This page covers the City of Sevierville, Tennessee, only. A Sevierville postal address does not prove you are inside the city. Check your full address and your intended use against the quoted rules below. If your address and use qualify, BnBGenius can help: it answers guest messages on Airbnb and Vrbo 24/7 and creates cleaning and repair tasks after checkout. You handle zoning, permits and taxes; local people you choose handle physical visits, cleaning and repairs.
What Is Banned or Limited
Sevierville does not have a blanket ban. The restriction is conditional: your property must sit in a zoning district that allows the use, and you must hold a permit. It starts with how the city defines a short-term rental.
“A residential dwelling unit meaning a structure or part of a structure designed and used as a home of a person, family, or house – hold, including a single-family dwelling, such as a house or cabin or a portion of a single-family dwelling, an individual residential dwelling unit in a duplex, or an individual residential dwelling unit in a multi-family building, such as an apart – ment building, a condominium, cooperative, or time-share building, that is rented, wholly or partially, for a fee for a period of less than thir – ty (30) continuous days. The term ‘short-term rental unit’ does not include a hotel or motel, as defined in 68-14-302, TCA, a bed and breakfast establishment, as defined in 68-14-502, TCA, or a bed and breakfast homestay, as defined in 68- 14-502, TCA”
What this means for you: The city counts a paid rental of a residential unit as “short-term” when it runs fewer than 30 continuous days. That is the definition, not a permission. Hotels, motels and bed-and-breakfast places are named exclusions, but that does not make them a route for your property.
The permit must come before you list.
“Short-term rental unit operators must obtain a Short-Term Rental Operational Permit prior to operating or advertising the use of short-term rentals.”
What this means for you: You need the permit before you operate or advertise a short-term rental. Do not put the listing live on Airbnb or Vrbo first and sort out the permit later.
Where Short-Term Rentals Are Allowed
The zoning ordinance points to two places to find out where the use fits.
“A short-term rental unit may be per – mitted in zoning districts as described on the table of Uses Permitted by District and are re – quired to adhere to the Additional Standards section of this Zoning Ordinance.”
What this means for you: The use may be allowed only in districts on that table. It must also meet the Additional Standards. Being in a named district is not automatic approval.
The ordinance spells out conditions for 3 districts.
“HRO District: Short-Term Rental Units are only permitted within the HRO district if they are on a collector or arterial street and can comply with parking and solid waste re – quirements.”
What this means for you: In the HRO district, the rental must sit on a collector or arterial street. It must also meet the parking and solid waste rules.
“MDR District: Short-Term Rental Units may only be allowed in the MDR district with noti – fication to property owners within one hun – dred feet (100’) of the proposed short-term rental no less than twenty – one (21) days prior to the Planning Commission Meeting.”
What this means for you: In the MDR district, owners within 100 feet of the property must get notice at least 21 days before the Planning Commission meeting. Plan for that waiting period.
“AC District: A time-share unit is the only type of short-term rental use allowed in the AC Arterial Commercial zone and may only be permitted on review.”
What this means for you: In the AC zone, the only short-term rental use is a time-share unit. It is allowed only if permitted on review. Confirm your district with the city before you spend money.
How to Check Your Address
Two separate questions, two separate maps. First: are you inside the city at all?
“To verify if you are in the Sevierville city limits, visit our Sevierville City Limits Verification Map.”
What this means for you: The city’s Short-Term Rentals page links to a city-limits map. Use it to confirm your property is inside the city. The city-limits map shows only the boundary; it is not a zoning lookup.
Second: what zoning district covers your property?
“The zoning map divides the City into various zoning districts, and the zoning ordinance describes the regulations applying to each of the zoning districts shown on the map.”
What this means for you: The zoning map divides the city into districts, and the ordinance sets the rules for each district. You need both: the map names the district, and the ordinance says what it allows.
You can open the City of Sevierville Zoning Map to see your district. The city’s short-term rental rules sit in Section 8.9 of the zoning ordinance.
If the maps leave you unsure, ask the city directly.
“Contact the Development Department , (865) 453- 5504, should you have a question about either the map or ordinance.”
What this means for you: The Development Department answers questions about the map and the ordinance. When you contact them, bring your full address, your intended use and the district you think applies.
What the City Requires Where Rentals Are Allowed
If your district allows the use, the permit process follows.
“The application process requires specific documentation to be submitted, a fee payment, and a life-safety inspection of the property by the Fire Department. This is an annual permit that requires yearly renewal.”
What this means for you: The application needs specific documents, a fee and a life-safety inspection by the Fire Department. The permit runs on a yearly cycle. These cited sources do not state the fee amount, so ask the city for it when you apply.
The inspection comes first.
“Before permit can be granted, a Life Safety Inspection conducted by the Fire Mar – shal’s Office will be required.”
What this means for you: The Fire Marshal’s Office inspects the property before the permit is granted. Schedule it early.
Renewal has its own inspection.
“An annual Short-Term Rental Operational Permit is required and must be re – newed each year prior to the expiration date of the previously approved permit. Before renewal permit can be granted, an annual inspection will be required.”
What this means for you: The permit lasts 1 year. You must renew before the old permit expires, and each renewal needs a new inspection. Set a reminder well before the expiration date.
There is also a fee and insurance requirement.
“To apply or renew, the applicant must pay the annual fee and provide current proof of insurance.”
What this means for you: To apply or renew, you pay the annual fee and show current proof of insurance. Keep your insurance documents ready for each renewal.
Large sleeping counts need sprinklers.
“Fire sprinkler systems are required for any STR that wishes to sleep more than 12 people.”
What this means for you: Your rental must have fire sprinklers if it sleeps more than 12 people.
Parking has a formula.
“Parking: 1 space per bedroom, at a rate of 2 per – sons per bedroom, plus 1 space per 4 additional guests based on occupancy load. No recreational vehicles, buses, or trailers shall be visible on the street or property in conjunction with the short- term rental use.”
What this means for you: You need 1 parking space per bedroom, based on 2 persons per bedroom. You also need 1 more space for every 4 additional guests under the occupancy load. This is a parking rule, not a guest cap. No recreational vehicles, buses or trailers may be visible on the street or the property while the short-term rental use runs.
Have a permit question?
“If you have any questions please reach out to the fire department via email or phone (865)868-1585.”
What this means for you: The Fire Department handles permit questions by email or phone.
Fines and Enforcement
The permit can be taken away.
“The Short-Term Rental Operational Permit shall be revoked if, within the annual per – mit term, three (3) citations and/or violations have been issued.”
What this means for you: You may get 3 citations or violations in one permit year. Then the city takes your permit away.
Revocation lasts a set time.
“Permit shall be revoked for a period of one (1) year from the time of revoca – tion.”
What this means for you: After revocation, the permit is gone for 1 year from the revocation date.
There is also a daily fine.
“Any person violating any provision of this Ordinance shall be guilty of a civil misde – meanor, ‘as set out in TCA 13-7-208(a)(1), and upon conviction shall be fined not less than two dollars ($2.00) per day nor more than fifty dol – lars ($50.00) per day for each offense.”
What this means for you: Breaking any rule in the ordinance brings a fine if you are convicted. The fine is counted per day for each offense. Losing the permit and the fine are two separate things.
Taxes
Taxes here come from state and city law. The state sales tax has its own stay threshold.
“The short-term rental (less than 90 consecutive days for sales tax purposes) of vacation lodging, including a person’s home, is subject to sales tax.”
Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue
What this means for you: For sales tax purposes, the state treats a rental of fewer than 90 consecutive days as short-term, and it is subject to sales tax. That state rule is separate from the city’s 30-day lodging tax rule below.
The state and local sales tax rates stack.
“Sales and use taxes are composed of a state sales tax (7% tax rate) and a local sales tax (the tax rate varies from 1.50%-2.75% depending on the county or municipality).”
Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue
What this means for you: The state sales tax is 7%. A local sales tax of 1.50% to 2.75% is added, depending on the county or municipality.
The city also publishes a sales-tax figure.
“State sales tax for the City of Sevierville is currently 9.75%, and should be listed as such on all receipts.”
What this means for you: The city’s Hospitality Tax page lists 9.75% as the sales tax for the City of Sevierville and says it should appear on receipts. The state identifies its own component as 7%. Do not confuse the two numbers.
Sevierville adds a lodging tax.
“Lodging Tax – (3%) This tax is 3% of the monthly net taxable proceeds from any hotel, motel, cabin, etc., or that which is occupied by transients for a period of less than 30 days within the Sevierville city limits.”
What this means for you: The city charges a 3% lodging tax on monthly net taxable proceeds from stays under 30 days inside the city limits. Keep this separate from sales tax in your records.
Sevier County has its own lodging tax, but its territory matters.
“(4) “Lodging” means any structure or space, or any portion thereof, which is occupied or intended or designed for occupancy by transients for dwelling or sleeping purposes, and located outside the boundaries of any incorporated municipality which has prior to the effective date of this act imposed a similar tax on a transient exercising or entitled to occupancy for any rooms, spaces, or accommodations in a lodging; such term includes any lodging facility, including but not limited to, inn, tourist camp, tourist court, cabin rental, campground or any place in which rooms, spaces or accommodations are furnished to transients for a consideration.”
Source: Tennessee General Assembly
What this means for you: The county lodging tax covers lodging outside cities that had imposed a similar tax before the act. The quote does not show whether that applies to your address. Ask the city which taxes apply to your property.
Marketplaces change who sends the money.
“Beginning January 1, 2021, short-term rental unit marketplaces that offer residential dwellings for rent for less than 30 continuous days must remit the occupancy tax to the Department. This includes websites and platforms that facilitate the rental of residential units, including apartments, condominiums, and homes, owned by third-party sellers.”
Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue
What this means for you: Since January 1, 2021, booking sites that list homes for under 30 days in a row must pay the occupancy tax to the state. This covers sites that rent out other people’s homes.
If you do not use a marketplace, the job is yours.
“All rentals that are not handled through a marketplace must be reported and remitted directly to the City of Sevierville.”
What this means for you: Rentals not handled through a marketplace must be reported to the city. The tax must also be remitted directly to the City of Sevierville.
What Each Platform Collects in Tennessee
| Platform | Tax lines for Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Airbnb | “State Sales Tax: 7% of the listing price including any cleaning fees and guest fees, for reservations 89 nights and shorter.” (Source: Airbnb Help) “Local Sales Tax: 1.50 – 2.75% of the listing price including any cleaning fees and guest fees, for reservations 89 nights and shorter.” (Source: Airbnb Help) “Local Occupancy Taxes: All locally imposed Occupancy Taxes will be collected on reservations in Tennessee. The tax varies by city and county. It is typically 0%-8% of the listing price including any cleaning fees for the first 30 days of the reservation.” (Source: Airbnb Help) |
| Vrbo | “State & Local Sales Tax Tennessee under 90 nights October 1, 2020 Local Lodging Tax January 1, 2021” (Source: Vrbo Help) |
What this means for you: The quoted cells carry each platform’s rates, thresholds and dates. Read each platform’s own page to see what it collects for your listing.
Each platform also says you may owe more.
| Platform | Your responsibility |
|---|---|
| Airbnb | “Hosts may need to manually collect and remit other applicable taxes on their stay or experience price.” (Source: Airbnb Help) |
| Vrbo | “You’re also responsible for collecting and remitting lodging taxes when we’re not liable to do so.” (Source: Vrbo Help) |
What this means for you: Both platforms warn that you may owe taxes they do not collect. Check with the city and the state about anything outside the platform’s collection.
If Your Address Qualifies: What BnBGenius Does
Guest Messages
BnBGenius answers guest messages on Airbnb and Vrbo 24/7. Learn more about Airbnb automated messages and Vrbo automated messages.
Reviews
BnBGenius requests a review from the guest and publishes the host’s review. Kent Morgan, BnBGenius co-founder, put it this way:
“We went from reviewing 40% of stays to 100% overnight. The AI even thanked guests for things we fixed mid-stay. Our review-to-review rate jumped immediately.”
Kent Morgan, BnBGenius co-founder, on bnbgenius.ai/reviews
Cleaning and Repair Tasks
BnBGenius creates cleaning and repair tasks after checkout. See how to manage a cleaning team without text chains and the tasks page.
Kent Morgan again:
“We used to find out about issues in post-stay reviews. Now BnBGenius flags them mid-stay, creates the task, and our cleaners respond in under 15 minutes.”
Kent Morgan, BnBGenius co-founder, on bnbgenius.ai/tasks
Guest Calls
BnBGenius answers guest calls with a voice AI agent (Voice Concierge, an add-on). Kent Morgan:
“The concierge answered 84% of our after-hours calls last month without waking anyone up. Guests thought it was our in-house team the whole time.”
Kent Morgan, BnBGenius co-founder, on bnbgenius.ai/voice
Gap Nights and Upsells
BnBGenius sells gap nights, early check-in and late checkout. Kent Morgan:
“BnBGenius filled nine gap nights in the first month. $2.3k we would have lost. Guests got a friendly Airbnb message and we didn’t lift a finger.”
Kent Morgan, BnBGenius co-founder, on bnbgenius.ai/upsells
Setup, Telegram and Free Messages
BnBGenius installs as a Chrome extension in about 5 minutes, without API keys, without password sharing, no PMS required. It is run from Telegram. The first 500 messages are free, with all features and no card. It is not a PMS, not a channel manager and not an accounting tool. Physical work stays with people you choose.
Airbnb and Vrbo
| Topic | Airbnb | Vrbo |
|---|---|---|
| Messages | “Every reservation automatically creates a group thread where all bookers, co-travelers, hosts and co-hosts can connect.” (Source: Airbnb Help) | “You can send a message to a host through our secure messaging platform.” (Source: Vrbo Help) |
| Reviews | “Both parties will have 14 days after checkout to submit their review.” (Source: Airbnb Help) | “You and your guests have 180 days to provide your review. Once one party submits their review, the other party has 14 days to complete their review.” (Source: Vrbo Help) |
What this means for you: On Airbnb, each booking opens a group message thread. Both sides have 14 days after checkout to review. On Vrbo, you message through its secure messaging. The Vrbo review window is 180 days. Once one side reviews, the other has 14 days.
BnBGenius answers guest messages on Airbnb and Vrbo 24/7 and requests a review from the guest and publishes the host’s review. More on Airbnb reviews and the Vrbo reviews guide.
How to Start
More City Guides
- Airbnb rules in Charleston, SC
- Airbnb rules in Savannah, GA
- Airbnb rules in Fernandina Beach, FL
- Self-managing an Airbnb in Jacksonville Beach, FL
Rules and rates last checked on 3 October 2026.
