Every Memphis short-term rental must be registered with the city and receive a permit before accepting bookings. Registration requires proof of insurance, a parking plan, a 24/7 local contact, and payment of the annual permit fee. Unpermitted units face fines up to $500 per day.
Memphis Chapter 16 (Business Tax and Licensing) and the 2022 STR ordinance require registration of every short-term rental, whether entire-home or room-rental. The application includes owner information, a 24/7 local contact, parking plan, insurance certificate, floor plan showing bedrooms, and a signed acknowledgment of noise and occupancy rules. The annual permit fee is set by the city and renews each January. Permits must appear in every listing by permit number. Tennessee state law preempts outright bans on pre-existing STRs but allows all registration and operational requirements. Shelby County Trustee collects the county portion of hotel-occupancy tax; the city portion is remitted through the Memphis Treasury. Unpermitted units face Code Enforcement citations up to $500 per day and removal from Airbnb and Vrbo through platform takedown agreements. New applications in non-owner-occupied residential zones are subject to the density cap and may be denied if the block limit is reached.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Memphis code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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