City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Knoxville, TN
How Knoxville regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Rules here limit which homes may operate as short-term rentals, how many, where, or for how many nights a year.
- Whole-home / non-owner STRs barred in residentially zoned districts (owner principal-residence only)
- Non-owner-occupied (Type 2) STRs confined to non-residential districts that still allow residential use
- Per-entity cap of two Type 2 permits city-wide
- Permit required before advertising; annual renewal; non-transferable on sale
- State grandfather clause (TCA 13-7-603) protects only pre-existing STRs, not the general stock
Based on: Knoxville Code of Ordinances Ch. 16 (Licenses, Miscellaneous Business Regulations), Art. XV — Short Term Rental Unit
Summary of the rule
In residentially zoned districts, Short-Term Rental Units are allowed at the owner's principal residence. In non-residential districts, Short-Term Rental Units are available even if an owner does not live at the Unit or where an owner has given permission to a tenant. Short-Term Rental Units are not allowed in districts where residential uses are not allowed by the Zoning Code.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 14, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Knoxville · system last checked Nov 9, 2026
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City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.