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The Cookeville City Council adopted an ordinance regulating Short Term Rental Units within the city limits of Cookeville in December 2017. 

Short Term Rental Properties are defined in the Cookeville Zoning Code as:

SHORT TERM RENTAL PROPERTY   A residential dwelling unit, containing not more than four (4) sleeping rooms, that is used and/or advertised for rent for transient occupancy by guests for less than thirty (30) continuous days. The term Short Term Rental Property includes such terms as AirBnB, Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO) and/or any individual or company involved in the rental of residential dwelling units for transient occupancy by guests (except those meeting the standards for Bed and Breakfast Homes). Residential dwelling units rented to the same occupant for thirty (30) or more continuous days, Bed and Breakfast Homes, boarding houses, hotels, and motels shall not be considered Short Term Rental Properties. (As amended by Ordinance No. O17-11-20)

In Single Family Residential Zoning Districts, Bed and Breakfast Homes may be permitted subject to specific conditions.  Bed and Breakfast Homes are defined in the Cookeville Zoning Code as:

BED AND BREAKFAST HOME. An owner occupied residential dwelling unit, that is used and/or advertised for rent for transient occupancy by guests for less than thirty (30) continuous days. (As amended by Ordinance No. O17-11-20)

The State of Tennessee also adopted provisions regulating Short Term Rental Units.  If you are operating a Short Term Rental you may or may not be grandfathered under the newly effective state law provisions.  Operators will need to apply for a permit with the City of Cookeville Codes Department to continue legal operation of a Short Term Rental Unit.  The Codes Department will determine whether the operator is grandfathered under the new Tennessee statute or will need to comply with City of Cookeville regulations. 

Please follow the link below to the adopted ordinance regulating Short Term Rental Properties and Bed and Breakfast Homes:

https://www.cookeville-tn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1330/Short-Term-Rental-Ordinance-O17-11-20-PDF

Please follow the link below to the permit application for Short Term Rental Properties:

STRP Permit (Fillable PDF)

Please contact Cookeville Codes Department Director Jeff Littrell or Cookeville Planning Department Assistant Director Jon Ward for more information. 

Jeff Littrell

45 East Broad Street

Cookeville, Tennessee 38501

931-520-5268

jlittrell@cookeville-tn.gov

Jon Ward

45 East Broad Street

Cookeville, Tennessee 38501

931-520-8575

jward@cookeville-tn.gov