Short-term rental permit rules in Kingsport, TN — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Tennessee's Short-Term Rental Unit Act protects rentals lawfully operating before local ordinances take effect, limiting how cities can require new permits or revoke existing ones.
Under TCA 13-7-602, the Short-Term Rental Unit Act prevents local governments from prohibiting STRs that were operating lawfully before a restrictive ordinance was adopted. Cities may require permits for new STRs and impose reasonable health, safety, and noise standards, but cannot retroactively ban grandfathered units. Permit revocation is limited to specified violations, and units retain protected status when transferred to family members. The state law preserves local zoning authority for new applications while shielding existing operators from outright prohibition.
Operating without a required local permit risks municipal fines, but state law blocks cities from banning grandfathered units outright.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
See how Kingsport's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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