Can I Airbnb in Chattanooga, TN? (2026)
Chattanooga allows short-term rentals only with an annual Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Certificate from the Development Review and Permitting Division. Owner-occupied 'homestay' rentals (primary residence at least 183 days/year) are allowed in residential zones only inside the STVR Overlay District plus in mixed-use/commercial zones, while non-owner-occupied 'absentee' rentals are restricted citywide to mixed-use and commercial zones that allow a hotel. Guests pay roughly 17.25% in combined taxes (7% state sales, 2.25% local sales, 4% county occupancy, 4% city occupancy), and violations can draw daily fines with certificate revocation after three documented violations.
What’s required: a Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate ($250) is required; occupancy taxes apply; renew annual.
Check a specific address
Rules can vary by zone and parcel. Resolve any Tennessee street address to its jurisdiction and see the verified rules that apply.
Related
Verified July 21, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Also check HOA/condo rules and your lease, which can prohibit short-term rentals even where the city allows them.