Short-Term Rentals in Chattanooga, TN (2026)

Chattanooga City Code § 38-87(a)

No person or entity may operate a short-term vacation rental unless a short-term vacation rental certificate has been first obtained from the City of Chattanooga Development Review and Permitting Division. To obtain a short-term vacation rental certificate, an eligible applicant must submit an application and a Code compliance verification form in compliance with Section 17.6. If approved, a le...

Chattanooga City Code § 38-88(j)

All occupants must abide by all applicable noise restrictions and all applicable waste management provisions of the City Code of the City of Chattanooga. All occupants must comply with City Code Section 25-69. .....(k)The name and telephone number of the owner of the short-term vacation rental or the short-term vacation rental agent must be conspicuously posted within the short-term vacation re...

Chattanooga City Code § 38-89(b), § 38-88(h)

(b)Application Fee ... (1)The non-refundable application fee for all short-term vacation rentals are as follows in addition to any applicable transaction related fees: (i)Absentee STVRs a.Initial application fee: $500.00 b.Renewal fee: $500.00 (ii)Homestay STVRs a.Initial application fee: $250.00 b.Renewal fee: $250.00 (2)This application fee must be paid in full before any application is revie...

Chattanooga City Code § 38-88(i)

Adequate on-site parking must be provided, as determined by the City after considering proposed number of guests, frequency of operations, and availability of on-street parking. As a general rule, parking is not allowed on any vegetated area of the premises on which the short-term vacation rental is located. .....(j)All occupants must abide by all applicable noise restrictions and all applicabl...

Chattanooga City Code § 38-88(e)-(f)(1)-(3)

(e)There must be no more than five bedrooms made available for rental in one dwelling unit. There must be no more than five sleeping rooms made available for a site located in the RN-1-6, RN-1-5, or RN-2 Zones. (f)The maximum occupancy is determined by the total of: (1)Two persons per bedroom up to 210 square feet plus an additional two persons. (2)For bedrooms over 210 square feet the occupant...

Chattanooga City Code § 38-89(c)(2)(i)-(ii)

For homestay dwellings, the applicant/owner must be a natural person or a business entity (i.e., a Tennessee LLC, corporation, partnership etc.) whose business entity applicant lives on premises and can establish proof of ownership annually. Residency of all applicants must be proved annually during renewal with driver's license number, business records, or other documentation acceptable to the...

Chattanooga City Code § 38-85, § 38-89(c)(2)

Short-Term Vacation Rental Occupancy. There are two designations regarding the occupancy status of a short-term vacation rental: (a)Homestay. A short-term vacation rental property which is the primary residence of the applicant. Primary is defined as the residence of the applicant at least 183 days a year. (b)Absentee. A short-term vacation rental property which is not the primary residence of ...

Chattanooga City Code § 38-83(a)-(b)

New non-owner occupied/absentee properties are only allowed throughout the City in the mixed-use and commercial zones that allow a hotel. They are also allowed within any parcel of at least 20 acres or more with common ownership that allows for residential uses.

Chattanooga City Code § 38-90(e)(1)

The City reserves the right to revoke a granted short-term vacation rental certificate at any time upon notice to the owner and the short-term vacation rental certificate Agent and after a public hearing once the property has three documented violations of City Code or State Law as a direct result of the operation of the short-term vacation rental unit and no appeal rights of those violations r...