Zoning Districts for Not Owner-Occupied Permits
Obtaining a Short Term Rental Property permit is an online process, follow the instructions below and submit your permit application online for review. Do not list a property or unit online until you have received a permit, or you will be ineligible to apply for a permit for one year.
Sensitive information cannot be sent through the online application and MUST be emailed to [email protected].
For owner-occupied (OO) permits this includes identification to prove residency, for Not Owner Occupied (NOO) permits, this includes linking the permit applicant to the entity.
For owners applying for an owner-occupied permit, four documents giving proof of owner-occupation shall be provided. Each document must be current and show the owner's name and address matching that of the property to be utilized for short-term rental. Two documents are required from Group A and two documents are required from Group B.
Group A acceptable documents include: (a) Tennessee Driver's License; (b) other valid State of Tennessee identification card; (c) Davidson County Voter Registration card; (d) Internal Revenue Service tax reporting form, such as W-2 or 1099; (e) Current Motor Vehicle Registration or Title
Group B items include: (a) current automobile insurance; (b) current life insurance; (c) current homeowner's insurance policy (Wallet Cards not accepted); (d) paycheck/check stub; (e) bank statement; (f) current employer verification of residential address or a letter from the employer on company letterhead with original signature, excluding applicants that are self-employed (if the employer does not have letterhead the signature of the employer must be notarized).
For Not Owner Occupied permits, ownership that is not in the name of a natural person must also provide documentation to link the individual to the entity. These documents typically include the operating agreement, articles of organization, etc.
Once the required documents are in order, email them to [email protected] in the subject line of the email, write the address of the property applying for the permit.
Applicants must provide proof of payment of all taxes due, including property taxes and, for permit renewals, all applicable room, occupancy, and sales taxes required by state law or the Metropolitan Code.
Applicants shall provide a floor plan (official or hand drawn) of each floor of the dwelling including all rooms and location of windows, doors, and smoke detectors (example floor plans). Smoke detectors (UL217 certified) are required in all sleeping areas, in every room in the path of the means of egress from the sleeping area to the exit, and in each story within the sleeping unit, including basements and garages. Reminder: there is a maximum of four sleeping rooms per Short Term Rental Property permit. Properties with more than four bedrooms cannot be permitted as a Short Term Rental Property.
For single- and two-family dwellings, short-term rental permit applications must include a certification from a state-licensed architect, engineer, or home inspector that the home complies with Metropolitan Code of Laws § 6.28.030.A.5.b and § 6.28.030.B.5.b. No permit will be issued without this certification. This certification requirement extends only to single and two-family homes. Multifamily structures will still require inspection by the Fire Marshal.
Verify an Architect of Engineer License (TN.gov)
Verify a Home Inspector License (TN.gov)
Single and Two-Family Dwelling Inspection Guidelines
Proof of insurance evidencing homeowner's fire, hazard, and liability insurance. Liability coverage shall have limits of not less than one million dollars per occurrence. In some cases, a listing company, such as Airbnb, may offer the appropriate insurance to meet these requirements, provide your profile page as proof of coverage.
Proof of written notification to short-term rent is required by the owner of each adjacent property. Adjacent means the property in front, behind, and to the sides (and if applicable, above and below) your property.
Letters are to be sent to the address of the Owner of the property not necessarily the physical address.
Notification Details and Instructions
Letters may be signed by the owner (not a tenant) of the property or can be mailed certified. You must completely fill out the green and white certified letter receipt with the recipients name and address including city, state, and ZIP Code.
You will need to create a PDF of the letter and receipt to include in your permit application.
All documents must be in PDF format to be uploaded during the online application process (Step 3).
Visit ePermits. This is the website where you will complete your Short Term Rental Property permit application. Follow the step-by-step instructions and be prepared to upload the documents from Step 2: Document Preparation.
Once you have completed Steps 1 through 3, Short Term Rental Department staff will coordinate and complete the permit application for you.
