Tennessee requires smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in all short-term rental units under state law. But the real compliance burden comes from your municipality. Sevier County, Gatlinburg, Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga each run their own permit and inspection programs with distinct fees, safety checklists, and annual renewal requirements. Operating in the Smokies without knowing the difference between Sevier County's STRU permit and Gatlinburg's Tourist Residency Permit is a common and costly mistake.
Tennessee vacation rentals must comply with both state law and local ordinances. State law sets a baseline for smoke alarms and CO detectors. Municipalities add their own permit programs, inspection requirements, and safety standards on top.
TCA 68-102-151 (smoke alarms) and TCA 68-120-112 (smoke + CO alarms) set minimum requirements for all rental properties statewide. The Short-Term Rental Unit Act (TCA 13-7-601) requires STR operators to comply with these safety standards.
Major STR markets run their own permit programs with fire marshal inspections, specific equipment requirements, and annual renewal. Requirements vary significantly between jurisdictions, even within the same county.
According to TCA 68-102-151, it is unlawful to own or operate a one-family or two-family rental unit without installing an approved smoke alarm. Smoke alarms must be UL-listed (Underwriters Laboratories) or inspected by an agency authorized by the state fire marshal.
According to TCA 68-120-112, smoke alarms must be installed in sleeping rooms, in every room in the means of egress from sleeping areas to the exit, and on each story including basements. The statute defines "hotel" to include motels, inns, boarding homes, lodging homes, rooming houses, tourist homes, hostels, dormitories, and apartment hotels. It was amended to explicitly include "short-term rental units" in this definition.
TCA 68-120-112 makes the short-term rental unit provider responsible for "performance of maintenance, repairs, and tests to ensure that every smoke alarm... is operational at all times." This is different from long-term rentals, where tenant maintenance responsibility is common.
A violation of TCA 68-102-151 is a Class A misdemeanor, and each day the violation continues constitutes a separate offense. A violation of TCA 68-120-112 is a Class C misdemeanor with the same per-day exposure.
According to TCA 68-120-112, carbon monoxide detectors are required in any short-term rental that has a fossil-fuel-burning heater or appliance, a fireplace, or any other feature that emits carbon monoxide as a byproduct of combustion. "Fossil fuel" is defined as coal, kerosene, oil, fuel gases, or other petroleum or hydrocarbon products.
In practice, this covers the vast majority of Tennessee cabins and vacation rentals. Gas furnaces, gas water heaters, propane heaters, wood-burning fireplaces, and attached garages all trigger the requirement.
CO detectors must be installed within 10 feet of each room used for sleeping. They may be hardwired, powered by a self-monitored battery, or operated with a plug-in outlet fitted with a plug restrainer device. Installation must follow NFPA standards or manufacturer directions.
Answer page Does Tennessee Require CO Detectors in Vacation Rentals?According to the Tennessee Short-Term Rental Unit Act (TCA 13-7-601), signed in 2018, short-term rental operators must comply with the safety requirements in Title 68, Chapter 120, which includes both smoke alarm and CO detector standards. The Act defines a short-term rental unit as a residential dwelling rented wholly or partially for a fee for less than 30 continuous days.
The Act also includes a legacy clause: properties already operating as STRs before new local regulations took effect are exempt from new prohibitions until the property is sold, operations cease for 30 consecutive months, or three violations of local laws occur.
State law sets a floor. Every major Tennessee STR market adds requirements on top. Here is what each of the five largest vacation rental markets requires.
| Market | Permit fee | Inspection | Renewal | Key distinction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sevier County | $250/yr | Annual fire marshal | Annual | Most detailed checklist; covers grills, pools, chimneys |
| Gatlinburg | $200 + $75/BR over 2 | Annual fire + building | Annual | Sprinkler required for 3+ stories, 5000+ sqft, or 12+ occupants |
| Nashville | $313 | Certification (1-2 family) | Annual | Max 4 sleeping rooms; $1M liability insurance |
| Knoxville | $150 renewal | Compliance review | Annual | 1-hour response time for responsible party |
| Chattanooga | $250-$500 | Site plan review | Annual | Emergency Escape Plan posted on each floor |
Sevier County STRU Permit Program
Effective January 1, 2024 / 6,500+ short-term rental units
According to the Sevier County Fire Marshal's Office, their STRU inspection program is the most detailed in the state. It covers smoke alarms, CO detectors, fire extinguishers, chimneys, evacuation maps, grills and fire pits, pools, hot tubs, and fire protection systems. According to the official STRU inspection checklist (revised November 2024), key requirements include:
Tourist Residency Permit
Required for all STRs within Gatlinburg city limits
According to Gatlinburg's STR regulations, properties within city limits need a Tourist Residency (TR) permit, which is separate from the Sevier County STRU permit (for properties outside city limits). The TR permit covers fire and building inspections including smoke alarms, CO detectors, emergency escape routes, and electrical safety.
The sprinkler threshold is the key distinction. According to the City of Gatlinburg, all tourist residences more than three stories, more than 5,000 gross square feet, or more than 12 occupants must have an approved sprinkler system. STRs are also prohibited in R1A and R2A residential zones.
Answer page Does My Tennessee Cabin Need a Sprinkler System?Short Term Rental Property Permit
Metro Codes Department, Nashville
According to Nashville Metro Codes, Nashville's program is distinct from Smoky Mountain markets in three ways. First, single and two-family homes do not require a fire marshal inspection. Instead, according to the permit application checklist, a state-licensed architect, engineer, or home inspector must certify compliance. Second, there is a maximum of four sleeping rooms per STR permit. Third, liability insurance must be at least $1 million per occurrence (double the state minimum under the Short-Term Rental Unit Act).
According to Nashville Fire Marshal's Office, fire marshal inspections are only required for multifamily structures (three or more dwellings on the property).
Smoke detectors must be UL 217 certified and installed in all sleeping areas, in every room in the path of egress from sleeping areas to the exit, and on each story including basements and garages. A floor plan showing smoke detector and CO detector locations must be submitted with the permit application.
Short-Term Rental Unit Permit
City of Knoxville, ordinance effective January 2018
According to Knoxville's Short Term Rental Unit Ordinance, operators must maintain UL 217 smoke alarms in all sleeping areas and throughout the egress path. Properties must pass safety compliance reviews covering fire safety systems, carbon monoxide detectors, and emergency egress. A local responsible party must be available to respond within one hour, 24/7.
Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate
City of Chattanooga
According to Chattanooga's Short-Term Rental program, Chattanooga distinguishes between Homestay (owner-occupied) and Absentee (non-owner-occupied) permits, with the absentee permit costing double. A unique requirement: operators must create and post an Emergency Escape Plan (EEP) on each floor, printed at 8x11 and permanently mounted. The EEP must clearly show egress methods in red from each room. Beginning January 1, 2026, the STVR certificate itself must also be posted in the rental.
Hamilton County (unincorporated areas) runs a separate program with a $750 permit fee that covers building, fire, and groundwater inspections.
Fire safety is not a set-it-and-forget-it compliance task. Guests unplug smoke detectors, remove batteries from CO alarms, move fire extinguishers, and rearrange furniture that blocks exit paths. Your turnover team should check these items after every checkout:
Smoke alarms
Carbon monoxide detectors
Fire extinguishers
Egress and evacuation
TCA 68-102-151: One-family or two-family rental units - Smoke alarms required (2024 Tennessee Code via Justia)
TCA 68-120-112: Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in residential buildings (2024 Tennessee Code via Justia)
The Tennessee Short-Term Rental Unit Act (Cedar Management Group, citing TCA 13-7-601)
Summary of the Short-Term Rental Unit Act (MTAS, University of Tennessee)
Sevier County STRU Permit Program Information (Sevier County Government)
Sevier County Fire Marshal STRU Inspection Items (Revised November 8, 2024)
Gatlinburg Tourist Residency Permit Application (City of Gatlinburg)
Gatlinburg Short-Term Rental Laws: What You Need to Know (Gatlinburg Real Estate)
Nashville Short Term Rental Property (Nashville Metro Codes)
Nashville Owner Occupied STR Permit Checklist (Nashville Metro Codes)
Nashville Fire Marshal Short-Term Rental Inspections (Nashville Fire Department)
Chattanooga Short-Term Rental Permits (City of Chattanooga)