10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Shelby County, Tennessee.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Shelby County requires a Short-Term Rental Property Permit issued by the Shelby County Clerk under Chapter 8, Article XVIII of the County Code. An original permit costs $100 and must be renewed annually. Incorporated cities such as Memphis run their own separate STR permit programs.
Shelby County requires STR permit holders and their guests to follow the county's noise control provisions in Section 16-61 et seq. of the Code of Ordinances, plus the litter and garbage rules in Section 16-137 et seq. A 24/7 Responsible Party must handle noise and nuisance complaints.
Shelby County STR Property Permit Application, Rules & Regulations No. 1
All short term rental property permit holders and their transient guest shall abide by all applicable noise control restrictions of the Shelby County Code of Ordinances, Section 16-61 et seq. and Control of Liter, Debris and Garbage provisions of Section 16-137 et seq.
Shelby County levies a 5% hotel/motel room occupancy tax on transient lodging, collected by the County Clerk under Chapter 131 of the Private Acts of 1969. STR permit fees are $100 original and $50 renewal, and Tennessee also requires state and local sales tax on stays under 30 days.
Amended Chapter 131 of the Private Acts of 1969 (Shelby County room occupancy tax)
the county clerk is authorized to levy a privilege tax upon the occupancy in any hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast for each transient. The amount of the tax is 5% of the consideration charged by the operator.
Shelby County's STR ordinance does not set a dedicated short-term rental parking ratio. Instead, the application requires a scaled site plan showing each unit and site features, and STR guests are bound by the county's general nuisance, traffic, and litter provisions in unincorporated areas.
Shelby County's STR permit application sets the maximum transient capacity per night on the permit and limits a detached accessory dwelling unit rental to no more than four sleeping rooms. The principal renter must be at least 18, and rentals shorter than 24 hours are prohibited.
Shelby County STR Property Permit Application, Rules & Regulations No. 7
The property owner may rent a detached accessory dwelling unit that complies with applicable building codes for residential structures as short term rental property provided the detached accessory dwelling unit contains not more than four (4) sleeping rooms.
Shelby County requires STR applicants to submit proof of homeowner's fire, hazard, and liability insurance, with liability coverage of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence. Proof is submitted with the permit application, and applicants must also certify compliance with county technical codes.
Shelby County STR Property Permit Application, Checklist
Proof of insurance evidencing homeowner's fire, hazard, and liability insurance. Liability coverage shall have limits of not less than one million dollars per occurrence.
Shelby County's STR ordinance sets no annual cap on the number of nights a property can be rented. It requires a minimum stay by prohibiting paid stays under 24 hours, but does not limit total rental nights per year in unincorporated areas.
Shelby County STR Property Permit Application, Rules & Regulations No. 6
The permit holder shall not receive any compensation or remuneration to permit occupancy of a short term rental unit for a period of less than twenty four (24) hours.
Shelby County's STR registration is handled by the County Clerk under Chapter 8, Article XVIII. A permit expires 365 days after issuance and renewal must be requested at least 30 days before expiration. Permits are non-transferable, and applicants must certify eligibility and pass a code inspection.
Shelby County STR Property Permit Application, Rules & Regulations No. 9
A Short Term Rental Permit shall expire three hundred and sixty five (365) days after it is issued. Short Term Rental Permits may be renewed upon the payment of a fifty ($50.00) dollar fee to cover the applicant renewal screening by the Shelby County Clerk's Office.
Shelby County does not require the host to be present during a stay, but it does require a Responsible Party whose name and phone are posted in the unit and who answers complaints 24 hours a day. The Responsible Party's address must be within 50 miles of the rental.
Shelby County STR Property Permit Application, Rules & Regulations No. 8
The name and telephone number of each Responsible Party shall be conspicuously posted with the short term rental property unit. A Responsible Party shall answer calls twenty four (24) hours a day for the duration of each short term rental period to address problems and complaints.
Shelby County's STR ordinance does not require a short-term rental to be the operator's primary residence. Non-owner-occupied and investor STRs may be permitted in unincorporated areas, subject to registration, insurance, and a Responsible Party. State law also grandfathers pre-existing STRs.
1 cities in Shelby County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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