Short-term rental permit rules in Hamilton County, TN — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Inside Chattanooga, every short-term vacation rental (STVR) needs a city STVR certificate before it advertises or hosts guests. Certificates split into owner-occupied 'homestay' and non-owner-occupied 'absentee' types. Unincorporated Hamilton County adopted its own STVR permit through Development Services in April 2023.
Chattanooga zoning defines an STVR as a structure with no more than five bedrooms rented for pay for stays of 30 days or less. Homestay STVRs (owner's primary residence) are allowed in commercial zones and residential zones inside the STVR Homestay Overlay. Absentee STVRs are limited to commercial zones that already permit hotel/motel use (C-2, C-3, C-4, UGC, CC, IX, RF, RV, CX-Commercial, SH). Applications are reviewed by the Land Development Office. In unincorporated Hamilton County the county's own STVR regulations and zoning apply; contact Development Services (423-209-7970). Denials may be appealed to the Board of Zoning Appeals within 60 days.
Operating without a valid STVR certificate can trigger citations, certificate denial or revocation, and zoning enforcement by the Land Development Office.
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See how Hamilton County's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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