LicensedRental

Tennessee county rules

Williamson County, TN vacation rental rules and taxes

Williamson County cities set very different rules. Franklin allows new short-term rentals only when the owner lives on the lot, Brentwood bars rentals under three months in single-family homes under a pre-2014 rule state law preserves, Nolensville treats short-term rentals as a commercial lodging use, and Thompson’s Station requires a town permit. Spring Hill is covered on our Maury County page.

Checked against official sources November 5, 2026
Sales tax
9.75%
7% state + 2.75% local.Source
County occupancy tax
4%
Countywide, added on top of any city occupancy tax (8% to 9% in the cities).Source
Market
About 560 Airbnb listings
Franklin 409, Spring Hill 66, Thompson’s Station 36, Brentwood 26, Fairview 20 (AirROI).Source

What to do

  1. Then your city

    Pick your area. Spring Hill, which lies mostly in Maury County, is on the Maury County page.

Towns

Full guide

Brentwood

Brentwood doesn’t allow a single-family home to be rented for less than three months (§78-19(e), adopted 2005). Because the rule predates 2014 and expressly limits rental periods, state law lets it apply to every home, with no grandfathering for existing rentals.

Full guide

Fairview

We found no short-term rental permit or rules in Fairview’s 2018 zoning ordinance, which mentions only tourist homes among transient lodging. Occupancy tax is 9% (5% city + 4% county).

Full guide

Franklin

Franklin allows one short-term vacation rental per lot, and only if the owner lives there. An owner can rent an accessory dwelling, or rent the whole home while away for up to 113 nights a year. Every rental needs an updated certificate of use and occupancy ($50 a year), $1 million liability insurance, and a 10-guest cap.

Full guide

Nolensville

Nolensville’s zoning treats a short-term rental unit as a commercial lodging use, not a household living use, and bars them in accessory dwelling units. Rentals operating legally before the rules are protected as state law requires. Occupancy tax is 8% (4% town + 4% county).

Full guide

Thompson’s Station

Thompson’s Station requires a short-term rental property (STRP) permit: $75 if you live there, $150 if you don’t, and $100 to renew each year. You need a current fire inspection, a town business license, and $1 million liability insurance. Occupancy tax is 8% (4% town + 4% county).

Full guide

Unincorporated Williamson

News reports say Williamson County’s 2012 zoning ordinance limits short-term vacation rentals in unincorporated areas to the Leiper’s Fork village, with older rentals allowed to continue as nonconforming. Confirm with County Planning before you list. You owe 9.75% sales tax plus the county’s 4% occupancy tax.

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.