Is Airbnb legal in Memphis, TN?

Allowed

These rules are changing or in active litigation. Verify the current status directly before you rely on it.

Airbnb is allowed in Memphis, TN

No STR may operate or advertise without a city permit, with the permit number shown in every listing, but there is no primary-residence rule, permit cap, or night cap. Operators need a local agent within 25 miles and at least one million dollars of liability insurance. Enforcement is complaint-driven, and three violations in a year can revoke a permit.

Memphis Code Title 5, Ch. 5-44View the ordinance

Verified July 2026. Not legal advice. Rules change and may be enforced differently than written. Confirm with the city before you list.

Key rules at a glance

Permit or registration

Required

Primary residence only

No

Annual night cap

Not confirmed

Registration fee

See ordinance

How short-term rentals work in Memphis

The first step in Memphis is the city's permit or registration process; check the ordinance for the current fee. The status card above has the full detail on the current rules.

Memphis broadly permits short-term rentals. Expect to register and collect lodging tax, but there is real room for an investor STR strategy.

At the state level, Tennessee limits how far cities can go in banning short-term rentals.

What it means for investors

Memphis is relatively open to short-term rentals, so an STR strategy is on the table. Run the numbers on a specific property, and compare it to a straight long-term rental to see which pencils better.

Analyze a rental hereCheck long-term rent

Short-term rental rules elsewhere in Tennessee

Last reviewed July 2026. Informational and educational only, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Rules change and may be enforced differently than written. Verify the current ordinance with your local jurisdiction or counsel before acting.

Frequently asked questions

Is Airbnb legal in Memphis?

No STR may operate or advertise without a city permit, with the permit number shown in every listing, but there is no primary-residence rule, permit cap, or night cap. Operators need a local agent within 25 miles and at least one million dollars of liability insurance. Enforcement is complaint-driven, and three violations in a year can revoke a permit. This reflects the rules as of July 2026; confirm the current ordinance with the city before you list.

Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Memphis?

Yes. Memphis requires a permit or registration to operate a short-term rental, and platforms increasingly require the permit number on the listing.

Can I run a non-owner-occupied Airbnb in Memphis?

Yes, Memphis does not require you to live in the property, though other limits such as caps, zoning, or licensing may still apply.

Is there a limit on how many nights I can rent in Memphis?

No specific annual night cap was confirmed for Memphis, though minimum-stay rules or license caps may effectively limit operations. Check the ordinance.

What taxes apply to a short-term rental in Memphis?

Short-term rentals in Memphis are generally subject to state and local lodging or occupancy taxes on top of income tax. Airbnb and VRBO collect some of these automatically, but not always all of them, so confirm the current rate and who remits it with Tennessee and the city.