Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Rules in Nashville, TN (2026)

Nashville, TN allows short-term rentals — commonly listed on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO — subject to local regulations that have evolved significantly since 2015. Hosts must register with the city (Short-Term Rental Permit (STRP) — Owner-Occupied (Type 1) or Non-Owner-Occupied (Type 2)) before listing their property. Nashville regulates STRs to balance tourism revenue with neighborhood quality of life. Key rules cover primary residence requirements, nightly limits, occupancy caps, and tax collection obligations. Hosts who operate without required registration or in violation of city rules face substantial fines. Below are the current registration requirements, rules, platform-specific notes, and penalties for Nashville.

Registration Requirements

Registration Required: Short-Term Rental Permit (STRP) — Owner-Occupied (Type 1) or Non-Owner-Occupied (Type 2). Registration fee: $325. Annual renewal: $325 annually. Register through the Metro Nashville Department of Codes Administration or Metro Nashville Planning Department. Your registration number must be displayed on all platform listings. Failure to register before hosting is a violation subject to fines.

Operational Rules

Short-Term Rental Rules in Nashville: 1. STRP permit required for all STRs (rentals of fewer than 30 consecutive days) 2. Type 1 (Owner-Occupied): Owner lives in the dwelling as primary residence — eligible in any residential zone 3. Type 2 (Non-Owner-Occupied): Owner does not live in dwelling — zone restrictions apply and cap on number permitted per zone 4. Permit must be posted in the unit and listed on booking platforms 5. Maximum overnight occupancy: 2 guests per bedroom 6. Noise ordinance compliance required — quiet hours enforced 7. Trash, recycling, and parking rules must be observed 8. Life safety requirements: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher 9. Local contact person required for Type 2 permits 10. Annual renewal required — permit not transferable

• •STRP permit required for all STRs (rentals of fewer than 30 consecutive days)
• •Type 1 (Owner-Occupied): Owner lives in the dwelling as primary residence — eligible in any residential zone
• •Type 2 (Non-Owner-Occupied): Owner does not live in dwelling — zone restrictions apply and cap on number permitted per zone
• •Permit must be posted in the unit and listed on booking platforms
• •Maximum overnight occupancy: 2 guests per bedroom
• •Noise ordinance compliance required — quiet hours enforced
• •Trash, recycling, and parking rules must be observed
• •Life safety requirements: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher
• •Local contact person required for Type 2 permits
• •Annual renewal required — permit not transferable

Platform-Specific Rules

Platform-Specific Rules in Nashville: Airbnb: Airbnb collects Nashville Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) on qualifying rentals — 6% state + city portion VRBO: VRBO also collects applicable HOT on qualifying rentals Always verify current platform tax collection and remittance policies directly with your platform — these can change without advance notice to hosts.

Penalties for Violations

Penalties for STR Violations in Nashville: $500 fine per day for operating without a permit; Permit suspension for safety violations; Permit revocation for repeated violations; Civil penalties for nuisance complaints (noise, trash, parking). Nashville has enforcement mechanisms to identify unlicensed short-term rental listings on platforms. Hosts should ensure all registrations are current and listings display valid registration numbers.

• ⚠$500 fine per day for operating without a permit
• ⚠Permit suspension for safety violations
• ⚠Permit revocation for repeated violations
• ⚠Civil penalties for nuisance complaints (noise, trash, parking)

Frequently Asked Questions