Short-term rental permit rules in Rutherford County, TN — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
The City of Murfreesboro requires no local zoning permit to run a short-term rental. Tennessee lets local governments create a permit or application process under the STRU Act, but Murfreesboro and Rutherford County have not adopted one; you still need a county business license and must pay taxes.
Unlike Nashville or Knoxville, Murfreesboro has no dedicated short-term rental permit or STR zoning approval, so operating is largely by-right in most residential zones. Tennessee's Short-Term Rental Unit Act (T.C.A. Title 13, Ch. 7, Part 6) authorizes a city or county to adopt a permitting or application process, but Rutherford County and its cities have not created a separate STR permit. Hosts must instead obtain a county business license through the County Clerk, register for taxes, and comply with generally applicable local laws (noise, property maintenance, parking). Smyrna and La Vergne set their own rules, so confirm with your specific city before listing.
Operating without the required county business license or without remitting occupancy tax can trigger back taxes, penalties, and interest assessed by the county and state.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Rutherford County's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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