Night Caps: Austin vs Nashville
How do night caps rules compare between Austin, TX and Nashville, TN?
Austin has fewer restrictions than Nashville.
Austin, TX
Travis County
Austin does not impose an annual night cap on STR rentals like San Francisco's 90-day rule or Palm Springs' 32-day limit. However, Type 2 non-owner-occupied STRs are restricted in residential zones, and all STRs face occupancy and noise limits that effectively constrain heavy event-style bookings.
View full Austin rules →Nashville, TN
Davidson County
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.
View full Nashville rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Austin | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | |
| Density Cap | - | 3% of SF/two-family units per census tract (Type 2) |
| Max Consecutive Stay | - | 30 days |
| Minimum Stay | - | 24 hours (no hourly rentals) |
| Code Sections | - | Metro Code 17.16.250.E; 6.28.030 |
| Annual Night Cap | - | None (density-capped instead) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Austin FAQ
Nashville FAQ
Does Nashville cap the number of nights per year a STRP can operate?
No. Metro Nashville does not impose an annual nights-per-year cap on individual STRPs. Instead, Section 17.16.250.E caps the total density of Type 2 (non-owner-occupied) permits at 3% of single-family or two-family units within each census tract.
What is the longest a single guest can stay at a Nashville STRP?
Chapter 6.28.030 limits any single guest stay to 30 consecutive days. Stays of 24 hours or less are prohibited.
Can I get a Type 2 permit in any Nashville neighborhood?
Not necessarily. If your census tract has already reached the 3% Type 2 density cap, Codes Administration will deny new Type 2 applications in that tract until existing permits expire or are revoked.
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