Short-Term Rental permit in Knoxville, TN
Yes — you need a permit for short-term rental work in Knoxville.
Operating a short-term rental needs a permit under Knoxville's Short Term Rental Unit Ordinance, and the application requires an affidavit of life-safety compliance. The permit is not a vested right and can be limited, and the city will not enforce private agreements such as HOA rules on your behalf.
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | Operating a short-term rental needs a permit under Knoxvi… |
| Fee | Not in the ordinance — the department quotes it |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | Sec. 16-612 (application), with Sec. 16-618 (no vested rights) |
| Based on | City of Knoxville Code, Chapter 16, Article XV (Short Term Rental Unit Ordinance) |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the Knoxville 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
Knoxville'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | — | Yes | Operating a short-term rental needs a permit under Knoxvi… |
| Chattanooga | 96 mi | Yes | No one may operate a short-term or vacation rental withou… |
| Franklin | 162 mi | Yes | Residential dwelling used as a short-term vacation rental… |
| Clarksville | 194 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Memphis | 344 mi | Yes | You need a short term rental permit from the city, and yo… |
| Palm Coast | 471 mi | Yes | You must register a short-term or vacation rental with th… |
Other work in Knoxville
Questions people ask
I already built it without a permit. What now?
Knoxville 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.