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Short-term rental rules

Running an Airbnb in Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville (Metro Davidson County) issues owner-occupied and not-owner-occupied STR permits, with new not-owner-occupied permits restricted to certain commercial, mixed-use and downtown zones. Hosts remit a local occupancy tax plus a flat per-night fee on top of state and local sales tax.

8 of 13 fields confirmedLast checked 18 Jul 2026 Lodging tax in Nashville

The rules

Every field, with its source

Anything not confirmed on an official source shows as Verify with jurisdiction rather than a guess.

Licence or permit required
YesReported

Owner-occupied and not-owner-occupied STR permits are issued by Metro Codes.

Source
Primary residence required
NoReported

Both owner-occupied and not-owner-occupied permit classes exist.

Source
Annual night cap
Verify with jurisdictionUnverified
Zoning restricted
Yes, limited to certain zonesReported

New not-owner-occupied permits are only issued in specific commercial, mixed-use and downtown zoning districts.

Source
Permit number shown on listing
Verify with jurisdictionUnverified
Register or apply
https://www.nashville.gov/departments/codes/short-term-rentalsReported
Source
Enforcement notes
New not-owner-occupied permits are effectively banned in residential zones, limiting supply to designated commercial, mixed-use and downtown districts.Reported
Source

Check eligibility

Can you run each type of STR in Nashville?

A deterministic read of the cited rules for each common use type. When a governing rule is unknown, the verdict says so rather than guessing.

My primary residence (home-share)

Allowed with a permit

Short-term rentals are allowed in Nashville once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.

  • A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.
  • Register or apply here: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/codes/short-term-rentals
  • Short-term rentals are restricted to certain zones. Confirm your property's zoning allows it.
  • New not-owner-occupied permits are effectively banned in residential zones, limiting supply to designated commercial, mixed-use and downtown districts.

Confidence: high. You live there and rent it while away or rent a room.

A whole second home / investment property

Allowed with a permit

Short-term rentals are allowed in Nashville once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.

  • A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.
  • Register or apply here: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/codes/short-term-rentals
  • Short-term rentals are restricted to certain zones. Confirm your property's zoning allows it.
  • New not-owner-occupied permits are effectively banned in residential zones, limiting supply to designated commercial, mixed-use and downtown districts.

Confidence: high. A dedicated STR that is not your primary residence.

An ADU, basement or garage unit

Allowed with a permit

Short-term rentals are allowed in Nashville once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.

  • A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.
  • Register or apply here: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/codes/short-term-rentals
  • Short-term rentals are restricted to certain zones. Confirm your property's zoning allows it.
  • New not-owner-occupied permits are effectively banned in residential zones, limiting supply to designated commercial, mixed-use and downtown districts.

Confidence: high. An accessory dwelling on your property.

Unhosted, whole-unit, no owner on site

Allowed with a permit

Short-term rentals are allowed in Nashville once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.

  • A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.
  • Register or apply here: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/codes/short-term-rentals
  • Short-term rentals are restricted to certain zones. Confirm your property's zoning allows it.
  • New not-owner-occupied permits are effectively banned in residential zones, limiting supply to designated commercial, mixed-use and downtown districts.

Confidence: high. The strictest category in most cities.

LodgeDeck reports publicly available short-term rental rules and lodging tax rates and cites the source of each field. It is not legal or tax advice and it does not replace your own review. Ordinances and tax rates change often and automated collection can lag, so every field shows the source it came from and a confidence flag, and unconfirmed values are marked Unverified. Confirm with the jurisdiction before you rely on a rule or rate.

FAQ

Common questions about Nashville

Do I need a licence to run an Airbnb in Nashville?

Yes. Nashville requires a short-term rental licence or registration before you list. Owner-occupied and not-owner-occupied STR permits are issued by Metro Codes.

Does a short-term rental have to be my primary residence in Nashville?

No. Nashville does not require the property to be your primary residence for all rental types. Both owner-occupied and not-owner-occupied permit classes exist.

Is there a night cap on short-term rentals in Nashville?

No annual night cap is confirmed for Nashville in our data. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Do I have to show my permit number on the listing in Nashville?

Not confirmed on an official source for Nashville. Verify with the jurisdiction before you rely on it.

What lodging tax will my guest pay in Nashville?

The combined lodging tax for Nashville is not confirmed as a single figure in our data. See the lodging-tax page for the components we do have.

See the lodging tax a guest pays in Nashville

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