Short-term Vacation Rental

SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTAL: UPDATED RULES & REGULATIONS

On May 16, 2023, ordinance no. 13981 passed on its second reading and was signed into law by Mayor Tim Kelly. The ordinance updates City regulations on short-term vacation rentals.

 SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTAL REGULATION

Designations
1) Homestay (formerly owner occupied)

• An STVR property which is the primary residence of the applicant.
• "Primary residence": Property in question is the residence of the applicant at least 183 days a year.

2) Absentee (formerly non-owner occupied)

• An STVR property which is not the primary residence of the applicant.

Pathways
1) Homestay 

• Allowed in zones where residential uses are allowed within the existing Overlay.
• Allowed within zones C-2, C-3, C-4, UGC, CC, IX, RF, RV, CX-Commercial and SH.

2) Absentee

• ONLY allowed within zones C-2, C-3, C-4, UGC, CC, IX, RF, RV, CX-Commercial and SH.
• Allowed within any parcel of at least twenty (20) acres or more with common ownership that allows for residential uses.

 To check your zoning and proximity to the Short-Term Vacation Overlay, please click here.

APPLICATION LINK

• Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Application Link (Viewpoint Cloud)

FORMS

• Code Compliance International Building Code Reference
• STVR Renewal Affidavit

COSTS & FEES

HOMESTAY:

• Application Fee: $250
• Renewal Fee: $250
• Additional fees may apply

ABSENTEE:

• Application Fee: $500
• Renewal Fee: $500
• Additional fees may apply

SCHEDULE A MEETING / OFFICE HOURS

If you'd like to meet with a member of staff in-person about Short-Term Vacation Rental rules, regulations, and procedures, you can schedule a meeting. Scheduling a meeting ahead of time is the best way to ensure that you get the time you deserve to talk with us. 

To schedule a meeting:

- Email Levi Witt at lswitt@chattanooga.gov

APPEALS PROCESS

If a homestay or absentee STVR application is denied by the Land Development Office, the applicant has the right to appeal the denial to the Board of Zoning Appeals. The applicant also has the right to appeal a denial from the Board of Zoning Appeals to Chancery Court. The appeal must be made within sixty (60) days of the date of the denial or revocation of any permit.

The applicant MUST be present at the appeal hearing before the Board of Zoning Appeals. An absence of the applicant before the Board will result in an automatic denial of the certificate by the Board. The applicant must wait twelve (12) months before reapplying for a certificate if the certificate is denied after the appeal hearing.

REZONING

If a property owner or applicant requests to be rezoned to R-2, R-3MD, R-3, R-4 or any commercial zone that permits residential uses, OR any Form-Based Code zone that permits two-unit or multi-unit living, and if such request is granted, the owner or applicant may not apply for an absentee STVR certificate within eighteen (18) months of the effective date of the rezoning.

COMPLAINTS - OPPOSITION - QUESTIONS

The City of Chattanooga welcomes input from the community. For any STVR related inquiries, email us at stvr@chattanooga.gov.

PLEASE NOTE: The Land Development Office does not send notification letters of applications of short-term vacation rentals and the applicant is no longer required to post a notification sign.

As a last note ..... Don’t forget to remit those occupancy taxes!