Gatlinburg, Tennessee Short Term Rental Regulations
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Reviewed by Karolyn Hutson
Last updated August 23, 2023
Gatlinburg Short-Term Rental Regulations
Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.
City Code of Ordinances
Gatlinburg has a few regulations for short-term rentals or also called Tourist Residence. Tourist Residences are defined as “Any dwelling used for the overnight and/or weekly rental to tourists and required by the city to obtain an annual Tourist Residence Permit.” For more information, see Gatlinburg Zoning Ordinance.Business License Requirements
Property owners must apply for a City Business License Tax Form, Tourist Residency Permit, and payment of any and all applicable State and County licenses. The permit shall be obtained after meeting the following special conditions:- Off-Street Parking: Requirements shall be determined by the building official based on the maximum sleeping accommodations established for the tourist residence, and in no case may be less than two (2) on-site parking spaces, except single bedroom units, shall be required to provide one (1) on-site parking space.
- The structure shall meet all applicable City Code requirements for the housing of transient residents.
- Administrative review and approval of a site plan which shall show the location of the principal building, any accessory buildings, off-street parking provisions, and any other site information required by the City’s Planning and Building Inspections Departments.
Building and Housing Standards
Gatlinburg has rules and regulations that specify minimum building, design, maintenance standards, habitability, health, and safety requirements. Some rules and regulations that apply to residential and non-residential properties may apply to your listing. Please consult the Gatlinburg Building Code.Tourist and Local Taxes
The hotel/motel tax is 3% of total gross hotel sales, giving the consumer a total sales tax of 12.75 percent (3 percent for the city, 9.75 percent for the state of Tennessee). This is an additional cost for the customer.Other Rules
It is also essential to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as leases, condo boards, co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. Please read your lease agreement and check with your landlord if applicable. Visit the Gatlinburg website for more information.Is something not quite right? Registered users can suggest changes to this guide.
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Short Term City Rating5.5
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Competition
2.1 -
Real Estate Cost
6.0 -
STR Regulations
8.0 -
Seasonality
3.7 -
Rental Rates
7.8
Gatlinburg, Tennessee Quick Stats
Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.
- Population
- 3,860
- STR License Required
- Yes
- Tourist Season
- June to August, October
- County
- Sevier
- Airports
- Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport (GKT)
- McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
Want to learn more about Gatlinburg?
Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.
Check out our Gatlinburg rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Gatlinburg rental market.
Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Gatlinburg.
The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.
Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.
What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Gatlinburg guests.
Interested in other Tennessee cities?
Check out the Tennessee Airbnb rules directory
What makes Gatlinburg a great place to invest?
Gatlinburg Popular Tourist Spots
- The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Gatlinburg's biggest draw. The park covers over 800 square miles and is home to an incredible plant and animal life diversity. Visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as whitewater rafting, ziplining, and horseback riding. For the more leisurely traveler, enjoy a scenic drive through the national park, a picnic by a mountain stream, or fishing in one of the area's numerous rivers and stream
- Ober Gatlinburg is Gatlinburg's only ski resort and a great place to enjoy winter sports. The resort also has an ice skating rink, alpine slide, and aerial tramway. In the summer, Ober Gatlinburg offers hiking and scenic chairlift rides.
- Dollywood is a theme park located in nearby Pigeon Forge. The park features rides, shows, and attractions based on the life and work of country music legend Dolly Parton. Dollywood is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area.
- The Gatlinburg Space Needle is a 400-foot tall observation tower with breathtaking views of the surrounding area, including Mount LeConte.
- The Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster is a 16-mile long alpine coaster that takes riders through forests and lakes in Gatlinburg. The ride has several different levels of thrill and excitement for a variety of ages and skill levels.
- Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies: This world-class aquarium is one of Gatlinburg's most popular attractions. See thousands of sea creatures, including sharks, rays, and penguins. Don't miss the popular Penguin Playhouse, where you can watch the penguins waddle and play.
Gatlinburg Nearby Cities
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6 miles away
- Rating: 4.7
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8 miles away
- Rating: 5.5
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Local Real Estate
How expensive is the real estate in Gatlinburg?
The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in Gatlinburg has decreased -21% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $357, which is higher than the national average.
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Median Sale Price
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$480,783
-21% YoY
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Median per Square Foot
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$357
-12% YoY
Local Short-Term Rental News for Gatlinburg
The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Common terms for Gatlinburg short term rental listings.
When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.
Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:
- Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
- Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
- Informative: The average listing in Gatlinburg has a description approximately 2,463 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.
After reviewing more than 10,418 listings in Gatlinburg, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Cabin, Hot tub, Smoky Mountain, Pigeon Forge, Game, Deck, Gatlinburg, Pool, Sleeper, and Relax.
What are the most popular tourist activities in Gatlinburg?
Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in Gatlinburg involve Theme Parks, Hiking, Museums, Water Parks, and Horseback Riding. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.
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Theme Parks
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Hiking
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Museums
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Water Parks
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Horseback Riding
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Outlet Shopping
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Wildlife Viewing
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Winery Tours
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Antiquing
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Rafting
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Mountain Biking
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Snow Skiing
Local Attractions
What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?
There are quite a few popular attractions in Gatlinburg, including Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Dollywood, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Island at Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg SkyLift Park. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.
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Well Known Attraction
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Included on nearly all listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Dollywood
Included on nearly all listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
Included on nearly all listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Gatlinburg SkyLift Park
Included on nearly all listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort and Amusement Park
Included on nearly all listings
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Regional Landmark
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Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park
Included on nearly all listings
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Well Known Attraction
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Island at Pigeon Forge
Included on nearly all listings
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Regional Landmark
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Gatlinburg Space Needle
Included on nearly all listings
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Regional Landmark
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Gatlinburg Convention Center
Included on most listings
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Local Landmark
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Smoky Mountain Brewery
Included on 88% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery
Included on 84% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Traffic Light #6
Included on 82% of listings
What’s the weather like in Gatlinburg, Tennessee?
The weather is generally milder than the national average, with an average high temperature of around 67°, while the average low is about 47°. The rainfall is much heavier, averaging about 43 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall is relatively rare, averaging less than 6 inches per year. The humidity levels in Gatlinburg are generally lower than the national average, and the city has a mix of clouds and sunshine for most of the year.
Winter
December through February
31° Low 49° High
Spring
March through May
46° Low 68° High
Summer
June through August
63° Low 83° High
Fall
September through November
47° Low 69° High
Cities Near Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is located in Sevier County. Some cities that are located nearby include:
