Knoxville, TN Short-Term Rentals: Host Presence Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- Host presence
- Not required during occupancy
- Applies to
- Type 1 owner-occupied permit
- Governing text
- Sec. 16-613(a)(1)
Summary
Knoxville's Type 1 short-term rental ordinance explicitly says the owner-host doesn't have to remain on site or be present while guests occupy the property.
The owner is not required to remain or be present at the short term rental unit during the occupancy.(2)Accessory structures and duplexes. If there is an accessory dwelling structure on the property, the type 1 operating permit can be for either the primary dwelling structure or the accessory dwelling structure, but not for both. If a property houses a legal duplex and an owner owns both sides of the duplex, one (1) type 1 operating permit is available to the owner for either side of the duplex so long as the owner's principal residence is one side of the duplex.(3)Proof of ownership and residency. Ownership shall be established by the deed for the property as recorded in the county register of deeds. Residency shall be established by at least two (2) of the following documents, which must list the address of the short term rental unit on the document:a.The owner's motor vehicle registration;b.A valid driver's license or TN identification card of the owner;c.The address of the owner's children's school registration;d.The owner's voter registration card; ore.The owner's W-2 mailing. At least one (1) owner listed on the deed for the short term rental unit must establish residency at the short term rental unit according to the criteria set forth in this section 16-613.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 16-613(a) governs the city's owner-occupied Type 1 short term rental permit, the option available in residential zoning districts. Right after setting the principal-residence requirement, the code adds an explicit carve-out: the owner is not required to remain or be present at the unit during the occupancy. A Knoxville homeowner can therefore rent out their whole primary residence while traveling and still hold a valid Type 1 permit, as long as it remains their actual home base the rest of the year and they can prove residency under the section's document requirements.
Violations & Fines
There's no presence violation to cite: the rule affirmatively allows absentee hosting. Operating without a permit or submitting false application information still triggers the $50-per-day citation under Secs. 16-632 and 16-635.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to stay home while my Knoxville short-term rental guests are there?
Does this no-presence rule apply to every STR permit type?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Knoxville
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