Overview: Are Short‑Term Rentals Allowed in Pikeville, TN?

Yes—Pikeville, Tennessee allows short‑term rentals and has no city‑specific ordinance that prohibits or uniquely regulates them as of the latest available materials on the city’s website and municipal code (see “Pikeville Charter and Ordinances” and the Municipal Code PDF under sources). Pikeville is a small town; the city’s ordinances are organized under standard municipal titles and do not contain a dedicated “Short‑Term Rental” or “Transient Vacation Rental” chapter. As a result, STR operators in Pikeville proceed under general state law for business licensing, taxation, and sales tax reporting, and under general building and fire codes adopted citywide (titles 12 and 7 respectively). No local hotel occupancy tax or separate STR permit is evident in the current materials. For county context, see Bledsoe County links in the sources.

Important practical caveat: Because Pikeville has no posted STR‑specific rules, every investor should verify zoning, building, and safety requirements before purchasing or leasing. In Tennessee, local zoning can limit rentals in residential districts even where no standalone STR ordinance exists. At a minimum, confirm that the intended use is a permitted “dwelling” use in the zoning district for the property address.

How to Start a Short‑Term Rental Business in This Market

1. Feasibility and zoning check

• Confirm that the property’s zoning district allows the rental of a dwelling to short‑term guests. Because Pikeville has no STR‑specific code, standard zoning for residential or mixed‑use districts governs. Many Tennessee towns limit “lodging” uses or require special approvals even where a separate STR ordinance is absent.
• Verify allowable density, parking, and occupancy limits for the structure in the zoning district and building code.

2. Business licensing and tax registration

• Obtain a Tennessee business tax certificate (often called a “business license” or “privilege tax license”) from the Pikeville recorder’s office (see contact section). This fulfills Tennessee’s “Business Tax Act” requirements and ensures you can operate legally.
• Register with the Tennessee Department of Revenue (DOR) for sales tax because short‑term lodging is subject to Tennessee sales tax. File returns and remit sales tax monthly or quarterly as assigned by DOR.

3. Safety and code readiness

• Inspect the property against Pikeville’s fire protection and building code provisions (titles 7 and 12 in the municipal code). Common items include:
  • Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms on each level and in sleeping rooms (most Tennessee jurisdictions use the International Residential Code family; align detectors with current code standards).
  • Carbon monoxide alarms where applicable (fuel‑burning appliances, garages, or adjacent units).
  • Clearly marked exits and egress pathways; functional locks that permit emergency egress.
  • Basic fire safety equipment (extinguishers, posted emergency information).

4. Insurance and risk management

• Secure general liability insurance and, where appropriate, property and short‑term rental management insurance. Check local fire and building code requirements that could affect coverage or underwriting.

5. Hosting operations and guest safety

• Draft guest rules covering occupancy limits, parking, quiet hours, smoking, and events.
• Post occupancy limits, emergency contact information, and evacuation plans in each rental unit.
• Keep lead disclosures and other applicable notices in place if triggered by property characteristics (e.g., water systems or paint hazards).

6. Revenue and compliance

• Collect and remit Tennessee sales tax on lodging charges. Note: some counties adopt a local hotel occupancy tax in addition to state sales tax. The provided Pikeville materials show wholesale beer tax but do not evidence a local hotel occupancy tax. Confirm with Bledsoe County if a countywide hotel tax applies.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Based on the available Pikeville municipal code and city website:

• Business Tax Certificate / Business License (privilege tax license). Issued by the City of Pikeville (Recorder’s Office) after payment of the privilege tax required under Tennessee’s Business Tax Act.
• Sales Tax Registration with the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Required to collect and remit sales tax on short‑term lodging.
• Zoning compliance. Confirm the dwelling use and any lodging restrictions in the applicable zoning district. If the property is in a historic district or special overlay, additional approvals may apply.
• Building and fire safety alignment. Comply with Pikeville’s fire protection (title 7) and building and utility codes (title 12). Obtain any required inspections or certificates if work is performed or if code compliance is in question.
• No city‑specific STR permit or registration is shown in the current materials; however, confirm with the city recorder whether a rental housing or landlord registration requirement exists at the city or county level.

Specific Regulations (City, County, and State)

City of Pikeville (no dedicated STR chapter identified)

• Charter and Ordinances: Pikeville’s governing structure and local laws are organized into titles; the ones most relevant to STRs are:
  • Title 7 – Fire Protection and Fireworks
  • Title 12 – Building, Utility, etc., Codes
  • Title 14 – Zoning and Land Use Control
  • Title 5 – Municipal Finance and Taxation (privilege taxes and business licensing)
• Business licensing: Title 5, Chapter 3 levies an annual privilege tax and requires a license for businesses operating within the town.
• Building and fire: Title 12 governs building and utility codes; Title 7 covers fire prevention and related obligations.
• Zoning: Title 14 controls land use; STRs are treated as uses within residential or mixed‑use districts. Confirm the district’s permitted uses and any lodging restrictions.

County (Bledsoe County)

• The provided materials list county links (Bledsoe County Courthouse and Chamber of Commerce). County regulations are separate from the city and may include taxes (e.g., local hotel occupancy tax) and permits not covered by Pikeville’s ordinances. Verify whether Bledsoe County has adopted a hotel occupancy tax or other rental‑related requirements.

State of Tennessee

• Business tax and licensing: Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) Title 67, Chapter 4 (Business Tax Act) authorizes municipal privilege taxes and requires business tax certificates for businesses operating in municipalities.
• Sales tax on lodging: Short‑term rentals are subject to Tennessee sales tax on gross proceeds (commonly 7.0% state rate), administered by the Department of Revenue.
• Building and fire codes: Tennessee adopts building and fire safety codes statewide, and municipalities adopt enforcement locally. Align with currently adopted codes; see title 7 (fire protection) and title 12 (building codes) for Pikeville’s local framework.
• Liability and safety: Standard landlord obligations and property safety standards apply. Maintain adequate insurance and ensure working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as required by state and local code.

Contact Information (Phone, Email, Website)

• City of Pikeville – Recorder’s Office (Business Licensing/Municipal Code)
  Phone: 423‑447‑2919
  Email: PikevilleInfo@Bledsoe.net
  Website: pikevilletn.com/charter-and-ordinances/
  Address: 25 Municipal Drive, Pikeville, TN 37367

• Tennessee Department of Revenue (Sales Tax Registration and Returns)
  Website: revenue.tn.gov/
  Contact: Use the DOR “Business Tax” and “Sales and Use Tax” portals to register accounts and file returns.

• Bledsoe County Courthouse (County Context)
  Website: bledsoetn.com/

• Pikeville – Bledsoe County Chamber of Commerce (Business Resources)
  Website: www.pikeville-bledsoe.com/

Source Pages (Links)

• City of Pikeville – Charter and Ordinances (Business Licensing, Fire, Building, Zoning, Taxation): pikevilletn.com/charter-and-ordinances/
• Pikeville Municipal Code (MTAS PDF; titles and chapters referenced above): www.mtas.tennessee.edu/system/files/codes/combined/Pikeville-code.pdf
• Bledsoe County Courthouse (county government): bledsoetn.com/
• Pikeville – Bledsoe County Chamber of Commerce (business resources): www.pikeville-bledsoe.com/
• City of Pikeville Home Page (general city information and contacts): pikevilletn.com/

Notes for Investors

• Confirm zoning and any lodging restrictions before purchase. Even without an STR ordinance, zoning can limit rentals in residential areas.
• Register for Tennessee sales tax and file remittances on gross lodging receipts.
• Obtain the municipal business tax certificate (privilege tax license).
• Align with fire and building code standards (alarms, egress, posted information, fire extinguishers).
• Verify whether Bledsoe County has adopted a hotel occupancy tax in addition to the state sales tax.