Short-Term Rental Property

 

Looking for AirBnB or Short-Term Rental Properties?

 

A lot of changes have happened in Nashville in the last few months with Metro Council. Contact us today to learn more and start your investment property search.

Two Types of Short-Term Rentals

There are two types of short-term rentals as defined by Metro Nashville/Davidson County, owner occupied and non-owner occupied.

OO: Owner Occupied

NOO: Non-Owner Occupied

  • Owner-occupied residence or on a lot with an owner-occupied residence.
  • Includes the rental of an entire dwelling unit to a single party of individuals, or
  • If only part of the unit, includes at a minimum one sleeping room and a bathroom, and is limited to a single party of individuals.
  • Owner-occupied status must be confirmed by two documents showing that the owner in fact occupies this as their primary residence. Acceptable documents may include a Tennessee driver’s license, State of Tennessee ID card, Davidson County voter registration card, pay stub, work ID or badge, IRS W2 form, or bank statement.
  • Such documentation of primary residence address must match the deed as recorded with the Davidson County Clerk’s office.
  • To qualify for an owner-occupied permit, the owner of the property must permanently reside at the property and be a natural person or persons. LLCs, corporations, trusts, partnerships, joint ventures and other entities are ineligible for owner-occupied permits.
  • Only one permit shall be issued per lot in single-family and two-family zoning districts. The property ownership of two-family units cannot be divided. They shall be owned by the same person and one of the two units shall be the primary residence of the owner. Two-family units can include detached duplexes divided under a Horizontal Property Regime (HPR).
  • Are not owner-occupied or on a lot with an owner-occupied principal residence.
  • Rentals are limited to a single party of individuals.
  • Ownership information on the application must match the deed as recorded with the Davidson County Clerk’s office.
  • New not owner-occupied permits will only be issued as a use permitted with conditions (PC) in RM2 through RM20-A, RM40 through RM100-A, MUN and MUN-A, MUL and MUL-A, MUG and MUG-A, MUI and MUI-A, OG, OR20 through OR40-A, ORI and ORI-A, CN and CN-A, CL and CL-A, CS and CS-A, CA, CF, DTC North, DTC South, DTC-West, DTC Central, SCN, SCC and SCR zoning districts. UPDATE: Pursuant to BL2019-1633, new permits in RM zones will no longer be issued effective January 1, 2022.
  • Permits for Specific Plan (SP) zoned properties or properties within a Planned Unit Development (PUD) will be issued only if allowed by the SP or PUD. Please contact the Metro Planning Commission for questions regarding the conditions of the SP or PUD, planningstaff@nashville.gov or 615-862-7190. Please know that SP properties have been scrutinized by the council and it’s important to do your due diligence.
  • New not owner-occupied permits are not permitted in AR2A, R, or RS zoned properties. Existing permit holders in these zoned districts may be eligible to apply for renewals, but those permits are not transferable if the property is sold or transferred.

Steps to Applying for a Short-Term Rental Property

Step 1

Create a Floor Plan

Floorplans may be official or hand drawn but must include all rooms available for rent along with all windows, doors and smoke detectors clearly identified. Smoke detectors are required in sleeping areas, all rooms in the path of a sleeping area exit and each story of the home with a sleeping area including the basement. NOTE: STRPs can have a maximum of four bedrooms. Homes with more than four will not qualify.

 

Step 2

Proof of Liability Insurance

Homeowners must provide proof of insurance that includes fire, hazard and liability of no less than one million dollars per occurrence. Some listing vendors may provide insurance, such as AirBnb.

 

Step 3

Proof of Notification to Adjacent Property Owners

All property owners adjacent to the home must be notified prior to applying for permit and written proof of notification will be required. Written proof must include: a signature of the owner or a signed receipt of U.S. registered or certified mail addressed to the owner, a notice from USPS that certified mail to the owner was refused or not timely accepted. NOTE: if adjacent property is owned by Metro Government, there is no requirement for proof of notification.

 

Step 4

Proof of Residence

Owner occupied properties must provide two forms of proof of residence. Accepted forms include: address of the residence applying for permit and may include a TN driver’s license, other state of TN ID card, Davidson County voter registration card, pay stub, work ID or badge, IRS W2 form, or bank statement. NOTE: utility bills will not be accepted.

 
 

Step 5

Proof of Tax Payments

Must provide proof of all taxes due, including property taxes.

 

Step 6

Responsible Party

Name, phone number, address and email must be provided of the person that will be onsite in the event of an emergency or complaint. This person must be local, within a 25 mile radius of the STRP.

 
 

Step 7

Homeowner’s Association Statement

Statement that STRP will not violate any Homeowner’s Association agreements or bylaws, condominium agreement, covenants, codes and restrictions, or any other agreement governing or limiting the use of the proposed property.

 

Step 8

Notarized Affidavit

An affidavit confirming all information submitted during application is true and accurate must be provided. If the property owner wishes to use a property manager or rental company to apply then a separate third-party notarized affidavit will be required.

 

Step 9

Meet with Zoning Examiner

Once you have all documents and requirements collected, you may meet with a zoning examiner at the Development Services Center to begin the application process.

 

Step 10

Fire Marshall Inspection

Once a permit application has been submitted, a fire inspection must be scheduled, completed and passed.

 

Step 11

Permit Fee

Once steps 1 through 10 have been submitted and approved, the applicant must pay $313.00 permit fee prior to receiving.

 

Step 12

Post Permit on Listing

STRP owners/operators must post a photo of the permit online with all listings.

 

Step 13

Remit All Required Taxes

All sales and hotel taxes must be remitted to the appropriate agency.

 

Step 14

Renew Permit

Permits must be renewed every 365 days.

Short Term Rental Permits

Do Not’s/Things to Know:

  • Do not have an ownership change
  • Do not list the property on short term rental marketing websites without a permit — Short term rental permits do not transfer when sold, Owner needs to reapply for short term rental permits.
  • Must have a Use & Occupancy (U & C)/Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in new construction cases
  • 90 Day Expiration – you may renew up to 90 days of your expiration date of permit
  • Permit must be renewed every 365 days

Permit Rules:

Permit Application Process:

Helpful Links:

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