City Looks To Get Short-Term Rentals In Compliance

The City of Cookeville is aware of several property owners operating short-term rentals without a permit.

City Planning Director James Mills said the codes department will notifying property owners about getting in compliance with the city ordinance addressing short-term rentals.

“If they don’t, the next process is to cite them into city court,” Mills said. “They would be subject to fines up to $50 per day.  We can also take them before chancery court and try to bring them into compliance.”

Mills said the city has received notification about the non-permitted short-term rentals from city residents, with some being operated as Airbnb locations.

“Since we adopted the ordinances, residents are calling in and letting us know about them and we periodically check the internet to see where people are advertising for short-term rentals,” Mills said. “We are aware of them and our codes department contacts the property owner.”

Mills said Cookeville has issued a total of two permits since adopting a set of ordinances for short-term rental properties.

“We expected a few more, but we were never under the impression that there was an enormous number of short-term rentals in the city. The most I think we were ever aware of was 10 or 12,” Mills said. “There’s just not that many full-time short-term rentals in the city that we are aware of.”

Mills said the short-term rentals come and go and usually pop up more frequently during large events.

“The one that comes to mind is the eclipse. We had a lot of people come into town then and I’m sure there were several that operated for just that weekend,” Mills said.

The fee for obtaining a permit is $100 along with a $50 fee for an annual renewal.

City ordinance allows owner-occupied short-term rental properties to locate in single family residential areas. Non-owner occupied short term rentals can operate in multi-family and commercial zones.

Last week, the city council approved a commercial rezoning request for property at 111 Chestnut Avenue. Mills said the property owner plans to operate a short-term rental at the home.

“The rezoning will have to become official and then they will have to apply for a permit, but the owner fully intends to do that,” Mills said.

The rezoning request must be approved on second and final reading during the January 17th city council meeting.