LicensedRental

Davidson County, Tennessee

Forest Hills, TN vacation rental requirements

Forest Hills prohibits short-term rental property in the city. Its zoning code defines a short-term rental as any rental of three months or less.

Checked against official sources November 5, 2026

Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.

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Short-term rentals
Prohibited
Zoning §3.01 lists short-term rental property among prohibited uses (Ord. 2024-02).Source
What counts
Rentals of 3 months or less

State law protects a rental that was operating legally before the ban took effect until the home is sold or the use stops. Ask the city if you think yours qualifies.

Your licensing checklist

In order: the state, the county, then the town.

State of Tennessee

  1. Register for sales tax

    Register through the Tennessee Taxpayer Access Point (TNTAP). One registration covers all your rentals in the same city or county. If you take direct bookings, collect 7% plus the local rate and file by the 20th of each month. Once registered, file every month, even a $0 return.Source

    TNTAP →

  2. Get a business tax license

    Rentals under 180 days owe business tax. With $3,000 to $100,000 a year in gross receipts in a city or county you need a minimal activity license; at $100,000 or more, a standard license. Booking platforms don’t handle this for you.Source

  3. Know what the platform collects

    Airbnb, VRBO, and other marketplaces collect and remit sales tax and local occupancy tax on their bookings. Keep records showing they did. For direct bookings, you pay sales tax to the state and occupancy tax to the city or county.Source

  4. Then your county and city

    Permits, zoning, and occupancy tax rates are where Tennessee towns differ most. Pick your area.

Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County

  1. Check which city you’re in

    Most of the county is Metro Nashville. Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Forest Hills, Goodlettsville, and Oak Hill are separate cities with their own zoning, so Metro’s permit rules don’t decide what’s allowed there.

  2. Then your city

    Pick your area.

City of Forest Hills

  1. Rent for longer than three months

    A rental of three months or less counts as a short-term rental, which the zoning code prohibits.Source

Sources

A plain-language summary to help you prepare, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the office before you apply. Spot something out of date? Email hello@licensedrental.com.