Nashville vs San Diego: Short-Term Rental Rules Compared (2026)
Nashville is currently "allowed with permit" while San Diego is "allowed with permit". On cost, Nashville is the cheaper market to license ($313 vs $1,170). Full verified details for both markets below — always confirm current requirements with each jurisdiction.
Side by side
| Rule | Nashville, TN | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Allowed with permit | Allowed with permit |
| Permit required | Yes | Yes |
| Permit name | Short Term Rental Property (STRP) Permit | Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) License (Tiers 1-4) |
| Permit fee | $313 | $1,170 |
| Renewal | Annual | Biennial |
| Primary residence only | No | No |
| Owner occupancy required | No | No |
| Night cap / year | None found | None found |
| Minimum stay | 1 night(s) | 2 night(s) |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~16.75% | ~13.75% |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 | July 10, 2026 |
Compare guest tax loads
Switch between the two markets to see itemized occupancy taxes on the same stay.
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Tennessee state sales tax (7%)· collection varies | $31.50 |
| Davidson County local option sales tax (2.75%)· collection varies | $12.38 |
| Metro Nashville-Davidson County Hotel Occupancy Privilege Tax (7%)· collection varies | $31.50 |
| Total tax (16.75%) | $75.38 |
| Guest pays | $525.38 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Nashville, TN
Short-term rentals are legal in Nashville (Metro Nashville-Davidson County) only with a Short Term Rental Property (STRP) permit from the Metro Codes Department, which costs $313 and must be renewed annually. The biggest restriction is zoning: new not-owner-occupied (investor) permits are banned in residential districts (AR2A, R, RS, RM) and are only issued in commercial, mixed-use, and downtown districts, while owner-occupied permits remain available in most residential zones (limited to natural persons, one permit per lot in single- and two-family districts, max four sleeping rooms). Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Full Nashvillerules, playbook & sources →San Diego, CA
Short-term rentals (under one month) are legal in San Diego but every host needs a Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) license, issued in four tiers; a whole-home Tier 3 license costs $1,170 total ($41 application + $1,129 license, valid two years), while part-time and home-share tiers cost $226-$317. The biggest restriction is that each host may hold only one license and operate only one dwelling unit citywide, and whole-home licenses are capped (1% of the city's housing stock for Tier 3; Mission Beach Tier 4 is fully allocated with a frozen waitlist). Guests also pay 11.75%-13.75% transient occupancy tax depending on zone. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Full San Diegorules, playbook & sources →Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change frequently in both markets; verify current requirements with each jurisdiction before operating.