Short-Term Rentals in Knoxville, TN (2026)

6 verified short-term rentals rules for Knoxville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Short-Term Rental Permits

Knoxville STR operators must apply through the business license and tax office, naming a 24/7 local contact who can respond to complaints within 45 minutes.

Knoxville STR Application Requirements

Significant Restrictions

Knoxville Code of Ordinances § 16-612(4)

Every operator desiring to operate a short term rental unit shall submit an application for an operating permit to the business license & tax office... Local contact person. A person designated by the operator, who shall be available twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week for the purpose of: a. Being able to physically respond, as necessary, within forty-five (45) minutes of no...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Knoxville charges short-term rental operators a $70 application fee for an owner-occupied Type 1 permit and $120 for Type 2 (non-owner-occupied) or Type 3 permits, collected by the business license & tax office with no proration and no refunds. Operators also owe the city's hotel occupancy privilege tax, state sales tax and state gross receipts tax.

Knoxville STR Occupancy Tax And Permit Fees

Some Restrictions

Knoxville Code of Ordinances §§ 16-614, 16-651 (Ord. No. O-245-2017, § 1, 11-21-17)

Sec. 16-614. - Fees. An application for an operating permit under this article shall be accompanied by a fee in the amount of seventy dollars ($70.00) for a type 1 permit and one hundred twenty dollars ($120.00) for type 2 and type 3 permits. The business license & tax office shall collect the permit fee. There shall be no proration of fees. Fees are non-refundable once a permit has been issued...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Every Knoxville short-term rental application must include a site plan showing designated off-street parking spaces and the maximum number of vehicles allowed for overnight guests. The requirement sits inside the STR permit application under Section 16-612 and applies to all three permit types the city issues.

Knoxville STR Site Plan Parking Rule

Some Restrictions

Knoxville Code of Ordinances § 16-612(6)

(6)Site plan. A site plan and floor plan accurately and clearly depicting the size and location of the existing dwelling and the approximate square footage in the dwelling, the number and location of designated off-street parking spaces and the maximum number of vehicles allowed for overnight occupants. The floor plan shall describe the use of each room in the dwelling, the number, location and...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Knoxville caps a short-term rental unit at two transients per bedroom plus two more, with an absolute ceiling of twelve people total, counting transients and anyone else residing in or using the unit. The formula applies to every permit type under the city's STR ordinance.

Knoxville STR Maximum Occupancy Limit

Some Restrictions

Knoxville Code of Ordinances § 16-653 (Ord. No. O-245-2017, § 1, 11-21-17)

Sec. 16-653. - Maximum occupancy. The number of transients in a short term rental unit shall not exceed the sum of two (2) transients per bedroom plus two (2) additional transients; provided, however, that the maximum occupancy of the short term rental unit shall not exceed twelve (12) persons, including transients and any other individuals residing in or otherwise using the short term rental u...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

Knoxville's Type 1 short-term rental ordinance explicitly says the owner-host doesn't have to remain on site or be present while guests occupy the property.

Knoxville STR Host Presence Not Required

Few Restrictions

Knoxville Code of Ordinances § 16-613(a)(1)

The owner is not required to remain or be present at the short term rental unit during the occupancy.(2)Accessory structures and duplexes. If there is an accessory dwelling structure on the property, the type 1 operating permit can be for either the primary dwelling structure or the accessory dwelling structure, but not for both. If a property houses a legal duplex and an owner owns both sides ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Knoxville's Type 1 short-term rental permit, the only option in residential zoning districts, can go only to an owner renting out their own principal residence, with a narrow exception for owner-occupied duplexes.

Knoxville Short-Term Rental Primary-Residence Rule

Some Restrictions

Knoxville Code of Ordinances § 16-613(a)(1)

A type 1 operating permit can be issued only to an owner of the short term rental unit. The property where the short term rental unit is located must be the owner's principal residence, except in the instance of duplexes as further described in this section. A person can only hold one (1) type 1 operating permit in the city. The type 1 operating permit is available only to natural persons. The ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Looking for Knox County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Knoxville city rules.

Short-Term Rentals in Knox County →