Short-Term Rental Regulations
in DeKalb County, TN

Airbnbs are effectively legal in DeKalb County, TN because there are no specific short-term rental regulations on the books. No official local regulations or specific constraints for short-term rentals were found in the Smithville Municipal Zoning Ordinance or DeKalb County building codes. General zoning allows for the renting of rooms by a resident family provided it does not exceed 50% of the floor area, but no STR-specific caps, occupancy limits, or residency requirements are codified. Operators should still verify HOA rules, state-level requirements, and any tax-collection obligations. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

No official local regulations or specific constraints for short-term rentals were found in the Smithville Municipal Zoning Ordinance or DeKalb County building codes. General zoning allows for the renting of rooms by a resident family provided it does not exceed 50% of the floor area, but no STR-specific caps, occupancy limits, or residency requirements are codified.

No permit is currently required to operate a short-term rental in DeKalb County.

Vrbo is effectively legal in DeKalb County, TN for the same reason Airbnb is: there are no short-term-rental-specific regulations on the books. Operators should still check HOA, state, and tax obligations before listing. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.