Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Cheatham County, TN

Airbnb listings are allowed in Cheatham County, TN, but with restrictions. Cheatham County zoning does not use the term 'short-term rental'; transient lodging is regulated via use categories: 'Bed & Breakfast Homestay' (owner-occupied transient lodging allowed only by conditional use permit) and 'Transient Habitation' (hotels/motels). Accessory dwelling unit rules were amended to remove the prior ban on rental of ADUs. The code requires applicable Temporary Use Permits, zoning/building permits, and a Certificate of Occupancy for permitted uses; no occupancy limits, minimum-night stay, host-presence, caps, or platform-registration requirements are stated in the county ordinance. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Cheatham County zoning does not use the term 'short-term rental'; transient lodging is regulated via use categories: 'Bed & Breakfast Homestay' (owner-occupied transient lodging allowed only by conditional use permit) and 'Transient Habitation' (hotels/motels). Accessory dwelling unit rules were amended to remove the prior ban on rental of ADUs. The code requires applicable Temporary Use Permits, zoning/building permits, and a Certificate of Occupancy for permitted uses; no occupancy limits, minimum-night stay, host-presence, caps, or platform-registration requirements are stated in the county ordinance.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Cheatham County. 1) Submit a conditional-use (Board of Zoning Appeals) application in writing to the Building Department (use the county application form) for Bed & Breakfast/other transient lodging uses requiring conditional approval. 2) Participate in public notice and hearing before the Board of Zoning Appeals; if approved, obtain required zoning/building permits and a Certificate of Occupancy. 3) Pay applicable fees as posted in the County fee schedule (set by County Commission); inspections or other building/health requirements apply as part of permit/occupancy processes where stated.

1) Submit a conditional-use (Board of Zoning Appeals) application in writing to the Building Department (use the county application form) for Bed & Breakfast/other transient lodging uses requiring conditional approval. 2) Participate in public notice and hearing before the Board of Zoning Appeals; if approved, obtain required zoning/building permits and a Certificate of Occupancy. 3) Pay applicable fees as posted in the County fee schedule (set by County Commission); inspections or other building/health requirements apply as part of permit/occupancy processes where stated.

Vrbo is permitted in Cheatham County, TN under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Cheatham County are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Cheatham County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.