Do you need a licence or registration to run a short-term rental in Nashville?

Yes, a licence or registration is recorded as required to run a short-term rental in Nashville (per this tracker, as of Jun 25, 2026). See the details on this page for the process and any conditions. Verify against the official sources listed on this page before relying on it for an operational decision.

What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Nashville?

Short-term rentals in Nashville are recorded as subject to: Metro Nashville STR Occupancy Tax (rate: 7%; basis: % of gross rental receipts per stay; filed monthly by the 20th of the following month (Metro Code Title 5 Chapter 5.10, Form 510 effective July 1, 2023)); Metro Nashville STR Occupancy Flat Fee (rate: $2.50 per room per night; basis: per room per night rented during the month; reported on same monthly STR tax return as the 7% occupancy tax (Metro Code Title 5 Chapter 5.10, Form 510)); Tennessee State Sales Tax (rate: 9.25%; basis: % of listing price including cleaning fees and guest fees (7% state + 2.25% Davidson County local option); applies to stays ≤89 nights; collected and remitted by registered marketplace facilitators (Airbnb, VRBO) on behalf of hosts under Tennessee HB 1830) (per this tracker, as of Jun 25, 2026). Confirm the current rates with the official source before pricing or filing.

United States · Tennessee

Short-term rental rules in Nashville

Last updated Jun 25, 2026 Verified Jun 25, 2026

Legal regime

Metro Nashville Short-Term Rental Property (STRP) permit system under Metropolitan Code of Laws Title 6 Chapter 6.28, as comprehensively amended by BL2020-187 (effective July 10, 2020). Tennessee Short-Term Rental Unit Act (TCA §§13-7-601 through 13-7-606, PC 972, effective May 17, 2018) provides the state-level framework. STR defined as a residential unit of ≤4 sleeping rooms rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days. Two permit types: Owner-Occupied (OO) — property must be the natural-person host's primary residence, available in all residential and commercial zones; Not Owner-Occupied (NOO) — new permits restricted to commercial and mixed-use zones only (MUN, MUL, MUG, MUI, OG, OR20/OR40-A, ORI, CN, CL, CS, CA, CF, DTC, SCN, SCC, SCR); new NOO permits are not available in residential zones (AR2A, R, RS, RM), though existing NOO permits in residential zones may renew.

Key parameters

License required: Yes
Max nights/year: No cap specified

License process

Permit required before any listing (Metro Code §6.28.030). Fee: $313.00/year for both OO and NOO permit types; 2.3% surcharge applies for credit card payment. Application via Metro Codes ePermits portal (epermits.nashville.gov). Required documents: Notarized True and Accurate Affidavit; floor plans of each floor with smoke detector locations; inspection certification from licensed architect, engineer, or home inspector; homeowner's insurance with minimum $1,000,000 liability coverage; proof of adjacent property owner notifications; current property tax payment verification. For OO permits: four proof-of-residency documents submitted separately by email to [email protected]. Permits are non-transferable on property sale or address change. Annual renewal requires Short Term Rental Renewal Affidavit + proof of insurance + proof of paid occupancy taxes; automated renewal reminders sent at 60 and 45 days before expiry.

Applicable taxes

Metro Nashville STR Occupancy Tax

Rate: 7% · Basis: % of gross rental receipts per stay; filed monthly by the 20th of the following month (Metro Code Title 5 Chapter 5.10, Form 510 effective July 1, 2023)
Metro Nashville STR Occupancy Flat Fee

Rate: $2.50 per room per night · Basis: per room per night rented during the month; reported on same monthly STR tax return as the 7% occupancy tax (Metro Code Title 5 Chapter 5.10, Form 510)
Tennessee State Sales Tax

Rate: 9.25% · Basis: % of listing price including cleaning fees and guest fees (7% state + 2.25% Davidson County local option); applies to stays ≤89 nights; collected and remitted by registered marketplace facilitators (Airbnb, VRBO) on behalf of hosts under Tennessee HB 1830

Recent changes

2020-07-10

BL2020-187 enacted: current governing STR ordinance. Established two-tier permit system (Owner-Occupied and Not Owner-Occupied), restricted new NOO permits to commercial/mixed-use zones only, set permit fee at $313/year, and defined occupancy and operational rules.

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2023-07-01

New STR occupancy tax return form (Form 510) issued by Metro Finance, confirming current rates: 7% of gross rental receipts plus $2.50 per room per night.

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Official sources

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a licence or registration to run a short-term rental in Nashville?: Yes, a licence or registration is recorded as required to run a short-term rental in Nashville (per this tracker, as of Jun 25, 2026). See the details on this page for the process and any conditions. Verify against the official sources listed on this page before relying on it for an operational decision.
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Nashville?: Short-term rentals in Nashville are recorded as subject to: Metro Nashville STR Occupancy Tax (rate: 7%; basis: % of gross rental receipts per stay; filed monthly by the 20th of the following month (Metro Code Title 5 Chapter 5.10, Form 510 effective July 1, 2023)); Metro Nashville STR Occupancy Flat Fee (rate: $2.50 per room per night; basis: per room per night rented during the month; reported on same monthly STR tax return as the 7% occupancy tax (Metro Code Title 5 Chapter 5.10, Form 510)); Tennessee State Sales Tax (rate: 9.25%; basis: % of listing price including cleaning fees and guest fees (7% state + 2.25% Davidson County local option); applies to stays ≤89 nights; collected and remitted by registered marketplace facilitators (Airbnb, VRBO) on behalf of hosts under Tennessee HB 1830) (per this tracker, as of Jun 25, 2026). Confirm the current rates with the official source before pricing or filing.