RuleGridTennessee · Compare
Nashville vs. Memphis: short-term-rental rules
Both Nashville and Memphis carry the same headline short-term-rental status (Allowed with registration) — the differences are in the details below: licensing, taxes, minimum stays, and enforcement.
| Rule | Nashville | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| STR status | Allowed with registration | Allowed with registration |
| City license / registration | Short Term Rental Property (STRP) Permit; Permit required before listing; permit number on all advertisements; Owner-occupancy documentation (Owner-Occupied permit only); Liability / homeowner's insurance; Local responsible party (within 25 miles, 24/7 contact); Business, sales, and hotel occupancy tax remittance | Short Term Rental Permit; Liability insurance ($1,000,000); Display permit number in all advertising; Responsible party / 24-7 contact; Life-safety compliance (smoke/CO alarms) + compliance verification form; Collect/remit Memphis STR occupancy and sales taxes |
| Primary residence | Not required | Not required |
| Minimum stay | No set minimum | 1-night minimum |
| Lodging tax | ~16.8% total | See detail |
| Enforcement | Not specified | Not specified |
Neither is clearly easier at the headline level; the decision usually comes down to taxes and minimum-stay rules. Open each full record below for the cited, dated details.
Full Nashville rules Full Memphis rules
Frequently asked questions
Is short-term renting easier in Nashville or Memphis?
Both share the same headline status (Allowed with registration); compare the licensing, tax, and minimum-stay rows above.
Do both Nashville and Memphis require a license or registration?
Nashville: yes — Short Term Rental Property (STRP) Permit; Permit required before listing; permit number on all advertisements; Owner-occupancy documentation (Owner-Occupied permit only); Liability / homeowner's insurance; Local responsible party (within 25 miles, 24/7 contact); Business, sales, and hotel occupancy tax remittance. Memphis: yes — Short Term Rental Permit; Liability insurance ($1,000,000); Display permit number in all advertising; Responsible party / 24-7 contact; Life-safety compliance (smoke/CO alarms) + compliance verification form; Collect/remit Memphis STR occupancy and sales taxes.
Informational summary of publicly available sources; not legal advice. Verify against each jurisdiction's official sources.