Sevierville, Tennessee Airbnb Rules & Investment Guide

City rules apply only to properties inside Sevierville city limits.

• A Sevierville postal address does not prove that a parcel is inside the city. Confirm the parcel on the official city-limits verification map.
• Properties outside the city may fall under Sevier County, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, or another jurisdiction with different permit and tax rules.
• Confirm the governing jurisdiction before relying on any zoning, permit, or tax requirement.

Short-term rental eligibility depends on the parcel's zoning district and any required review.

• The Sevierville Zoning Ordinance defines a short-term rental unit as a dwelling rented for fewer than 30 continuous days.
• The ordinance table allows short-term rentals by right in some districts, on review in others, and not at all in some districts.
• District-specific conditions can affect eligibility. Planning should confirm the current classification, use status, and any review requirement for the exact parcel.
• Private covenants, homeowner association rules, leases, and deed restrictions remain separate from City approval.

An operational permit is required before operating or advertising a Sevierville short-term rental.

• The permit is administered jointly by City Planning and the Fire Department.
• Apply through MGO Connect and follow the City's short-term rental application guide.
• The application requires property and contact information, supporting documents, fee payment, and City review.
• The permit is annual and requires yearly renewal.

The Fire Department must complete a life-safety inspection before the operational permit is issued.

• Review the City's short-term rental inspection information before scheduling the inspection.
• The ordinance classifies short-term rental accommodations as R-1 occupancies, while allowing qualifying construction under the applicable R-3 provisions.
• Automatic sprinklers can be required when specified thresholds apply, including an occupant load of 13 or more, more than three stories, or more than 5,000 gross square feet.
• The approved occupancy load must be posted where the fire code official accepts it.

Parking capacity is tied to bedrooms and the approved occupant load.

• The zoning ordinance requires one parking space per bedroom, calculated at two people per bedroom.
• Provide one additional parking space for each four additional guests allowed by the approved occupancy load.
• Recreational vehicles, buses, and trailers connected with the rental use may not be visible on the street or property.
• Do not market a guest capacity that exceeds the posted occupancy approved during permit review.

City lodging tax and Tennessee sales tax are separate obligations.

• Sevierville imposes a 3% lodging tax on monthly net taxable proceeds from cabins and other transient accommodations occupied for fewer than 30 days.
• The City's hospitality-tax page states that the sales-tax rate within Sevierville is currently 9.75% and directs operators to show hospitality tax as a separate line item.
• Complete the Certificate of Zoning Compliance before establishing the City hospitality-tax account, then file through the City tax portal.
• Review the City's marketplace notice before assuming Airbnb or Vrbo collection covers every filing duty or period.

A business operating inside Sevierville needs both city and county licensing.

• The City business-license instructions require an application and a $15 city fee within 20 days after business begins.
• A separate Sevier County business license is required through the County Clerk.
• The owner must provide a state sales-tax number or tax identification number.
• Business tax is based on the applicable classification and taxable receipts, with the annual filing administered through Tennessee.

Annual renewal, inspection, and visible permit posting are ongoing operating requirements.

• Renew the operational permit every year and complete the required annual inspection.
• Post the permit inside the main entrance and display the short-form permit at the front exterior unless the Fire Marshal directs otherwise.
• The zoning ordinance provides for revocation after three citations or violations during an annual permit term.
• A revoked permit generally cannot be reissued for one year, subject to the ordinance's limited new-owner provision.

Use the responsible City office for parcel, permit, inspection, and tax questions.

• Zoning and eligibility: City of Sevierville Planning and Development, 120 Gary Wade Boulevard, Sevierville, TN 37862, 865-453-5504.
• Operational permits and inspections: Fire Prevention, fireinspectors@seviervilletn.org, 865-868-1585.
• City lodging tax: Hospitality Tax, hospitalitytax@seviervilletn.org, 865-453-5504.
• County business license: Sevier County Clerk, 865-453-5502.
• STR Search can help evaluate a property, but the local jurisdiction remains the authority for legal eligibility and permit approval.
• Complaints and enforcement: Submit possible code violations through MyGovernmentOnline or contact Code Enforcement at 865-453-5504.
• Zoning appeals: Request an interpretation or administrative review through the Board of Zoning Appeals.

STR Search property support: Bring the address, budget, intended rental format, and ownership plan to a discovery call for help screening and evaluating candidate properties. Sevierville remains the authority for legal eligibility and permit approval. Book Sevierville property support

Official sources were reviewed on September 28, 2026.

• City short-term rentals and operational permits
• Short-term rental operational permit guide
• Short-term rental inspection requirements
• Sevierville Zoning Ordinance
• City hospitality tax instructions
• Marketplace lodging-tax guidance
• City business-license instructions
• Certificate of Zoning Compliance
• City code-violation reporting
• Board of Zoning Appeals

Rules and property facts can change. Confirm zoning, permit, inspection, and tax requirements with the responsible agencies before purchase or operation.