Short-Term Rental permit in Memphis, TN
Yes — you need a permit for short-term rental work in Memphis.
You need a short term rental permit from the city, and you need one for every unit. If a single dwelling holds more than one short term rental unit, each unit gets its own permit. You also have to post the name and phone number of the owner or the owner's designee where guests can see it inside the unit.
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | You need a short term rental permit from the city, and yo… |
| Fee | Not in the ordinance — the department quotes it |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | 5-44-5, with operating rules in 5-44-6 |
| Based on | Memphis Code Chapter 5-44 (Short Term Rental Ordinance) |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the Memphis 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
Memphis'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | — | Yes | You need a short term rental permit from the city, and yo… |
| Clarksville | 178 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Franklin | 184 mi | Yes | Residential dwelling used as a short-term vacation rental… |
| Chattanooga | 267 mi | Yes | No one may operate a short-term or vacation rental withou… |
| Knoxville | 344 mi | Yes | Operating a short-term rental needs a permit under Knoxvi… |
| Allen | 408 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
Other work in Memphis
Questions people ask
I already built it without a permit. What now?
Memphis 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.