11 verified short-term rentals rules for Nashville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
All short-term rentals in Nashville require a Metro Codes permit before listing on Airbnb or similar platforms. Two permit types exist: Owner-Occupied and Non-Owner-Occupied. Non-owner-occupied permits are banned in most residential zones for new applicants.
STR guests in Nashville must comply with the same Metro noise ordinances as permanent residents. Given Nashville's reputation as a bachelorette party destination, noise complaints from STRs are actively enforced.
Nashville STR operators pay a $313 annual permit fee plus a Hotel Occupancy Tax of 6–7% on gross rental receipts plus a $2.50/night flat fee. State sales tax of 9.25% also applies, bringing total lodging taxes to approximately 15–16%.
STR guests in Nashville must comply with all standard Metro parking ordinances. Residential permit parking zones restrict non-resident vehicles. No STR-specific parking ordinance exists, but violations affect permit renewal.
Nashville STR permits cap overnight guests at four adults per bedroom, not exceeding twelve total adults regardless of unit size, with day visitors counted toward the limit during gatherings under Metro Code 17.16.250.E.
Metro requires every STR permit applicant to carry at least one million dollars in liability coverage applicable to short-term rental use, with a certificate of insurance submitted at application and renewal under Metro Code 17.16.250.D.
Nashville does not impose a per-property annual night cap, but Metro Code 17.16.250 limits Type 2 (non-owner-occupied) permits to no more than 3% of the single-family or two-family residential units within each census tract. Each guest stay is also capped at 30 consecutive days under Chapter 6.28.030, and rentals under 24 hours are prohibited.
Every Nashville short-term rental must obtain an STRP permit from Metro Codes Administration before advertising or operating, under Section 17.16.250 and Chapter 6.28.030. The current permit fee is $313, permits expire 365 days after issuance, and the permit number must appear on every online listing (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.).
Nashville Type 1 STR permits require the owner to maintain the property as their principal residence and physically reside on site or in an attached unit during rentals, with annual proof of occupancy submitted under Metro Code 17.16.250.B.
Non-owner-occupied (Type 2) STRs are barred from Nashville residential zones; only commercial, mixed-use, and a closed grandfathered list remain eligible, with non-transferable permits expiring on sale under Metro Code 17.16.250.C.
Nashville revokes STR permits after three substantiated violations within a rolling twelve-month window, imposing a mandatory three-year reapplication ban on the owner and the property under Metro Code 17.16.250.M.
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Nashville city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Davidson County →