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

**Yes**, a Short-Term Rental Permit is required in unincorporated Sevier County. You need to obtain a permit under Article XIV of the Zoning Resolution, with a one-time fee of $250. The permit must be renewed annually to remain compliant with local regulations.

What is the TOT tax rate in Sevier County?

**3% is** the local Hotel/Motel tax rate for short-term rentals in Sevier County. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests in addition to the standard state sales tax. Ensure you remit these taxes to the appropriate local authorities to avoid penalties.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Sevier County?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are generally allowed in unincorporated Sevier County, but with restrictions. You need to adhere to occupancy limits based on the septic system capacity of your property. Check Article XIV of the Zoning Resolution for specific regulations.

How much does an STR permit cost in Sevier County?

**$250 is** the one-time fee for a Short-Term Rental Permit in Sevier County. This permit is required for operating a short-term rental in unincorporated areas. Remember that the permit needs to be renewed annually to stay compliant with local regulations and zoning laws.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Sevier County?

**No**, tenants are not allowed to host on Airbnb or other short-term rental platforms in Sevier County. Only property owners are permitted to obtain the necessary Short-Term Rental Permit and operate a legal rental. Subletting is prohibited under the county's regulations.

Sevier County

Moderate

TennesseeUpdated Mar 16, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

In unincorporated Sevier County, short-term rentals are regulated under Article XIV of the Zoning Resolution, requiring a one-time $250 permit and annual renewals. Hosts must strictly adhere to occupancy limits based on septic system capacity and collect a 3% local Hotel/Motel tax in addition to state sales tax.

Restriction level

Severity 10

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Tenants cannot host
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in unincorporated Sevier County (areas outside city limits like the Smokies), you must apply for a county STR permit and pass a fire inspection. Your occupancy will be capped based on how many bedrooms your septic system is rated for. While the big platforms collect state sales tax, you are personally responsible for sending the 3% local Hotel/Motel tax to the Sevier County Trustee every month. You cannot use RVs or tents as rentals on your property.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$250

Processing time2-4 weeks

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Verify you are truly in UNINCORPORATED Sevier County; if you are within Sevierville, Gatlinburg, or Pigeon Forge limits, these rules do NOT apply.
2Septic capacity is the 'hard ceiling' for occupancy; advertising more guests than your septic permit allows is a major violation.
3The 3% Hotel/Motel tax is NOT collected by Airbnb or VRBO; you must file this manually with the County Trustee.
4Permit numbers must be displayed on every online listing.
5Fire inspections are mandatory and check for specific items like egress windows in bedrooms.
6A local contact person must be available 24/7 to respond to complaints within 45 minutes.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility8 rules

Sevier County does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Sevier County allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family homes, Cabins, Condos.
Sevier County: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements13 rules

Sevier County STR warning: Septic capacity is the 'hard ceiling' for occupancy; advertising more guests than your septic permit allows is a major violation.
Sevier County, TN: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.

Application process7 rules

Sevier County STR permit - Step 1: Verify Septic Capacity. Obtain TDEC septic approval for the number of bedrooms listed. Occupancy is strictly tied to septic capacity. Required documents: Septic Layout. Time: 1-2 weeks.

Fees & costs1 rule

Sevier County charges a registration fee of $250 (one_time).

Taxes3 rules

Sevier County: The 3% Hotel/Motel tax is NOT collected by Airbnb or VRBO; you must file this manually with the County Trustee.
Tennessee has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.
Sevier County charges a Hotel/Motel Tax of 3%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.

Limits & restrictions1 rule

Sevier County: Septic capacity is the 'hard ceiling' for occupancy; advertising more guests than your septic permit allows is a major violation.

Safety requirements2 rules

Sevier County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection.
Sevier County: Fire inspections are mandatory and check for specific items like egress windows in bedrooms.

Penalties1 rule

Sevier County enforces penalties: First offense: Citation and $50 fine per day.

Exemptions4 rules

Sevier County: Verify you are truly in UNINCORPORATED Sevier County; if you are within Sevierville, Gatlinburg, or Pigeon Forge limits, these rules do NOT apply.
Sevier County, TN: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

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

Sevier County

Moderate

TennesseeUpdated Mar 16, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 10

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Tenants cannot host
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$250

Processing time2-4 weeks

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Verify you are truly in UNINCORPORATED Sevier County; if you are within Sevierville, Gatlinburg, or Pigeon Forge limits, these rules do NOT apply.
2Septic capacity is the 'hard ceiling' for occupancy; advertising more guests than your septic permit allows is a major violation.
3The 3% Hotel/Motel tax is NOT collected by Airbnb or VRBO; you must file this manually with the County Trustee.
4Permit numbers must be displayed on every online listing.
5Fire inspections are mandatory and check for specific items like egress windows in bedrooms.
6A local contact person must be available 24/7 to respond to complaints within 45 minutes.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility8 rules

Sevier County does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Sevier County allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family homes, Cabins, Condos.
Sevier County: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements13 rules

Sevier County STR warning: Septic capacity is the 'hard ceiling' for occupancy; advertising more guests than your septic permit allows is a major violation.
Sevier County, TN: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.

Application process7 rules

Sevier County STR permit - Step 1: Verify Septic Capacity. Obtain TDEC septic approval for the number of bedrooms listed. Occupancy is strictly tied to septic capacity. Required documents: Septic Layout. Time: 1-2 weeks.

Fees & costs1 rule

Sevier County charges a registration fee of $250 (one_time).

Taxes3 rules

Sevier County: The 3% Hotel/Motel tax is NOT collected by Airbnb or VRBO; you must file this manually with the County Trustee.
Tennessee has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.
Sevier County charges a Hotel/Motel Tax of 3%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.

Limits & restrictions1 rule

Sevier County: Septic capacity is the 'hard ceiling' for occupancy; advertising more guests than your septic permit allows is a major violation.

Safety requirements2 rules

Sevier County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection.
Sevier County: Fire inspections are mandatory and check for specific items like egress windows in bedrooms.

Penalties1 rule

Sevier County enforces penalties: First offense: Citation and $50 fine per day.

Exemptions4 rules

Sevier County: Verify you are truly in UNINCORPORATED Sevier County; if you are within Sevierville, Gatlinburg, or Pigeon Forge limits, these rules do NOT apply.
Sevier County, TN: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

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

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Sevier County?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Sevier County?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Sevier County?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Sevier County?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Sevier County?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Sevier County?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Sevier County?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Sevier County?

Disclaimer