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Tennessee · Hamilton County

Hamilton County

county Restricted Verified · last verified 2026-07-15

Short-term vacation rentals (STVRs) in the UNINCORPORATED areas of Hamilton County, TN — defined as an owner renting all or a portion of a single-family dwelling for any period of less than thirty (30) days of continuous duration — are permitted ONLY with a county-issued STVR certificate, and are PROHIBITED on smaller lots by minimum-acreage zoning rules. The regime was established by Board of Commissioners Resolution No. 423-27 (adopted April 19, 2023), amended by Resolution No. 423-39 (adopted April 26, 2023), and further amended by Resolution No. 724-11 (adopted July 10, 2024). Owners must apply to Hamilton County Development Services (Res. 724-11 substituted "Development Services Department" for every reference to the Building Inspection Department), pay a $750 application fee (which includes a $250 inspection fee), pass Building Inspection Department, Fire Marshall, and — if on septic — Groundwater Department inspections, provide a deed and proof of liability insurance, and obtain a county business license. Certificates run a one (1) year term, are non-transferrable, and require annual renewal beginning January 2024 after re-inspection for a $750 renewal fee (also including a $250 inspection fee); each failed re-inspection costs an additional $250. Per Res. 423-39, occupancy is capped at two (2) times the number of approved bedrooms plus two (2) additional persons (the State Fire Marshal caps STVR occupancy at 12), and one/two-family dwellings may not exceed 5,000 gross square feet if unsprinkled. Res. 724-11 prohibits STVRs on residentially-zoned lots of less than one (1) acre and on agriculturally-zoned lots of less than two and a half (2 1/2) acres, with a minimum 50-foot side-by-side buffer. Only off-street/on-site parking is allowed (1 space per 2 persons); no loud music/noise 10:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.; renter pets must be leashed outside; the permit must be posted inside AND on the front exterior (exterior copy at least 8"x11", visible from the street) identifying a contact who can reach the dwelling within 2 hours. This record covers UNINCORPORATED Hamilton County only — the incorporated cities (Chattanooga, East Ridge, Collegedale, Signal Mountain, Lakesite, Red Bank, Soddy-Daisy, Ridgeside, Walden, Lookout Mountain) each set their own STVR rules. A county Hotel/Motel Occupancy Privilege Tax of 4% (Private Acts of 1980, Ch. 905, as amended) applies to transient stays of less than 90 days (which captures STVR stays), remitted to the Hamilton County Trustee no later than the 20th of each month following collection.

Not legal advice. Last verified 2026-07-15 · sources linked below.

Requirements checklist

  • county Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Certificate Required
    Fee: $750 / year · Renewal: One (1) year, non-transferrable certificate; annual renewal beginning January 2024 after re-inspection · Applies to: Owner(s) of a single-family dwelling in the unincorporated areas of Hamilton County renting all or a portion of the dwelling for any period less than 30 continuous days · official page ↗
  • county Building Inspection, Fire Marshall, and (if septic) Groundwater inspection Required
    Fee: $250 / per application/renewal cycle · Renewal: Re-inspection required at each annual renewal · Applies to: All STVR applicants (Groundwater Department inspection only if the residence has a septic system) · official page ↗
  • county Annual STVR certificate renewal Required
    Fee: $750 / year · Renewal: Yearly beginning January 2024, after re-inspection by the Building Inspection Department [Development Services] and Fire Marshall · Applies to: All certified STVR operators · official page ↗
  • county Proof of liability insurance Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: — · Applies to: All STVR applicants · official page ↗
  • county Hamilton County business license Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: — · Applies to: New STVR permit holders · official page ↗
  • county Posted permit (interior + exterior sign) with 2-hour-response contact Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: — · Applies to: All certified STVRs · official page ↗
  • county Off-street on-site parking (1 space per 2 persons) Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: — · Applies to: All certified STVRs · official page ↗
  • county Quiet hours (no loud music/noise 10:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.) Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: — · Applies to: All certified STVRs · official page ↗
  • county Renter pets must be leashed outside Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: — · Applies to: All certified STVRs · official page ↗
  • county Fire/life-safety build standards (interconnected UL-217 smoke alarms, 2A:10BC extinguisher per floor, egress/rescue windows, address numbers, garage fire separation) Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: Re-verified at annual renewal inspection · Applies to: All STVR dwellings, verified at Building Inspection · official page ↗
  • county Written notice to Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: — · Applies to: County (administrative step upon certificate issuance) · official page ↗

Taxes

TaxRateAdministered byAirbnb remitsVrbo remits
Hamilton County Hotel/Motel Occupancy Privilege Tax — — — —

Operating rules

Primary residence
—
Min stay (nights)
—
Max nights / year
—
Max occupancy
—
Zoning-restricted
—
Cap on licenses
—

Grandfathering: The 31 STVRs already certified when Res. 423-27 passed were exempt from the initial $750 application fee but pay the $250 inspection fee beginning 2023 and annually thereafter

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Frequently asked questions

Is Airbnb legal in Hamilton County?
Short-term vacation rentals (STVRs) in the UNINCORPORATED areas of Hamilton County, TN — defined as an owner renting all or a portion of a single-family dwelling for any period of less than thirty (30) days of continuous duration — are permitted ONLY with a county-issued STVR certificate, and are PROHIBITED on smaller lots by minimum-acreage zoning rules. The regime was established by Board of Commissioners Resolution No. 423-27 (adopted April 19, 2023), amended by Resolution No. 423-39 (adopted April 26, 2023), and further amended by Resolution No. 724-11 (adopted July 10, 2024). Owners must apply to Hamilton County Development Services (Res. 724-11 substituted "Development Services Department" for every reference to the Building Inspection Department), pay a $750 application fee (which includes a $250 inspection fee), pass Building Inspection Department, Fire Marshall, and — if on septic — Groundwater Department inspections, provide a deed and proof of liability insurance, and obtain a county business license. Certificates run a one (1) year term, are non-transferrable, and require annual renewal beginning January 2024 after re-inspection for a $750 renewal fee (also including a $250 inspection fee); each failed re-inspection costs an additional $250. Per Res. 423-39, occupancy is capped at two (2) times the number of approved bedrooms plus two (2) additional persons (the State Fire Marshal caps STVR occupancy at 12), and one/two-family dwellings may not exceed 5,000 gross square feet if unsprinkled. Res. 724-11 prohibits STVRs on residentially-zoned lots of less than one (1) acre and on agriculturally-zoned lots of less than two and a half (2 1/2) acres, with a minimum 50-foot side-by-side buffer. Only off-street/on-site parking is allowed (1 space per 2 persons); no loud music/noise 10:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.; renter pets must be leashed outside; the permit must be posted inside AND on the front exterior (exterior copy at least 8"x11", visible from the street) identifying a contact who can reach the dwelling within 2 hours. This record covers UNINCORPORATED Hamilton County only — the incorporated cities (Chattanooga, East Ridge, Collegedale, Signal Mountain, Lakesite, Red Bank, Soddy-Daisy, Ridgeside, Walden, Lookout Mountain) each set their own STVR rules. A county Hotel/Motel Occupancy Privilege Tax of 4% (Private Acts of 1980, Ch. 905, as amended) applies to transient stays of less than 90 days (which captures STVR stays), remitted to the Hamilton County Trustee no later than the 20th of each month following collection.
Do I need a license or registration for a short-term rental in Hamilton County?
Yes — Hamilton County requires: Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Certificate; Building Inspection, Fire Marshall, and (if septic) Groundwater inspection; Annual STVR certificate renewal. See the requirements checklist for fees, renewal, and official links.
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Hamilton County?
Hamilton County Hotel/Motel Occupancy Privilege Tax. Use the lodging-tax estimator on this page for a specific stay.

Official sources

Related coverage

In Tennessee

Cities in this county Chattanooga

Informational summary of publicly available sources; not legal advice. Verify against the linked official sources.