CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Some short-term rental owners could be getting a break on permit requirements thanks to new legislation before the City Council.

Under the resolution sponsored by Ward 4’s Wallace Redd, certain owners would not have to get a safety permit from city officials to participate in short-term rental services such as AirBnB and VRBO. The idea was proposed in June, but was postponed and sent to the Finance Committee. Affected owners include:

  • Individuals who operate only one single short-term rental unit.
  • Individuals who operate and list only one single room as a short-term rental unit in a dwelling that is owner-occupied.
  • Individuals who operate a short-term rental unit for less than six months in any calendar year.

Ward 10’s Stacey Streetman, who played a large role in drafting the original short-term rental ordinance, suggested that any relaxation of the requirements are a safety issue as well as an invitation for abuse by out-of-town investors.

“What counts as one individual owner? Is that somebody that’s got multiple LLC’s and multiple properties?” Streetman said. “It wouldn’t make sense to just exempt a few different properties.”

Streetman asked council members to consider moving the ordinance not only back to the Finance Committee, but to the Safety Committee as well.

The legislation received praise from multiple other council members, including Ward 12’s Trisha Butler, who earlier this year sought to deregulate short-term rentals entirely.

“One of the big complaints when we discussed this last time is that you have people that are living out of state that are basically running these motels here. This kind of keys it in on singular people,” Butler told council members. “I am really disenchanted by the fact that the short-term rental ordinance, which we all know I didn’t like to begin with, is kind of untouchable and there’s kind of no compromise. … This is one step, one concession, that could be made to take care of people that feel disenfranchised.”

Ward 8’s Wanda Allen added that relaxing the rules could benefit soldiers and veterans who may have trouble selling homes quickly while having to move.

According to the city’s Chief Financial Officer Laurie Matta, 35 units received short-term rental permits in the 2021 fiscal year. For 2022, an additional 16 have applied, with eight accepted so far.

The City Council is expected to vote on the short-term rental deregulation legislation at the next regular session, Thursday, Aug. 5, at 6 p.m. The ordinance will require two votes to pass.