Nashville, TN Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Metro Code § 6.28.030.A.2.c
- Proof required
- 2 documents from each of 2 groups
- Permit issuer
- Dept. of Codes Administration
- Penalty for no permit
- $50/day fine, court-imposed
- Permit term
- 365 days, renewable
Summary
Metro Nashville's owner-occupied short-term rental permit requires the owner to occupy the property as their primary residence, verified by four documents, or the application can be denied.
To qualify for an STRP-owner-occupied permit, the owner of the property occupy the subject property of the STRP as their primary residence as proven by the documents required in Section 6.28.030.A.b.iv. For conforming uses in single-family and one- and two-family zoning districts, the owner may occupy as their primary residence in a residential unit on the same lot.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 53 | Charter: Republication 9).
Full Breakdown
Metro's Department of Codes Administration issues two short-term rental permit types under Metropolitan Code § 6.28.030. The owner-occupied STRP permit, allowed as an accessory use in nearly all residential zoning districts, requires the owner to occupy the property as their primary residence, proven with two documents from each of two document groups (driver's license, voter registration, tax forms, insurance, pay stubs, bank statement). The zoning administrator can deny an application on evidence the unit isn't, or won't remain, the owner's primary residence, including neighbor affidavits. A separate 'not owner-occupied' STRP permit exists only in mixed-use and commercial zoning districts, with no primary-residence requirement but a 100-foot buffer from schools, parks, and religious institutions.
Violations & Fines
Denial or revocation grounds include written statements or documentation showing the property isn't the owner's primary residence, or neighbor affidavits disputing residency; operating without a permit draws a $50-per-day fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nashville require STRP owners to live in the rental?
Can non-owner-occupied Airbnbs operate in Nashville?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashville
Compare Nashville to another location·View the Tennessee short-term rentals overview
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