Is Airbnb legal in Nashville, TN?

Restricted

Airbnb is restricted in Nashville, TN

New non-owner-occupied permits are no longer issued in residential zones; owner-occupied permits require a natural-person resident owner, so LLCs and trusts are ineligible.

Metro Code (Zoning) 17.16.250.EView 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 Nashville

The first step in Nashville 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.

Non-owner investors can operate in Nashville, but within the city's limits above. Read the ordinance closely before you buy, because permits, caps, or zoning can make a specific property ineligible.

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

What it means for investors

An STR can still work in Nashville, but the limits shrink the pool of eligible properties and add compliance cost. Underwrite conservatively and confirm the specific address qualifies before you commit.

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 Nashville?

New non-owner-occupied permits are no longer issued in residential zones; owner-occupied permits require a natural-person resident owner, so LLCs and trusts are ineligible. 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 Nashville?

Yes. Nashville 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 Nashville?

Yes, Nashville 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 Nashville?

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

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

Short-term rentals in Nashville 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.