🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Nashville, TN
Nashville’s Short-Term Rentals Under the Microscope
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Nashville’s Short-Term Rentals Under the Microscope
It’s summer in Nashville, and the city’s gearing up for its usual tourism boom—with a twist. While the music, fireworks, and festivals draw visitors by the thousands, many might unknowingly be bunking in short-term rentals that aren't exactly playing by the rules.
Here’s the situation: Nashville currently has around 7,000 active, legal short-term rental (STR) permits. But according to AirDNA, a vacation rental analytics platform, there are over 14,000 STRs being advertised across the city. That means thousands of properties may be operating illegally—either without the required permits or in violation of local laws.
In Nashville and Davidson County, a permit from the Metro Codes Department is required to rent, advertise, or operate a short-term rental property. Still, many operators are skirting the rules, and officials say they’ve had enough.
“There’s a lot of action, there’s a lot of density in my district, and more on the way,” said District 17 Metro Councilmember Terry Vo. His district has 1,077 STR permits—second only to District 19—and also leads the city in complaints.
Vo explained that the city’s Codes Department, along with HUB Nashville, has received more than 150 STR complaints just this year, with most of them coming from his own district.
“Just like with parking—if the sign says ‘no parking’ and you park anyway, you’re risking a ticket. Same deal with short-term rentals. If you don’t have a permit, you’re taking a gamble,” he said.
STR Chief Bonell McBroom III, from the Metro Department of Codes and Building Safety, says his team is cracking down. Many of the problem properties are being advertised but aren’t currently in operation, which adds another layer of complexity. Still, the city is pressing forward.
“We want people to operate—but legally,” McBroom said. “If you’re caught running an illegal STR, you risk losing your ability to use the home the way you want, and that means going through an appeals process.”
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Metro Nashville established a review board last year to handle violations and repeat offenders. The goal? Make it easier for residents to obtain owner-occupied permits while targeting scofflaw hosts who sidestep the rules.
On the upside, McBroom said that 98% of STR operators with permits are in compliance. The bad apples? They’re now firmly in the city’s crosshairs.
So if you’re thinking of jumping into the STR game in Nashville, here’s your sign: get your permit first—or risk more than just a bad review.
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