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Nashville STRP permit: owner-occupied vs. non-owner-occupied rules

Nashville requires a Metro Codes short-term rental property (STRP) permit before you list. Which permit you can get depends on whether you live there and how the property is zoned.

Last updated October 2026

The two permit types

Owner-occupied: the owner must permanently live at the property and be a natural person. LLCs, corporations, trusts and partnerships can't hold this permit. You provide four documents proving you live there, and only one permit is issued per lot in single-family and two-family districts.

Not owner-occupied: for properties where the owner doesn't live on site. New permits are only issued in a defined list of commercial, mixed-use, office and downtown districts, and are not available in AR2A, R, RS or RM zoned properties.

What this means for investors

An ordinary house on a residential street generally can't get a new non-owner-occupied permit. Existing permit holders in residential districts may be able to renew, but those permits don't transfer when the property is sold. New non-owner permits also face a buffer rule keeping them away from churches, schools, parks and daycares.

Taxes

Short-term rental operators in Nashville register for Tennessee sales tax and local occupancy taxes. Booking platforms collect some of these on your behalf, but you'll typically need to show tax compliance when you renew your permit.

Step-by-step

1. Confirm the zoning and which permit type you qualify for.
2. Register for state and local taxes.
3. Gather proof of residency (owner-occupied) or confirm eligibility in an allowed district (non-owner-occupied).
4. Apply to Metro Codes and pay the permit fee.
5. Renew every year with current insurance and tax documentation.

Frequently asked questions

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees are current as of October 2026 based on city and industry sources, and they change often. Confirm with the city before applying.