How many active short-term rental permits does Nashville have, and how is that number changing? This page answers that with a live, weekly count of Nashville short-term rental (Airbnb) permits from Metro Nashville open data, split into non-owner-occupied (NOOSTR) and owner-occupied (OOSTR) classes. Below are the current totals, the trailing-12-month issuance pace, new-versus-expired supply, the multi-year issuance history, and the full permit lifecycle. Metro Nashville does not publish a running count, so this tracker compiles one from the raw permit dataset each week.
Nashville Short-Term Rental Permit Tracker
Active Metro Nashville permits · updated weeklyAs of 07-17-2026, Metro Nashville has 6,940 active short-term rental permits: 4,908 non-owner-occupied (NOOSTR) and 2,032 owner-occupied (OOSTR). NOOSTR permits, the class Nashville Airbnb investors rely on, are 71% of all active permits.
Active permits by class
| Permit class | Active permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Non-owner-occupied (NOOSTR) | 4,908 | 71% |
| Owner-occupied (OOSTR) | 2,032 | 29% |
| Total active | 6,940 | 100% |
NOOSTR momentum (trailing 12 months)
New NOOSTR permits issued per month (last 24 months)
Recent issuance pace, month by month.
NOOSTR permit supply: new vs. expired per year
New permits issued (navy) vs. permits that lapsed (gold, status EXPIRED) each year. When issuance outpaces expirations the active pool grows; when expirations lead it shrinks. Nashville STR permits renew annually, so both lines include renewal churn; 2026 is a partial year.
| Year | New | Expired | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 801 | 0 | +801 |
| 2016 | 825 | 72 | +753 |
| 2017 | 993 | 432 | +561 |
| 2018 | 1,214 | 611 | +603 |
| 2019 | 1,189 | 494 | +695 |
| 2020 | 614 | 838 | -224 |
| 2021 | 990 | 624 | +366 |
| 2022 | 1,530 | 344 | +1,186 |
| 2023 | 601 | 267 | +334 |
| 2024 | 763 | 194 | +569 |
| 2025 | 526 | 382 | +144 |
| 2026 | 231 | 326 | -95 |
Permit lifecycle (all time)
Of 11,162 NOOSTR permits Metro Nashville has ever issued, 4,908 remain active today.
| Permit class | Ever issued | Active | Expired | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOOSTR | 11,162 | 4,908 | 4,584 | 1,670 |
| OOSTR | 6,252 | 2,032 | 3,355 | 865 |
New NOOSTR permits issued per year
New non-owner-occupied permits issued each year. The dashed marker is the 2018 phase-out (BL2017-608) that restricted new NOOSTR permits to specific zoning districts.
New OOSTR permits issued per year
| Year issued | NOOSTR | OOSTR | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 801 | 374 | 1,175 |
| 2016 | 825 | 494 | 1,319 |
| 2017 | 993 | 684 | 1,677 |
| 2018 | 1,214 | 967 | 2,181 |
| 2019 | 1,189 | 800 | 1,989 |
| 2020 | 614 | 288 | 902 |
| 2021 | 990 | 317 | 1,307 |
| 2022 | 1,530 | 560 | 2,090 |
| 2023 | 601 | 452 | 1,053 |
| 2024 | 763 | 360 | 1,123 |
| 2025 | 526 | 226 | 752 |
| 2026 | 231 | 98 | 329 |
Active permits over time (weekly)
Active permits by class, recorded weekly.
| Week of | Total active | NOOSTR | OOSTR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07-03-2026 | 6,939 | 4,897 | 2,042 |
| 07-10-2026 | 6,941 | 4,901 | 2,040 |
| 07-17-2026 | 6,940 | 4,908 | 2,032 |
Active permits by council district
Active short-term rental permits across Metro Nashville’s council districts, ranked by total. NOOSTR is the non-owner-occupied investor class; OOSTR is owner-occupied.
| Council district | NOOSTR | OOSTR | Total active |
|---|---|---|---|
| District 19 | 1,786 | 106 | 1,892 |
| District 17 | 694 | 179 | 873 |
| District 5 | 533 | 278 | 811 |
| District 21 | 634 | 120 | 754 |
| District 6 | 140 | 301 | 441 |
| District 2 | 356 | 76 | 432 |
| District 18 | 171 | 102 | 273 |
| District 7 | 96 | 143 | 239 |
| District 16 | 127 | 78 | 205 |
| District 15 | 67 | 113 | 180 |
| District 20 | 111 | 67 | 178 |
| District 24 | 55 | 57 | 112 |
| District 1 | 34 | 49 | 83 |
| District 3 | 23 | 45 | 68 |
| District 13 | 17 | 41 | 58 |
| District 11 | 19 | 17 | 36 |
| District 25 | 1 | 31 | 32 |
| District 9 | 9 | 22 | 31 |
| District 26 | 10 | 20 | 30 |
| District 14 | 12 | 18 | 30 |
| District 27 | 3 | 24 | 27 |
| District 29 | 2 | 21 | 23 |
| District 10 | 2 | 18 | 20 |
| District 30 | 1 | 18 | 19 |
| District 35 | 2 | 14 | 16 |
| District 23 | 0 | 13 | 13 |
| District 12 | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| District 28 | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| District 4 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| District 22 | 1 | 7 | 8 |
| District 34 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| District 31 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| District 33 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| District 32 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| District 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
NOOSTR permit survival by issue-year cohort
Of the non-owner-occupied permits first issued in each year, the share still active today. Metro STR permits renew annually in place, so this shows how durably each year’s permits keep operating. Recent cohorts read highest because less time has passed for attrition.
| Issued in | Permits issued | Still active | Survival |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 825 | 148 | 17.9% |
| 2017 | 993 | 160 | 16.1% |
| 2018 | 1,214 | 521 | 42.9% |
| 2019 | 1,189 | 392 | 33% |
| 2020 | 614 | 266 | 43.3% |
| 2021 | 990 | 643 | 64.9% |
| 2022 | 1,530 | 1,049 | 68.6% |
| 2023 | 601 | 389 | 64.7% |
| 2024 | 763 | 478 | 62.6% |
| 2025 | 526 | 476 | 90.5% |
| 2026 | 231 | 231 | 100% |
NOOSTR ownership: business entities vs. individuals
Share of active non-owner-occupied permits held under a business entity (LLC, Inc, LP, trust, and similar) versus a natural person, by permit count. Owner-occupied permits are excluded because Metro requires an OOSTR holder to be a resident individual.
| Owner type | Active NOOSTR permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Business entity | 3,549 | 72.3% |
| Individual | 1,359 | 27.7% |
| Total | 4,908 | 100% |
Ownership structure matters on a sale: an entity-held permit can move with the owning entity, whereas a Metro STR permit does not transfer to a new owner on a standard property sale. Classification is by business-entity keyword in the permit owner name; aggregate counts only, no owner names are published.
Buildings with the most active STR permits
Nashville addresses with the most active short-term rental permits, a marker of purpose-built STR developments. Public record from Metro Nashville; permit counts only.
| Address | ZIP | District | NOOSTR | Total active |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 321 MCMILLIN ST | 37203 | 19 | 15 | 15 |
| 2301 ELLISTON PL | 37203 | 21 | 6 | 6 |
| 512 DR D B TODD JR BLVD | 37203 | 19 | 4 | 4 |
| 506 CHURCH ST 301-303 | 37219 | 19 | 3 | 3 |
| 501 REP JOHN LEWIS WAY S 507 | 37203 | 19 | 2 | 2 |
| 501 REP JOHN LEWIS WAY S 511 | 37203 | 19 | 2 | 2 |
| 1240 2ND AVE S 1 | 37210 | 17 | 2 | 2 |
| 210 30TH AVE N 312 | 37203 | 21 | 2 | 2 |
| 227 OCEOLA AVE 1 | 37209 | 20 | 2 | 2 |
| 3025 CHARLOTTE AVE 607 | 37209 | 21 | 2 | 2 |
| 3025 CHARLOTTE AVE 608 | 37209 | 21 | 2 | 2 |
| 3025 CHARLOTTE AVE 609 | 37209 | 21 | 2 | 2 |
| 128 VENTURA WAY | 37207 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 1013 REV DR ENOCH JONES BLVD 10 | 37208 | 19 | 2 | 2 |
| 4770 WHITES CREEK PIKE | 37189 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Counts from Metro Nashville’s public short-term rental permit dataset. Active = permits in ISSUED status. NOOSTR (non-owner-occupied) = subtypes CAZ10A002/CAZ10A003; OOSTR (owner-occupied) = CAZ10A001. Updated weekly. For the zoning rules and eligibility behind these permits, see the Nashville STR zoning & permits guide. Compiled by Grant Hammond.
Nashville Short-Term Rental Permit FAQ
Common questions, answered from live Metro dataHow many Airbnbs are in Nashville?
As of 07-17-2026, Metro Nashville has 6,940 active short-term rental permits, the government-issued licenses required to legally operate an Airbnb. The number of Airbnb listings is higher, because some listings run without a current permit and one permit can appear across several booking sites. For legal, verifiable short-term rental supply, the active permit count is the reliable figure.
How many short-term rental permits does Nashville have?
As of 07-17-2026, Metro Nashville has 6,940 active short-term rental (Airbnb) permits: 4,908 non-owner-occupied (NOOSTR) and 2,032 owner-occupied (OOSTR). The count is updated weekly from Metro Nashville open data.
How many Nashville Airbnb permits are non-owner-occupied (NOOSTR)?
There are 4,908 active NOOSTR permits in Nashville as of 07-17-2026, about 71% of all active short-term rental permits. NOOSTR is the class investors use for properties they do not live in.
What is the difference between NOOSTR and OOSTR permits in Nashville?
A non-owner-occupied (NOOSTR) permit allows full-time short-term rental of a property the owner does not live in and is limited to specific zoning districts. An owner-occupied (OOSTR) permit is for renting the owner's primary residence. Most Nashville Airbnb investors need a NOOSTR permit.
How many NOOSTR permits has Nashville ever issued?
Metro Nashville has issued 11,162 non-owner-occupied short-term rental permits over time; 4,908 remain active as of 07-17-2026. The rest have expired, been cancelled, or been revoked.
Is Airbnb legal in Nashville?
Yes. Short-term rentals are legal in Nashville when the property sits in an eligible zoning district and the operator holds an active OOSTR or NOOSTR permit from Metro Codes. Operating without a valid permit is not legal.
Can I still get a new non-owner-occupied (NOOSTR) permit in Nashville?
Only in specific zoning districts. Since the 2018 phase-out, new NOOSTR permits are issued as a use permitted with conditions in a defined set of commercial-adjacent and downtown-core districts, not in standard residential zones. Eligibility is parcel-specific, so verify the zoning before you buy.
How often is the Nashville short-term rental permit count updated?
Weekly. The tracker pulls the latest counts from Metro Nashville's public short-term rental permit dataset every week.
What the permit data shows
Nashville’s non-owner-occupied (NOOSTR) permit pool is shaped more by regulation than by demand. New NOOSTR issuance climbed through the mid-2010s and peaked in 2018, the same year BL2017-608 phased out new non-owner-occupied permits in most residential zoning districts. Since then, new NOOSTR permits have been issued mainly in commercial-mixed and Specific Plan districts approved for short-term rental use, which is why much of today’s permitted inventory sits in the downtown core, Germantown, and the East Nashville corridor.
Because Metro short-term rental permits are annual, the active count is a moving target: in some years expirations outpace new issuance and the pool of permitted properties actually contracts. For investors, that scarcity is the point, since a grandfathered or SP-approved NOOSTR permit is a finite asset. Use the current totals and the issuance pace above to gauge how competitive the permitted short-term rental market is before you buy, then confirm parcel-level eligibility with the Nashville STR zoning and permits guide.
This tracker is compiled and maintained by Grant Hammond, who has closed more than 550 non-owner-occupied Airbnb transactions across Davidson County, more Nashville short-term rental sales than any agent in the city’s history. No other Nashville brokerage tracks the permit data at this level of detail or refreshes it this often. Grant reads these numbers the way he underwrites his own short-term rental purchases, so the trends above reflect the market he works in every day.
These counts cover Davidson County (Metro Nashville) only. For the zoning rules, eligibility, and application process behind the numbers, see the which zoning districts still allow new NOOSTR permits. Considering a short-term rental investment? Talk with Grant Hammond.
Related Nashville Airbnb investor resources
- Nashville Airbnb investment properties for sale, the master guide to active NOOSTR-eligible inventory across the urban core.
- Nashville STR zoning and permits guide, the eligible zoning districts, application process, and rules behind these permit counts.
- Nashville Airbnb revenue & ROI guide, cap-rate, pro forma, and revenue modeling for non-owner-occupied properties.
- Nashville Airbnb market report, current short-term rental revenue, ADR, and occupancy benchmarks.
Looking at one building or unit? You can check the active permit on a specific address with our Nashville short-term rental permit lookup.
Download this data
The active-permit dataset behind this tracker is available as CSV, refreshed weekly with the tracker:
Cite as: Hammond, G. Nashville Active Short-Term Rental Permits (Weekly Tracker), granthammond.com. Underlying data: Metro Nashville Open Data.
