Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Knoxville, TN?

**Yes**, Knoxville requires a Short-Term Rental Unit (STRU) Operating Permit. You need to apply for a permit, which costs $70. Additionally, a fire safety inspection is required. Operating without a permit can result in fines. Make sure to post your permit number on your listing.

What is the TOT tax rate in Knoxville, TN?

**8% is** the current transient occupancy tax (TOT) rate for short-term rentals in Knoxville. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the city monthly. This is in addition to the standard state sales tax. Make sure to register and remit taxes on time to avoid penalties.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Knoxville, TN?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are permitted in Knoxville, but they are regulated through a three-tiered permit system. The type of permit you need depends on occupancy type and zoning. All hosts must obtain the appropriate permit and comply with safety regulations. Check local zoning laws for specific restrictions.

How much does an STR permit cost in Knoxville, TN?

**$70 is** the cost for a Short-Term Rental Unit (STRU) Operating Permit in Knoxville. This is a flat fee to apply for the permit. All hosts must obtain this permit, pass a fire safety inspection, and remit the required city occupancy taxes. Don't forget to factor in other potential business licensing costs.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Knoxville, TN?

**No**, tenants are not permitted to host on Airbnb in Knoxville. Only property owners can apply for and obtain the required short-term rental permit. Renters interested in hosting should first seek permission from the property owner and ensure compliance with all local regulations before listing any property.

Knoxville

Moderate

TennesseeUpdated Mar 13, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 4 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 4

Summary

Plain-english overview

The City of Knoxville regulates short-term rentals through a three-tiered permit system based on occupancy type and zoning. All hosts must obtain a permit, pass a fire safety inspection, and remit a combined 8% city occupancy tax in addition to state sales tax.

Restriction level

Severity 33

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in the City of Knoxville, you must first determine your permit 'Type.' If it's your main home, you'll apply for a Type 1 permit; otherwise, you'll need a Type 2 or 3. You must have $1 million in insurance and pass a safety inspection by the Fire Marshal. Once permitted, you are required to post your permit number on your listing and pay monthly occupancy taxes to the city.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$70

Processing time14-30 days

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Verify your property is within City Limits; Knoxville County has entirely different rules.
2Type 2 permits (non-owner occupied) are capped at a certain number per building/neighborhood.
3You must post a floor plan showing all emergency exits inside the rental unit.
4The 8% City Occupancy Tax is often NOT fully collected by platforms; hosts must file monthly reports manually.
5Permit numbers MUST be displayed on all advertising and online listings.
6Only one STRU permit is allowed per person (cannot hold multiple Type 1 or 2 permits).

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

Knoxville limits hosts to a maximum of 2 STR properties per owner.
Knoxville: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Knoxville allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings, Condominiums, Duplexes, Townhomes.
Knoxville: Type 2 permits (non-owner occupied) are strictly prohibited in most residential (R) zones.

Requirements16 rules

Knoxville STR warning: Verify you are within City Limits; being in Knoxville (mailing address) does NOT mean you are in the City jurisdiction vs Unincorporated County.
Knoxville requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: 1,000,000. Insurance certificate must specifically cover short-term rentals.

Application process8 rules

Knoxville STR permit - Step 1: Obtain City Business License. All STR operators must first obtain a standard City of Knoxville business license from the Business Tax Office. Required documents: Business registration forms. Time: 1-5 days. Cost: 15.
Knoxville STR permit - Step 4: Pass Safety Inspection. Schedule and pass an inspection by the City's Plans Review and Inspections Division. Time: 1 week.

Fees & costs1 rule

Knoxville charges a registration fee of $70 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $120 (Type 2 and Type 3 permits are $120 annually; Type 1 is $70 annually.).

Taxes4 rules

Knoxville: Hosts must file monthly tax returns even if the rental platform remits 100% of the taxes.

Limits & restrictions6 rules

Knoxville limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: Two guests per bedroom plus two additional guests, not to exceed 10 total.
Knoxville limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.
Knoxville: Maximum occupancy is strictly capped at 10 persons regardless of the house size.

Safety requirements1 rule

Knoxville requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Working landline if cell coverage is poor, Evacuation plan posted.

Penalties2 rules

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

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Knoxville

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Determine Permit Type

Identify if you are applying for Type 1 (Primary Residence), Type 2 (Non-Owner in Residential zone), or Type 3 (Non-Owner in Non-Residential zone).

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Prepare Documents and Insurance

Obtain $1M liability insurance certificate and gather proof of residence/ownership.

3-5 daysFree

Documents needed

Certificate of Insurance
Driver's License/Deed

Step 3

Schedule Inspection

The unit must pass a fire and life safety inspection by the City Fire Marshal.

7-14 daysFree

Step 4

Submit Application and Pay Fee

Apply through the City's online portal or in person at the Business Tax & Licensing Office.

14 days$70

Documents needed

Notarized Affidavit

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

5 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

Knoxville

Moderate

TennesseeUpdated Mar 13, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 4 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 4

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 33

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Limited to 1 property per owner
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 rate0.1%

Permit fee$70

Processing time14-30 days

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Verify your property is within City Limits; Knoxville County has entirely different rules.
2Type 2 permits (non-owner occupied) are capped at a certain number per building/neighborhood.
3You must post a floor plan showing all emergency exits inside the rental unit.
4The 8% City Occupancy Tax is often NOT fully collected by platforms; hosts must file monthly reports manually.
5Permit numbers MUST be displayed on all advertising and online listings.
6Only one STRU permit is allowed per person (cannot hold multiple Type 1 or 2 permits).

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

Knoxville limits hosts to a maximum of 2 STR properties per owner.
Knoxville: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Knoxville allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings, Condominiums, Duplexes, Townhomes.
Knoxville: Type 2 permits (non-owner occupied) are strictly prohibited in most residential (R) zones.

Requirements16 rules

Knoxville STR warning: Verify you are within City Limits; being in Knoxville (mailing address) does NOT mean you are in the City jurisdiction vs Unincorporated County.
Knoxville requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: 1,000,000. Insurance certificate must specifically cover short-term rentals.

Application process8 rules

Knoxville STR permit - Step 1: Obtain City Business License. All STR operators must first obtain a standard City of Knoxville business license from the Business Tax Office. Required documents: Business registration forms. Time: 1-5 days. Cost: 15.
Knoxville STR permit - Step 4: Pass Safety Inspection. Schedule and pass an inspection by the City's Plans Review and Inspections Division. Time: 1 week.

Fees & costs1 rule

Knoxville charges a registration fee of $70 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $120 (Type 2 and Type 3 permits are $120 annually; Type 1 is $70 annually.).

Taxes4 rules

Knoxville: Hosts must file monthly tax returns even if the rental platform remits 100% of the taxes.

Limits & restrictions6 rules

Knoxville limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: Two guests per bedroom plus two additional guests, not to exceed 10 total.
Knoxville limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.
Knoxville: Maximum occupancy is strictly capped at 10 persons regardless of the house size.

Safety requirements1 rule

Knoxville requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Working landline if cell coverage is poor, Evacuation plan posted.

Penalties2 rules

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

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Knoxville

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Determine Permit Type

Identify if you are applying for Type 1 (Primary Residence), Type 2 (Non-Owner in Residential zone), or Type 3 (Non-Owner in Non-Residential zone).

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Prepare Documents and Insurance

Obtain $1M liability insurance certificate and gather proof of residence/ownership.

3-5 daysFree

Documents needed

Certificate of Insurance
Driver's License/Deed

Step 3

Schedule Inspection

The unit must pass a fire and life safety inspection by the City Fire Marshal.

7-14 daysFree

Step 4

Submit Application and Pay Fee

Apply through the City's online portal or in person at the Business Tax & Licensing Office.

14 days$70

Documents needed

Notarized Affidavit

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Determine Permit Type

Prepare Documents and Insurance

Schedule Inspection

Submit Application and Pay Fee

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Knoxville, TN?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Knoxville, TN?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Knoxville, TN?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Knoxville, TN?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Knoxville, TN?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Determine Permit Type

Prepare Documents and Insurance

Schedule Inspection

Submit Application and Pay Fee

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Knoxville, TN?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Knoxville, TN?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Knoxville, TN?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Knoxville, TN?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Knoxville, TN?

Disclaimer