Memphis Ord. 5894 applies only to rentals shorter than 30 consecutive days. Extended home-shares and corporate housing of 30 days or more are governed by Tennessee URLTA (TCA 66-28) as standard residential tenancies, not STRs.
The 30-day threshold is the bright line between a Memphis STR (requiring a city permit, occupancy taxes, and Ord. 5894 compliance) and a residential tenancy under the Tennessee Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (TCA 66-28). Stays of 30 days or more, even on Airbnb, become regular leases: the host must comply with TURLTA notice rules, security-deposit limits, and habitability standards. This benefits traveling nurses, relocators, and corporate housing operators who want to bypass STR permitting. However, hosts still need any required rental-registration depending on property type.
Misclassifying short stays as long-term to dodge STR permits, terminating a 30-plus-day tenancy without TURLTA notice, or charging illegal security deposits triggers state-court action and city fines.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Memphis's extended home share rules stack up against other locations.
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