Rockvale, TN

Rutherford County permits Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in residential zoning districts in connection with a lawfully existing single-family dwelling under Section 1101.Q of the Rutherford County Zoning Resolution. ADUs are allowed by-right when standards are met, otherwise a Special Exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals is required. Tennessee has no statewide ADU mandate; counties exercise zoning authority under Tenn. Code Ann. §13-7-101 et seq. Inside Murfreesboro city limits, the City's Zoning Ordinance (Appendix A, 2025) governs and uses the term 'accessory apartment' for a secondary dwelling on a single-family lot.

Rutherford County does not require a county-level zoning permit for short-term rentals (STRs). The City of Murfreesboro likewise has no STR registration requirement and its Zoning Ordinance does not specifically regulate STRs. Operators must, however, register with the Rutherford County Property Assessor under the Tennessee Short Term Rental Unit Act (Tenn. Code Ann. §13-7-602), obtain business licenses, and remit hotel/motel occupancy taxes to the County and City under Tenn. Code Ann. §67-4-1408 and the local privilege tax act. State preemption protects properties operating before any new local STR ordinance takes effect.

Short-term rentals in Rutherford County owe a 5% local hotel/motel occupancy tax (paid monthly to the county and to the city you operate in), state sales tax (paid quarterly), state business tax (annual gross receipts), and a $15 county business license through the County Clerk. Inside Murfreesboro, Smyrna, or La Vergne, a separate $15 city business license also applies.

Rutherford County does not set a guest-occupancy cap for short-term rentals in unincorporated areas. The Tennessee Short-Term Rental Unit Act (T.C.A. §13-7-602 et seq.) limits county authority and grandfathers pre-2018 operators. Practical limits come from septic capacity, building/fire code, and HOA rules. Inside Murfreesboro, Smyrna, or La Vergne, the city's STR rules apply.

Rutherford County does not impose STR-specific parking minimums in unincorporated areas. The Rutherford County Zoning Ordinance Appendix D sets standard residential off-street parking (typically two spaces per single-family dwelling) that applies whether the home is owner-occupied or rented short-term. Vehicles cannot block county roads, mailboxes, or driveways. Inside city limits, that city's STR parking rules apply.

Rutherford County has not adopted a separate countywide noise ordinance for unincorporated areas; noise disturbances are handled under Tennessee's general disorderly conduct statute at T.C.A. 39-17-305 and by the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office (615-898-7770). Within the City of Murfreesboro, Chapter 21, Article V of the City Code prohibits sound that is plainly audible across a real property boundary between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Smyrna and other municipalities have their own codes. Report unincorporated noise to the Sheriff non-emergency line; report Murfreesboro noise to MPD non-emergency at 615-893-1311.

In unincorporated Rutherford County, fences do not require a building permit, but any fence requires a Fence Design Guideline Affidavit filed with the Rutherford County Planning Department (free of charge). Fences are typically limited to 7 feet in height in residential zones; corner-lot vision triangles further restrict any obstruction (including fences) to 3 feet to preserve driver sight distance at intersections. Fences must sit on or inside the property line and may not encroach into the County right-of-way. Contact Planning & Engineering at 615-898-7730. Cities (Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne) have their own fence codes within corporate limits.

Rutherford County PAWS (Pet Adoption & Welfare Services) enforces animal control under the County's PAWS Rules and Regulations together with Tennessee Code Annotated 44-8-408 (Dogs Not Allowed at Large). A PAWS Animal Services officer may impound a dog found at large. Licensed dogs with ID tag or microchip are held a minimum of 5 business days. Owners must pay impound, board, vaccination, and other fees to redeem; subsequent impounds of the same animal double the impound fee. PAWS serves unincorporated Rutherford County and the City of Murfreesboro. Contact PAWS dispatch through the Sheriff non-emergency line at 615-898-7770.

Rutherford County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and enforces a Flood Damage Prevention Resolution administered by the Stormwater Department. Any development — new construction, fill, or substantial improvement — within a Special Flood Hazard Area (FEMA Zone A or AE) along the Stones River, Stewarts Creek, Lytle Creek, and other studied waterways requires a Floodplain Development Permit before work begins. Floodway development is prohibited absent a no-rise certification. Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and La Vergne each enforce their own coordinated floodplain ordinances within city limits. Federal law (42 U.S.C. §4012a) requires flood insurance for federally-backed mortgages on SFHA properties.