fine: $50 per day. Maximum fine: 50. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Clarksville: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

Clarksville: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Clarksville exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Clarksville

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning

Check the official Clarksville zoning map. If in R-1 or R-2 and non-owner occupied, you must apply for a Special Exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals.

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Obtain Business Licenses

Register for both a City of Clarksville and a Montgomery County business license through the Finance or County Clerk's office.

1-2 weeks$30

Documents needed

Photo ID
SSN or EIN

Official resource

Step 3

Schedule Fire Inspection

Contact Clarksville Fire Rescue to perform the required safety inspection of the dwelling unit.

1 weekFree

Official resource

Step 4

Submit STR Permit Application

Submit the completed application to the Building and Codes Department with the $50 fee and all supporting documentation including insurance certificates.

2 weeks$50

Documents needed

Certificate of Insurance
Business Licenses
Passed Fire Inspection
Proof of Ownership

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning

Obtain Business Licenses

Schedule Fire Inspection

Submit STR Permit Application

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Clarksville?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Clarksville?

3What are the safety requirements for rentals in Clarksville?

4Are there zoning restrictions for Clarksville rentals?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning

Obtain Business Licenses

Schedule Fire Inspection

Submit STR Permit Application

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Clarksville?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Clarksville?

3What are the safety requirements for rentals in Clarksville?

4Are there zoning restrictions for Clarksville rentals?

Disclaimer