Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Knox County, TN

Airbnb listings are allowed in Knox County, TN, but with restrictions. In Knoxville, Type 1 permits (residential zones) require owner-occupancy/primary residence, while Type 2 (non-residential) does not. Occupancy is limited to 2 persons per bedroom plus 2, with a maximum of 12. In Farragut, STRs are prohibited in all districts except for those legally operating before May 2018. 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.

In Knoxville, Type 1 permits (residential zones) require owner-occupancy/primary residence, while Type 2 (non-residential) does not. Occupancy is limited to 2 persons per bedroom plus 2, with a maximum of 12. In Farragut, STRs are prohibited in all districts except for those legally operating before May 2018.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Knox County. 1) Submit a Short-Term Rental Unit Application to the Knoxville Business Tax Office along with proof of primary residence (for Type 1) and City/County business licenses. 2) Pay the applicable fees ($15 for business license). 3) The application is reviewed and issued within 14 business days if requirements are met.

1) Submit a Short-Term Rental Unit Application to the Knoxville Business Tax Office along with proof of primary residence (for Type 1) and City/County business licenses. 2) Pay the applicable fees ($15 for business license). 3) The application is reviewed and issued within 14 business days if requirements are met.

Vrbo is permitted in Knox 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 Knox 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 Knox County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.