Sevier CountyShort-term rental rules

County territory / Tennessee

The county provides a documented transfer process for its annual STR operational permit. The buyer completes a change-of-information application.

Research reviewed Oct 31, 2026. Primary sources linked.

Compare this market What changed Start a property worksheet

Does the operating permit transfer?: Ownership update
The county's Selling a Short-Term Rental instructions say the permit and account transfer. The seller submits Notification of Unit Sold; the buyer files a change-of-information application to complete the transfer. Obtain the existing application and inspection record.
Can the land-use approval continue?: Separate from permit transfer
The county operational permit has a transfer process. Tennessee’s statutory protection for some older rental uses is separate and can end at sale; verify any claimed protected use.
Can this buyer obtain approval?: The permit program covers overnight rental units in unincorporated territory. Its life-safety approval does not establish every parcel's zoning, septic capacity or private-covenant eligibility.
License or registration: Short-Term Rental Unit annual operational permit issued through the county Fire Marshal's Office. The program requires inspection and a permit for each unit outside city limits.
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: Separate this permit procedure from Tennessee's statutory protection for some older rental uses, which can end on sale. Verify the certificate of occupancy and permitted guest count rather than relying on the seller's advertised capacity.

What this means for the appraisal

Obtain written confirmation of the ownership-update procedure and any required filings before assuming uninterrupted operation.
Verify the property’s land-use approval and continuation conditions. Research finding: Separate from permit transfer.
Check the proposed buyer against the recorded requirements: The permit program covers overnight rental units in unincorporated territory. Its life-safety approval does not establish every parcel's zoning, septic capacity or private-covenant eligibility.
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 Sevier County

Subject: STR property document request | Sevier County, 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: The county's Selling a Short-Term Rental instructions say the permit and account transfer. The seller submits Notification of Unit Sold; the buyer files a change-of-information application to complete the transfer. Obtain the existing application and inspection record.
4. Zoning approval, conditional-use permit, variance or grandfathering record, including conditions and evidence of continued use. Guide finding: The county operational permit has a transfer process. Tennessee’s statutory protection for some older rental uses is separate and can end at sale; verify any claimed protected use.
5. Documents addressing the proposed buyer and property requirements: The permit program covers overnight rental units in unincorporated territory. Its life-safety approval does not establish every parcel's zoning, septic capacity or private-covenant eligibility.
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.

Market research reviewed: 2026-10-31. These requests need property-specific verification.
Official research sources:
County instructions: selling a short-term rental: https://www.seviercountytn.gov/Selling%20a%20Short-Term%20Rental.pdf
County STR permit application and program information: https://www.seviercountytn.gov/SCFMO%20Short-Term%20Rental%20Unit%20Application.pdf
University of Tennessee MTAS: state grandfathering rules: https://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/reference/summary-short-term-rental-unit-act

Subject: STR property document request | Sevier County, 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: The county's Selling a Short-Term Rental instructions say the permit and account transfer. The seller submits Notification of Unit Sold; the buyer files a change-of-information application to complete the transfer. Obtain the existing application and inspection record.
4. Zoning approval, conditional-use permit, variance or grandfathering record, including conditions and evidence of continued use. Guide finding: The county operational permit has a transfer process. Tennessee’s statutory protection for some older rental uses is separate and can end at sale; verify any claimed protected use.
5. Documents addressing the proposed buyer and property requirements: The permit program covers overnight rental units in unincorporated territory. Its life-safety approval does not establish every parcel's zoning, septic capacity or private-covenant eligibility.
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.

Market research reviewed: 2026-10-31. These requests need property-specific verification.
Official research sources:
County instructions: selling a short-term rental: https://www.seviercountytn.gov/Selling%20a%20Short-Term%20Rental.pdf
County STR permit application and program information: https://www.seviercountytn.gov/SCFMO%20Short-Term%20Rental%20Unit%20Application.pdf
University of Tennessee MTAS: state grandfathering rules: 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

Separate this permit procedure from Tennessee's statutory protection for some older rental uses, which can end on sale. Verify the certificate of occupancy and permitted guest count rather than relying on the seller's advertised capacity.

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.

Gatlinburg, TN (vacation market)
Pigeon Forge, TN (vacation market)

Search all 120 jurisdictions