Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Polk County, TN

Airbnb listings are allowed in Polk County, TN, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals are regulated at the municipal level (e.g., Ducktown and Copperhill). Ducktown restricts 'Bed and Breakfast' uses to specific residential zones (R-1/R-2/R-3) subject to Planning Commission review and site-plan submissions. Copperhill requires applications and potential inspections. Tennessee state law protects legacy providers and requires local permitting to be reasonable. 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.

Short-term rentals are regulated at the municipal level (e.g., Ducktown and Copperhill). Ducktown restricts 'Bed and Breakfast' uses to specific residential zones (R-1/R-2/R-3) subject to Planning Commission review and site-plan submissions. Copperhill requires applications and potential inspections. Tennessee state law protects legacy providers and requires local permitting to be reasonable.

Vrbo is permitted in Polk County, TN under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. Last verified 2026-05-14.

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