Franklin's December 2019 STVR ordinance effectively imposes a primary-residence-only restriction on all new short-term vacation rentals in residential zoning districts: the homeowner must reside at the dwelling, which functionally limits eligibility to the operator's primary or principal residence. Investment properties, second homes, vacation properties not used as a primary residence, and LLC-owned dwellings without a resident owner are all ineligible for new STVR permits in residential zones. Only one STVR is permitted per lot, preventing portfolio scaling on a single parcel. Legacy non-owner-occupied STVRs that pre-date the December 2019 ordinance remain protected under TCA 13-7-603 as long as they remain in compliance and do not trigger termination (sale to non-family, 30-month operational gap, three local-law violations). This framework places Franklin among the strictest primary-residence-only markets in the South, comparable to Boston, Denver, and San Francisco.
After reviewing the Franklin Zoning Ordinance and the City of Franklin STVR program materials, Franklin's December 2019 ordinance imposed what functionally operates as a primary-residence-only restriction on all new short-term vacation rentals in residential zoning districts. The mechanism is the owner-occupancy mandate: the homeowner must reside at the dwelling. While Franklin's ordinance language uses 'owner-occupied' rather than 'primary residence,' the practical effect is the same - the operator must live at the dwelling, not merely own it or maintain a local agent there. Investment properties (purchased explicitly to operate as STR), second homes used only for occasional personal stays, vacation properties not used as a primary residence, and dwellings held in an LLC or corporate entity without a resident natural-person owner are all ineligible for new STVR permits in residential zones. Out-of-state, out-of-county, and even out-of-city ownership are categorically incompatible with the owner-occupancy requirement because the operator cannot simultaneously reside elsewhere as a primary residence and at the Franklin dwelling. Only one STVR is permitted per lot, preventing portfolio scaling on a single parcel and reinforcing the residential-character preservation intent. The one-per-lot rule combined with the owner-occupancy mandate means that a Franklin homeowner can operate at most one STVR (in their own home), not a portfolio. This is among the strictest primary-residence-only frameworks in the southern United States, comparable to Boston (primary-residence-only), Denver (primary-residence-only), and San Francisco (primary-residence + 90-night cap for unhosted). The framework reflects Franklin's December 2019 policy choice to protect single-family residential neighborhood character from investor conversion to absentee-owner STRs. Legacy non-owner-occupied STVRs that pre-date the December 2019 ordinance and that maintain Tennessee STR Act protection under TCA 13-7-603 are exempt from the owner-occupancy mandate while their legacy status persists, but they constitute a fixed and shrinking inventory because no new legacy STVRs can be created and existing ones lose protection on sale to a non-family member, a 30-month operational gap, or three or more violations of generally applicable local laws.
Operating a non-owner-occupied STVR in a Franklin residential zoning district under a permit issued after the December 2019 ordinance is a categorical zoning violation enforceable by Building and Neighborhood Services with citation, daily fines (up to $50 per day plus court costs per State Law), use-permit revocation, and prosecution in Franklin Municipal Court. Submitting a use-permit application that falsely attests to owner-occupancy when the operator does not actually reside at the dwelling is a material misrepresentation that immediately voids the compliance certificate and is independently actionable. Operating multiple STVRs from a single Franklin parcel (subdividing, garage-apartment-plus-main-house, ADU plus main dwelling) violates the categorical one-per-lot rule. For legacy non-owner-occupied STVRs, sale or transfer to a non-family member terminates TCA 13-7-603 legacy protection immediately and permanently; the new owner cannot operate as a non-owner-occupied STVR even on the same parcel. Three violations of generally applicable local laws also terminate legacy protection permanently. Out-of-state or LLC-owned investor purchases of Franklin residential property with the intent to operate as STVR are functionally precluded from the STR market by the owner-occupancy requirement - investors targeting Franklin's residential housing stock should plan for traditional long-term rental or owner-occupied operation instead.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Franklin, TN
The City of Franklin does not have a specific ordinance prohibiting or regulating artificial turf on residential lots. Synthetic turf may be installed in rea...
Franklin, TN
Franklin does not require native-plant landscaping, but the Tree Commission maintains a Recommended Tree List that prioritizes species suited to Middle Tenne...
Franklin, TN
Rainwater harvesting is legal and unregulated for residential use throughout Tennessee — including Franklin. There are no volume limits, no permit requiremen...
Franklin, TN
Under Franklin Municipal Code Title 9 Chapter 11 (Mobile Food Vending), adopted Aug. 28, 2023, mobile food units in Franklin may operate ONLY on developed an...
Franklin, TN
Operating a food truck in Franklin requires a Mobile Food Vendor Permit from Building & Neighborhood Services (BNS), governed by Title 9 Chapter 11 (Mobile F...
Franklin, TN
Federal law (FAA Part 107 for commercial; 49 U.S.C. § 44809 for recreational) governs the airspace over Franklin — the City cannot regulate altitude or fligh...
See how Franklin's primary-residence-only rule rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.