Nashville Short-Term Rental Permit: How to Get Licensed in 2026
- Bowstring Management Team
CONTENTS
Every property listed on Airbnb, VRBO, or any short-term rental platform in Nashville and Davidson County needs an active STRP permit from the Metro Codes Department. No permit, no listing. List without one and you’re banned from applying for a full year.
We’ve walked dozens of Nashville property owners through this process. The government website has the information, but it’s spread across multiple pages and written in bureaucratic language that makes a straightforward process feel challenging. This guide translates all of it into plain English, step by step, with the practical tips we’ve picked up from doing this repeatedly.
Here’s everything you need to know to get your Nashville short-term rental permitted and legal.
Owner-Occupied vs. Non-Owner-Occupied: Which Permit Do You Need?
Nashville has two types of short-term rental permits. The type you need depends on one question: do you live at the property?
Owner-Occupied STRP Permit
This is for your primary residence. You live there, and you rent it out (or part of it) on a short-term basis.
What this means in practice:
- The applicant must be an individual person (not an LLC or corporation)
- You’ll prove residency with four documents: two from Group A (driver’s license, voter registration, W-2, etc.) and two from Group B (insurance policies, bank statements, employer verification)
- These permits are allowed in most residential zoning districts across Nashville
- If you live in it, you can probably get permitted
Non-Owner-Occupied (NOO) STRP Permit
This is for investment properties: you own it, but you don’t live there.
What this means in practice:
- Can be held by individuals, LLCs, or corporations
- Entity ownership requires documentation linking the applicant to the entity (operating agreement, articles of organization)
- Only allowed in specific zoning districts: many residential neighborhoods do not qualify
- You must notify adjacent property owners before applying
Here’s the critical difference: owner-occupied permits are broadly available. Non-owner-occupied permits are not. If you’re buying a Nashville property specifically to run as a short-term rental, you need to verify zoning before you close. We’ve seen investors close on properties only to discover the parcel doesn’t qualify for an NOO permit. That’s an expensive mistake.
How to Check Zoning Eligibility
Nashville provides two tools to verify whether your property qualifies:
- STRP Permit Eligibility Parcel Viewer: Enter your address and the tool shows which permit types are available for your specific parcel
- District Land Use Table (PDF): The full reference showing which zoning districts allow non-owner-occupied STRs
One thing to watch for: zoning can change. A property that operated as an STR two years ago might not qualify today if the zoning was updated or ownership changed. Always check current eligibility, not historical status.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply for a Nashville Short-Term Rental Permit
The entire process runs through Nashville’s ePermits online system. Plan for 4-8 weeks from gathering documents to holding your permit. The neighbor notification step is almost always the bottleneck.
Step 1: Gather Your Documents
Before you touch the online application, you need these ready in PDF format:
Every applicant needs:
Owner-occupied applicants also need four proof-of-residency documents:
- Group A (pick two): Tennessee Driver’s License, TN state ID, Davidson County Voter Registration card, IRS W-2 or 1099, current vehicle registration or title
- Group B (pick two): Current auto insurance, life insurance, homeowner’s insurance policy, paycheck stub, bank statement, or employer verification letter
Non-owner-occupied applicants also need entity documentation linking the
individual to the owning LLC or corporation (operating agreement, articles of organization, etc.)
Step 2: Notify Your Neighbors
This is the step that delays most applications.
You’re required to send written notification to every adjacent property owner. For each neighbor, you need one of:
- Their signature on the notification
- A signed receipt from U.S. registered or certified mail
- USPS notice that the mail was refused or not accepted in time
Nashville provides templates you should use:
- Owner-occupied notification template (available on Nashville.gov)
- Non-owner-occupied notification template (available on Nashville.gov)
If the adjacent property is owned by Metro Government, notification is not required.
What we tell our clients: Send certified mail the moment you decide to pursue a permit. Waiting for delivery confirmation, potential refusals, and redelivery attempts can easily eat 2-3 weeks. This is almost always the step that pushes timelines back.
Step 3: Get Your Property Inspected or Certified
The inspection process depends on your property type:
Single and two-family homes do not require a Fire Marshal inspection. Instead, you need a written certification from a state-licensed architect, engineer, or home inspector confirming your home meets Metro Code safety requirements (specifically § 6.28.030.A.5.b and § 6.28.030.B.5.b).
You can verify a professional’s license here:
- Architects and Engineers: tn.gov/commerce/regboards/architects-engineers.html
- Home Inspectors: verify.tn.gov
Nashville also publishes inspection guidelines for single and two-family dwellings on Nashville.gov. Share this with your inspector so they know exactly what Metro Codes expects.
Multifamily dwellings (condos, apartment units) still require a Fire Marshal inspection. After your application generates a temporary permit number, email FMORequest@nashville.gov with the permit number, your name, address, and phone number to schedule it.
Budget tip: Home inspector certifications can vary, but expect to budget in the range of a few hundred dollars. It’s worth getting this scheduled the same week you mail your neighbor notifications, so both are progressing in parallel.
Step 4: Submit Your Application
With all documents in hand:
- Complete the online application through Nashville’s ePermits system
- Email all sensitive documents (ID, residency proof, entity documentation) as a single PDF to strpapplications@nashville.gov
- Your application enters the review queue and is processed in the order received
Using a property manager? If someone other than the property owner will apply for or operate the permit, the owner must complete a third-party affidavit (available on Nashville.gov).
Questions during the process? Email strpquestions@nashville.gov.
Step 5: Pay the Permit Fee
Once your application is approved and inspection/certification passes, you’ll pay a permit fee. As of 2026, its just over $300.
Accepted payment: exact cash, check, or credit card (2.3% processing fee on cards).
Step 6: Post Your Permit and Start Accepting Bookings
After receiving your permit:
- Post a photo of your current permit on every listing: this is a legal requirement, not a suggestion
- Your permit number must be visible in your listing per Ordinance BL2019-79
- Register for tax remittance with the Office of the Treasurer
- Set a calendar reminder for renewal: your permit expires in exactly 365 days
Nashville STR Rules You Need to Follow After Getting Permitted
Getting the permit is the beginning, not the finish line. Nashville has ongoing operating requirements, and violating them can cost you the permit entirely.
Property limits:
- Maximum of four sleeping rooms per STRP permit
- Properties with more than four bedrooms cannot be permitted as an STR
Responsible party requirement:
- You must have a designated contact person who lives within 25 miles of the property
- This person must be reachable 24/7 for emergencies or complaints
- Their name and contact info must be posted inside the rental unit
Annual permit renewal:
- Permits are valid for 365 days: not “about a year,” exactly 365 days
- Operating under an expired permit triggers a one-year ban from reapplying
- Start the renewal process at least 60 days before expiration
Advertising compliance:
- Your permit photo and number must appear on all active listings
- Operating without a visible permit is a violation
Nashville Short-Term Rental Taxes: What You Owe
STR operators in Nashville are responsible for remitting:
- Nashville/Davidson County hotel occupancy tax: applied to all short-term rental bookings
- Tennessee state sales tax: applies to rental income
- Business tax: required for commercial activity in Davidson County
Some platforms collect and remit certain taxes automatically (Airbnb, for example, currently collects and remits state and local occupancy taxes in Tennessee), but you are ultimately responsible for ensuring everything is covered. Platform tax policies can change, so verify what’s being handled on your behalf. The Nashville Office of the Treasurer has specific instructions for registering and staying compliant.
What Happens If You Operate Without a Nashville STR Permit?
Nashville takes enforcement seriously. Here’s what’s at stake:
- List before you’re permitted? One-year ban from applying. This is automatic.
- Fines and citations from the Metro Codes Department for operating illegally
- Permit revocation for repeated violations of operating rules
- Tax penalties for unreported rental income
The city runs a complaint system through hubNashville where neighbors, other hosts, or anyone can report suspected illegal STRs. False complaints are punishable as perjury per Tennessee state law (TCA § 39-16-702), but legitimate ones are investigated by Metro Codes.
The math is simple: the permit costs $313. Operating illegally can cost you a year of lost revenue, fines, and the ability to operate at all. Get permitted first.
7 Mistakes That Delay or Kill Nashville STR Permit Applications
After walking property owners through this process many times, these are the errors we see over and over:
- Listing the property before the permit is issued. This triggers the automatic one-year ban. The city’s language on this is clear-cut; don’t risk it.
- Sending neighbor notifications too late. Certified mail delivery, potential refusals, and redelivery can take 2-3 weeks. Send it the day you decide to pursue a permit.
- Not checking zoning before purchasing. Especially for NOO permits. A beautiful investment property in a residential zone may be permanently ineligible.
- Submitting an uncertified floor plan. Single and two-family homes need a state-licensed architect, engineer, or home inspector to certify the plan. A hand-drawn plan alone won’t cut it.
- Having insufficient insurance. You need $1 million in liability coverage per occurrence. Many standard homeowner’s policies may not meet this threshold. Check your limits before you apply.
- Forgetting annual renewal. An expired permit means a one-year ban. Set the reminder now.
- Not designating a local responsible party. This person must live within 25 miles and be available around the clock. If you don’t live near your property, figure out who this will be before you apply.
How Bowstring Management Handles Nashville STR Permits for Property Owners
Navigating permits is part of what we do for our property owners. As a locally owned Nashville management company, we’ve been through this process enough times to know where the bottlenecks are and how to avoid them.
As part of our White Glove management service, we handle:
- Zoning eligibility assessment before you commit to a property or a permit
- Document coordination: we organize and prepare everything Metro Codes needs
- Neighbor notification logistics: certified mail, tracking, follow-ups
- Annual permit renewals: so your permit never lapses
- Ongoing compliance: advertising requirements, responsible party designation, operating rules
If you’re thinking about turning your Nashville property into a short-term rental, or if you’re already permitted and want someone to manage the whole operation, we’d like to hear from you.
Not ready to talk yet? That’s fine. Email us your questions about the permit process and we’re happy to point you in the right direction, whether you end up working with us or not.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nashville STR Permits
Gather four core documents (proof of current property taxes, a certified floor plan, liability insurance of at least $1 million, and proof of neighbor notification), submit them through Nashville’s online ePermits system, email sensitive documents to strpapplications@nashville.gov, pass inspection or provide professional certification, and pay the $313 permit fee. The full process typically takes 4-8 weeks.
The permit fee itself is $313. Budget for additional costs including a home inspection or professional certification (costs vary by provider), certified mail for neighbor notifications (costs depend on how many adjacent properties you have), and liability insurance meeting the $1 million minimum, which may require upgrading your existing homeowner’s policy.
An owner-occupied permit is for your primary residence and is allowed in most residential zoning districts. A non-owner-occupied (NOO) permit is for investment properties where the owner doesn’t live, and is restricted to specific commercial, mixed-use, and overlay zoning districts. Check the STRP Permit Eligibility Parcel Viewer to see which permits your property qualifies for.
It depends on the permit type. Owner-occupied permits are broadly available across Nashville’s residential zones. Non-owner-occupied permits are limited to specific zoning districts; many residential neighborhoods don’t qualify. Even properties that previously operated as STRs can lose eligibility due to zoning changes or ownership transfers. Always verify current eligibility with the parcel viewer tool.
Listing a property before you hold a permit triggers an automatic one-year ban from applying. Beyond that, Metro Codes can issue fines and citations, and anyone can report illegal STRs through hubNashville. Repeated operating violations can result in permit revocation for permitted properties.
Yes. The STRP permit requirement applies to all short-term rental platforms: Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and every other listing site. The permit must be obtained before the property goes live, and a photo of your current permit must be displayed on all active listings.
Plan for 4-8 weeks. The timeline depends on how quickly you send neighbor notifications (2-3 weeks for certified mail), schedule a professional inspection or certification (1-2 weeks), and move through the Metro Codes review queue. Starting your neighbor notifications on day one is the best way to compress the timeline.
Yes. Permits expire after exactly 365 days and must be renewed annually. Operating under an expired permit results in a one-year prohibition from obtaining a new one. We recommend starting the renewal process at least 60 days before your expiration date.
Bowstring Management is a locally owned vacation rental management company in Nashville, TN. We started as rental owners ourselves and built the management company we wished existed. This guide reflects Nashville STR regulations as of February 2026. Regulations change so always verify current requirements with the Metro Codes Department (nashville.gov/departments/codes/short-term-rentals) or a qualified attorney for your specific situation.