Short-Term Rental permit in Chattanooga, TN
Yes — you need a permit for short-term rental work in Chattanooga.
No one may operate a short-term or vacation rental without first getting a short-term vacation rental certificate from the City of Chattanooga. The certificate must be renewed every year, and the owner must name a local rental agent on the application.
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | No one may operate a short-term or vacation rental withou… |
| Fee | A short-term vacation rental certificate must be renewed each year for an annual fee; the amount is not given in the code. |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | Sec. 38-87 (certificate required) |
| Based on | City Zoning Code Chapter 38, Article XVII |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the Chattanooga building department.
- Pay the permit fee when the permit is issued. Work done before that isn't covered.
- Book each inspection listed on the permit as the job reaches that stage.
You pull this permit yourself, as the property owner.
If you skip it
Chattanooga's code doesn't set a specific fine for this work. In practice the department can issue a stop-work order, and unpermitted work tends to surface during a sale, when the buyer's inspector or the title company asks for it.
Nearby cities, same job
Rules stop at the city line. If your lot is near a boundary, or you work across several towns, this is where they differ.
| City | Distance | Permit? | Where the line falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | — | Yes | No one may operate a short-term or vacation rental withou… |
| Knoxville | 96 mi | Yes | Operating a short-term rental needs a permit under Knoxvi… |
| Franklin | 108 mi | Yes | Residential dwelling used as a short-term vacation rental… |
| Clarksville | 157 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Memphis | 267 mi | Yes | You need a short term rental permit from the city, and yo… |
| Palm Coast | 448 mi | Yes | You must register a short-term or vacation rental with th… |
Other work in Chattanooga
Questions people ask
How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Chattanooga?
A short-term vacation rental certificate must be renewed each year for an annual fee; the amount is not given in the code.. Valuation-based fees mean the number depends on what the job is worth, so the department quotes it when you apply.
I already built it without a permit. What now?
Chattanooga can issue a stop-work order and require you to apply after the fact, sometimes with an extra fee. Work that was covered up may have to be opened for inspection. Full walkthrough here.
Does unpermitted work cause problems when selling the house?
Often, yes. A buyer's inspector or the title company may flag it, and lenders can balk at financing a home with open or missing permits. What to do about it.