Pigeon ForgeShort-term rental rules

Vacation market / Tennessee

The special grandfathered R-1 permit ends when any ownership interest transfers. That rule should not be generalized to every cabin in the wider market.

Research reviewed Oct 31, 2026. Primary sources linked.

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Does the operating permit transfer?: Depends on approval
Section 511.8 expressly makes the R-1 permit nontransferable and voids it when any ownership interest transfers, voluntarily or involuntarily. The reviewed provision does not establish a citywide transfer rule for other districts.
Can the land-use approval continue?: Special R-1 protection ends
The special R-1 permit in §511.8 becomes void on any transfer of ownership interest. This finding does not establish the treatment of rentals in other districts.
Can this buyer obtain approval?: The R-1 exception is limited to owners with qualifying rental use by August 13, 2018 and the required tax history. It is not a new-investor path into R-1. Confirm the permitted use of cabins in tourist or commercial districts separately.
License or registration: Section 511 establishes an annually renewed permit for qualifying existing R-1 rentals. Other zoning districts require separate eligibility review.
Application availability: Confirm current availability
Check the official program before applying. The absence of a reported waitlist is not evidence that this property or buyer can receive approval.
Timing to verify: No sale-specific deadline was established in this summary. Ask the issuing office about filing, renewal and any interruption in operation.
Changes and uncertainty: The city-hosted zoning PDF is dated July 2023. Confirm later amendments and the property's actual district before applying the R-1 result.

What this means for the appraisal

Identify the exact approval held by the seller and obtain the issuing office’s written procedure for this ownership change.
Verify the property’s land-use approval and continuation conditions. Research finding: Special R-1 protection ends.
Check the proposed buyer against the recorded requirements: The R-1 exception is limited to owners with qualifying rental use by August 13, 2018 and the required tax history. It is not a new-investor path into R-1. Confirm the permitted use of cabins in tourist or commercial districts separately.
In the assignment analysis, identify the evidence supporting the proposed rental use, any operating interruption and any unresolved assumptions.

Use these prompts to plan the property review. The appraiser must evaluate the evidence and reach the assignment-specific conclusions.

Record the property evidence in a worksheet

Request documents from the owner or agent

Copy this market-specific request, add the property address and edit it for the assignment.

Read or select the document request

Document request for Pigeon Forge

Subject: STR property document request | Pigeon Forge, TN

Please provide the following documents for the property under review. Identify any item that is unavailable or does not apply.

1. Property address, parcel ID and confirmation of the governing jurisdiction.
2. Current operating permit or registration, named holder, expiration date and renewal history, if applicable.
3. Written ownership-change instructions from the issuing office. Guide finding: Section 511.8 expressly makes the R-1 permit nontransferable and voids it when any ownership interest transfers, voluntarily or involuntarily. The reviewed provision does not establish a citywide transfer rule for other districts.
4. Zoning approval, conditional-use permit, variance or grandfathering record, including conditions and evidence of continued use. Guide finding: The special R-1 permit in §511.8 becomes void on any transfer of ownership interest. This finding does not establish the treatment of rentals in other districts.
5. Documents addressing the proposed buyer and property requirements: The R-1 exception is limited to owners with qualifying rental use by August 13, 2018 and the required tax history. It is not a new-investor path into R-1. Confirm the permitted use of cabins in tourist or commercial districts separately.
6. Current confirmation of application availability, including any cap, waitlist, lottery or separation rule. Guide finding: Check the official program before applying. The absence of a reported waitlist is not evidence that this property or buyer can receive approval.
7. Recorded covenants, HOA or condominium rental restrictions and applicable lease restrictions.
8. Rental operating statements and booking records, with the periods covered and any anticipated interruption at closing.
9. Written clarification: Confirm current zoning amendments and operating approvals for rentals outside the special R-1 grandfathering program.

Market research reviewed: 2026-10-31. These requests need property-specific verification.
Official research sources:
City zoning ordinance, §511, July 2023 edition: https://cityofpigeonforge.com/uploadedFiles/Community_Development/Pigeon%20Forge%20Zoning%20Ordinance%20%28update%207_2023%29.pdf
University of Tennessee MTAS: state grandfathering and sale: https://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/reference/summary-short-term-rental-unit-act

Subject: STR property document request | Pigeon Forge, TN

Please provide the following documents for the property under review. Identify any item that is unavailable or does not apply.

1. Property address, parcel ID and confirmation of the governing jurisdiction.
2. Current operating permit or registration, named holder, expiration date and renewal history, if applicable.
3. Written ownership-change instructions from the issuing office. Guide finding: Section 511.8 expressly makes the R-1 permit nontransferable and voids it when any ownership interest transfers, voluntarily or involuntarily. The reviewed provision does not establish a citywide transfer rule for other districts.
4. Zoning approval, conditional-use permit, variance or grandfathering record, including conditions and evidence of continued use. Guide finding: The special R-1 permit in §511.8 becomes void on any transfer of ownership interest. This finding does not establish the treatment of rentals in other districts.
5. Documents addressing the proposed buyer and property requirements: The R-1 exception is limited to owners with qualifying rental use by August 13, 2018 and the required tax history. It is not a new-investor path into R-1. Confirm the permitted use of cabins in tourist or commercial districts separately.
6. Current confirmation of application availability, including any cap, waitlist, lottery or separation rule. Guide finding: Check the official program before applying. The absence of a reported waitlist is not evidence that this property or buyer can receive approval.
7. Recorded covenants, HOA or condominium rental restrictions and applicable lease restrictions.
8. Rental operating statements and booking records, with the periods covered and any anticipated interruption at closing.
9. Written clarification: Confirm current zoning amendments and operating approvals for rentals outside the special R-1 grandfathering program.

Market research reviewed: 2026-10-31. These requests need property-specific verification.
Official research sources:
City zoning ordinance, §511, July 2023 edition: https://cityofpigeonforge.com/uploadedFiles/Community_Development/Pigeon%20Forge%20Zoning%20Ordinance%20%28update%207_2023%29.pdf
University of Tennessee MTAS: state grandfathering and sale: https://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/reference/summary-short-term-rental-unit-act

Research and guide updates

Oct 31, 2026 Research record: Research recorded for this market. Primary sources linked. See the findings, open questions and official sources below.
Nov 1, 2026 Guide tools: Added assignment prompts, a document request and consistent research questions. This tool update does not change the market research date.

Changes and uncertainty to verify

The city-hosted zoning PDF is dated July 2023. Confirm later amendments and the property's actual district before applying the R-1 result.

Still to confirm

Confirm current zoning amendments and operating approvals for rentals outside the special R-1 grandfathering program.

Sources and research limits

The sale summary cites official code, program guidance or a court record. Read its scope and any remaining questions; it is not a parcel determination.

Use this summary to identify the documents and questions for a property review. A seller's rental history alone does not establish a buyer's permission to operate.

Nearby, with different rules

A mailing address or destination name can cover more than one jurisdiction.

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