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

**Yes**, Nashville requires a Short-Term Rental Property (STRP) permit to legally operate. You need to apply for a permit through the city's online portal, differentiating between owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied properties. Non-owner occupied permits are increasingly restricted in residential zones per recent legislation. The annual fee is $313.

What is the TOT tax rate in Nashville?

**6% TOT** is the current transient occupancy tax rate for short-term rentals in Nashville. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the city's Department of Finance. Ensure compliance with all local tax regulations to avoid penalties and maintain good standing. Airbnb may collect this tax for you.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Nashville?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Nashville, but with restrictions, especially for non-owner-occupied properties. Legislation passed in 2018 has limited non-owner-occupied permits in many residential zones. You need to verify that your property's zoning allows for short-term rentals before listing it on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. Always check local rules.

Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Nashville?

**No**, you do not necessarily need to live in your property to rent it on Airbnb in Nashville. However, owner-occupied properties generally face fewer restrictions when obtaining a short-term rental permit. Non-owner-occupied properties are subject to stricter zoning regulations and may be limited to commercial or multi-family zones. Check local laws first.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Nashville?

**No**, tenants are generally not allowed to host on Airbnb in Nashville without the explicit permission of the property owner. The city's short-term rental regulations primarily target property owners, and renters typically lack the authority to obtain the necessary permits or comply with zoning requirements. Always check your lease terms before listing.

Nashville

Moderate

TennesseeUpdated Apr 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 5 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 5

Summary

Plain-english overview

Nashville has a strict STRP permitting system that differentiates between owner-occupied and investment properties. Non-owner occupied permits are increasingly restricted in residential zones following legislation passed in 2018 and subsequent updates.

Restriction level

Severity 26

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Moderate permit fee: $313
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 Nashville, you must first determine if your property is in a zone that allows short-term rentals. If you live on-site (Owner-Occupied), getting a permit is generally easier; if it's an investment property (Non-Owner Occupied), you are likely limited to commercial or multi-family zones. You'll need to pay a $313 annual fee, pass a fire inspection, and notify your neighbors before you can legally list your space.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$313

Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Non-owner occupied permits (Type 2) are prohibited in single-family (RS) and one/two-family (R) residential zones.
2Applying for a permit after operating illegally can trigger a mandatory one-year waiting period/ban.
3Permits are NOT transferable; if you sell the property, the new owner must apply for a new permit (if still allowed in that zone).
4You must include your STRP permit number in all online advertisements and listings.
5A $2.00 per night 'per-unit fee' must be remitted to the city in addition to the percentage-based taxes.
6The maximum occupancy is strictly capped at 12 guests, regardless of how large the house is.
7Owner-occupied status is verified against voter registration and tax records; if these don't match, the permit will be denied.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

Nashville does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Nashville does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
Nashville: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements14 rules

Nashville STR warning: Permits are NOT transferable; if you sell the property, the new owner must apply for a new permit (if still allowed in that zone).

Application process11 rules

Nashville STR permit - Step 2: Gather Documentation. Collect proof of residence (if applicable), floor plans, and $1M liability insurance policy. Required documents: Floor Plan, Insurance Certificate, Voter Registration/ID. Time: 1 week.

Fees & costs1 rule

Nashville charges a registration fee of $313 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

Nashville: Owner-occupied status is verified against voter registration and tax records; if these don't match, the permit will be denied.

Limits & restrictions6 rules

Nashville: A $2.00 per night 'per-unit fee' must be remitted to the city in addition to the percentage-based taxes.
Nashville limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Nashville enforces quiet hours: 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
Nashville: The maximum occupancy is strictly capped at 12 guests, regardless of how large the house is.

Safety requirements1 rule

Nashville requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Hard-wired smoke alarms required in specific areas per fire marshal.

Penalties2 rules

Nashville enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Minimum $50 fine. Second offense: Suspension of permit. Third offense: Revocation of permit for 1 year. Daily fine: $50. Maximum fine: Varies by court ruling. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Nashville: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Nashville

0/5

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Check the Metro Nashville Zoning Map to see if your property is eligible for Owner-Occupied or Non-Owner Occupied permits.

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Gather Documentation

Collect proof of residence (if applicable), floor plans, and $1M liability insurance policy.

1 weekFree

Documents needed

Floor Plan
Insurance Certificate
Voter Registration/ID

Step 3

Notify Neighbors

Send a verified notification to all adjacent property owners using the Metro-approved format.

1 weekFree

Documents needed

Notarized Affidavit of Notification

Step 4

Submit Application Online

Apply through the Nashville ePermits portal and pay the application fee.

30 mins$313

Official resource

Step 5

Fire Marshal Inspection

Schedule and pass a safety inspection by the Metro Nashville Fire Marshal.

1-2 weeksFree

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

Nashville

Moderate

TennesseeUpdated Apr 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 5 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 5

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 26

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Moderate permit fee: $313
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$313

Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Non-owner occupied permits (Type 2) are prohibited in single-family (RS) and one/two-family (R) residential zones.
2Applying for a permit after operating illegally can trigger a mandatory one-year waiting period/ban.
3Permits are NOT transferable; if you sell the property, the new owner must apply for a new permit (if still allowed in that zone).
4You must include your STRP permit number in all online advertisements and listings.
5A $2.00 per night 'per-unit fee' must be remitted to the city in addition to the percentage-based taxes.
6The maximum occupancy is strictly capped at 12 guests, regardless of how large the house is.
7Owner-occupied status is verified against voter registration and tax records; if these don't match, the permit will be denied.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

Nashville does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Nashville does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
Nashville: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements14 rules

Nashville STR warning: Permits are NOT transferable; if you sell the property, the new owner must apply for a new permit (if still allowed in that zone).

Application process11 rules

Nashville STR permit - Step 2: Gather Documentation. Collect proof of residence (if applicable), floor plans, and $1M liability insurance policy. Required documents: Floor Plan, Insurance Certificate, Voter Registration/ID. Time: 1 week.

Fees & costs1 rule

Nashville charges a registration fee of $313 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

Nashville: Owner-occupied status is verified against voter registration and tax records; if these don't match, the permit will be denied.

Limits & restrictions6 rules

Nashville: A $2.00 per night 'per-unit fee' must be remitted to the city in addition to the percentage-based taxes.
Nashville limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Nashville enforces quiet hours: 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
Nashville: The maximum occupancy is strictly capped at 12 guests, regardless of how large the house is.

Safety requirements1 rule

Nashville requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Hard-wired smoke alarms required in specific areas per fire marshal.

Penalties2 rules

Nashville enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Minimum $50 fine. Second offense: Suspension of permit. Third offense: Revocation of permit for 1 year. Daily fine: $50. Maximum fine: Varies by court ruling. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Nashville: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Nashville

0/5

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Check the Metro Nashville Zoning Map to see if your property is eligible for Owner-Occupied or Non-Owner Occupied permits.

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Gather Documentation

Collect proof of residence (if applicable), floor plans, and $1M liability insurance policy.

1 weekFree

Documents needed

Floor Plan
Insurance Certificate
Voter Registration/ID

Step 3

Notify Neighbors

Send a verified notification to all adjacent property owners using the Metro-approved format.

1 weekFree

Documents needed

Notarized Affidavit of Notification

Step 4

Submit Application Online

Apply through the Nashville ePermits portal and pay the application fee.

30 mins$313

Official resource

Step 5

Fire Marshal Inspection

Schedule and pass a safety inspection by the Metro Nashville Fire Marshal.

1-2 weeksFree

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

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Gather Documentation

Notify Neighbors

Submit Application Online

Fire Marshal Inspection

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Nashville?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Nashville?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Nashville?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Nashville?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Gather Documentation

Notify Neighbors

Submit Application Online

Fire Marshal Inspection

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Nashville?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Nashville?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Nashville?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Nashville?

Disclaimer