How to get a short-term rental permit in Chattanooga, TN (2026)
Chattanooga requires Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate — the fee is $250, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate |
| Permit fee | $250 |
| Renewal | Annual |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. Two-track zoning system under Chapter 38 (Zoning), Article XVII. Homestay (owner-occupied, primary residence >=183 days/year) STVRs may locate in any residential zone within the Short-Term Vacation Rental Overlay District (map held by the City Council Clerk; expanded in Council District 1 effective June 11, 2024) and in any mixed-use, commercial, or Form-Based Code zone that allows single-unit detached or accessory dwellings permitting two-unit or multi-unit living. Absentee (non-owner-occupied) STVRs are allowed citywide only in mixed-use and commercial zones that allow a hotel; if zoning conditions on a parcel exclude hotel/motel use, absentee STVRs are barred there too. Absentee STVRs are also allowed on parcels of 20+ acres in common ownership that allow residential uses. STVRs are capped at 25% of total units in a multi-unit dwelling or development, limited to five bedrooms per unit, prohibited in Affordable Housing PILOT Program properties, and a lot may use its primary dwelling or an accessory dwelling unit for STVR but not both.
- 2
Apply for the Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate
Submit the Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate application to Chattanooga and pay the $250 fee. Homestay (owner-occupied) STVRs: $250.00 initial application fee and $250.00 annual renewal fee. Absentee (non-owner-occupied) STVRs: $500.00 initial application fee and $500.00 annual renewal fee. Fees are non-refundable, are in addition to any applicable transaction-related fees, and must be paid in full before the application is reviewed. The $250 homestay fee is used as the standard figure here.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Chattanooga. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
- 4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.
STR rules change without warning.
Get an email the moment Chattanooga changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Chattanooga for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
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Verified July 21, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Chattanooga before applying.