What Is the Sevier County Short-Term Rental Permit?
Sevier County, Tennessee launched its Short-Term Rental Unit (STRU) permitting program on January 1, 2024. Any property rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days in the unincorporated portions of Sevier County — meaning properties outside the city limits of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville — must hold a valid county STRU permit.
This program was years in the making. Sevier County has one of the highest concentrations of vacation cabin rentals in the eastern United States, with an estimated 6,500–8,000 short-term rentals operating outside city limits alone. The January 2024 launch required thousands of existing hosts to come into compliance quickly, and new buyers continue to apply at high volume through 2025.
If your property has a Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, or Sevierville mailing address, check your zoning map carefully. Mailing address does not determine jurisdiction. Many cabins with a "Gatlinburg, TN" address are actually in unincorporated Sevier County and need a county permit — not a city permit. Use the Sevier County GIS map to confirm.
Who Needs a Sevier County STRU Permit?
You need a Sevier County STRU permit if all of the following are true:
- Your property is located in unincorporated Sevier County (outside Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Pittman Center city limits)
- You rent the property for fewer than 30 consecutive days
- You advertise on any platform — Airbnb, VRBO, Hipcamp, a personal website, or any other channel
Properties inside city limits need that city's specific permit instead. Gatlinburg requires a Tourist Residency (TR) Permit. Pigeon Forge and Sevierville have their own registration programs. See our Gatlinburg TR Permit guide and Tennessee overview for city-specific details.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply for a Sevier County STRU Permit
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Confirm your property is in unincorporated Sevier County
Visit the Sevier County GIS portal and look up your parcel. Verify it falls outside all municipal boundaries. If you're unsure, call the Sevier County Planning office at (865) 453-5502.
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Gather your required documents
You'll need: proof of ownership (deed or tax records), property insurance certificate (must show STR or "vacation rental" use), maximum occupancy for the property, floor plan or description of sleeping areas, and a completed application form from seviercountytn.gov.
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Submit your application and pay the fee
Applications are accepted online through the county portal or in person at the Sevier County Courthouse. The base fee is $250 for properties with a maximum occupancy of 12 or fewer. For each additional occupant over 12, add $25. A property permitted for 16 occupants would pay $250 + (4 × $25) = $350.
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Schedule and pass your fire safety inspection
The Sevier County Fire Marshal's office conducts all STRU inspections. Inspectors check for working smoke detectors in every bedroom and on every floor, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers (must be within date), emergency exit signage, and proper functioning of all egress doors and windows. Allow 2–5 weeks from application to inspection scheduling. Your permit is not issued until inspection is passed.
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Receive your permit number and post it
Once issued, your permit number must appear in any advertisement for the property — including your Airbnb and VRBO listings. Many hosts also post the permit physically inside the rental. Keep the permit certificate accessible for any compliance inspections.
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Register for Tennessee sales tax and county occupancy tax
Separately from your STRU permit, you must register with the Tennessee Department of Revenue to collect and remit sales tax on rental income. Sevier County also has a local occupancy tax. Both Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit these taxes automatically in Tennessee, but you should confirm your account settings and keep records regardless.
Fire Safety Inspection: What Inspectors Check
The fire safety inspection is the part of the Sevier County STRU process that trips up the most applicants. Properties that fail inspection must remediate and reschedule, adding weeks to the timeline. Here is what Sevier County Fire Marshal inspectors specifically verify:
- Smoke detectors: Required in every bedroom, outside every sleeping area, and on every floor. Battery-only detectors are acceptable but hard-wired with battery backup is preferred. Combination smoke/CO detectors count for both requirements.
- Carbon monoxide detectors: Required in any property with a gas appliance, attached garage, fireplace, or gas grill accessible to guests. This includes virtually all cabins with propane heat or a gas stove.
- Fire extinguisher: At minimum one 2A:10BC extinguisher in the kitchen area, within its service date. Multi-story properties typically need one per floor.
- Egress from sleeping areas: Every bedroom must have a window large enough to escape through (minimum 5.7 square feet of openable area) or a second door to an exit path. Loft bedrooms commonly fail this requirement.
- Emergency contact information: A posted notice inside the property with the local emergency contact (typically the management company or owner phone number) and the property's physical address for emergency response purposes.
- Pool and hot tub safety: If the property has a pool or hot tub, a locking cover or fence with self-closing gate is required.
Walk your property with our free STR inspection prep checklist before scheduling the official inspection. Most first-time failures are preventable — egress issues, outdated fire extinguishers, and missing CO detectors are the top three. Addressing these before the inspector arrives saves weeks.
Permit Fees (2025)
| Max Occupancy | Annual Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–12 persons | $250 | Base fee |
| 13 persons | $275 | Base + $25 |
| 14 persons | $300 | Base + $50 |
| 16 persons | $350 | Base + $100 |
| 20 persons | $450 | Base + $200 |
Fees are paid annually. The permit year runs January 1 through December 31. Permits issued mid-year are prorated by quarter.
Annual Renewal
Sevier County STRU permits must be renewed annually. Renewal notices are sent by mail to the address of record — not necessarily the rental property address. If your mailing address differs from the property address, ensure the county has your current contact information.
Renewal typically requires a reinspection every other year, though the county may inspect annually based on complaint history or property changes. Budget for this: properties undergoing renovations or adding sleeping capacity must notify the county and may require a reinspection before the modification is complete.
Permits that are not renewed by the expiration date are treated the same as no permit — the property cannot be legally advertised until renewal is complete.
What Sevier County Does NOT Require
A few things the county STRU permit does not cover that hosts sometimes expect it to:
- Business license: Sevier County does not currently require a separate business license for residential STR operation in unincorporated areas (as of 2025). Cities within the county may.
- Septic inspection: Not part of the STRU permit process, though your property must be on a properly functioning septic system with adequate capacity for your listed occupancy.
- State lodging license: Tennessee does not have a statewide STR license requirement. The county permit is the primary regulatory document.
Enforcement: How Sevier County Finds Unpermitted Rentals
Sevier County Code Enforcement actively monitors Airbnb, VRBO, and other platforms for listings without permit numbers. Hosts who list without a permit face a notice of violation with a compliance timeline, followed by fines for continued noncompliance. There is no publicly stated per-day fine amount, but compliance is pursued aggressively in a county that generates significant tourism revenue and has political pressure to regulate the industry.
"The county is regularly searching listing platforms. If you're on Airbnb or VRBO in unincorporated Sevier County without a permit number in your listing, you will eventually receive a violation notice."
— Paraphrased from multiple host community reports, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
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Mailing address doesn't determine jurisdiction — your parcel's location relative to the city limits does. Many properties with Gatlinburg addresses are physically in unincorporated Sevier County and need the county STRU permit. Look up your parcel in the Sevier County GIS system. If it's outside city limits, you need the county permit. If it's inside Gatlinburg's city limits, you need the Gatlinburg Tourist Residency (TR) Permit. You cannot substitute one for the other.
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Plan for 4–8 weeks from application submission to permit issuance, primarily because of inspection scheduling delays. Application review itself is typically 1–2 weeks. The fire safety inspection schedule is the longest variable. During peak season (spring and fall), inspection wait times can stretch to 4–5 weeks. Submit your application as early as possible — don't wait until closing on a property.
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No. The Sevier County STRU permit is issued to the property owner, not the property. When a cabin changes ownership, the permit does not transfer. The new owner must submit a fresh application, pay the fee, and pass a new fire safety inspection before they can legally list the property. If you're purchasing a cabin with an active rental history, factor this into your timeline and post-closing budget.
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No. Listing on Airbnb or VRBO before your permit is issued — even with an application pending — is a violation of the county ordinance. The permit must be in hand and the number must appear in your listing before you accept bookings. Some hosts set a listing status of "available from [future date]" to capture early bookings while they complete the permit process, but review this approach carefully and don't accept payment before you're permitted.
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You'll receive a written list of deficiencies from the Fire Marshal's office. You have a set window (typically 30 days) to correct them and request a reinspection. There is usually no additional fee for the first reinspection. Common fixes include adding smoke or CO detectors, replacing an expired fire extinguisher, or installing window egress hardware on loft bedrooms. Most failures are quick and inexpensive to correct.
This guide is based on Sevier County ordinances and publicly available program information as of 2025. Requirements can change. Always verify current fee schedules, inspection requirements, and application procedures directly with the Sevier County Planning Department or Fire Marshal's office before submitting your application.