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Market guide · Tennessee

Rental arbitrage in Memphis.

Rental arbitrage in Memphis, TN can be legal with the landlord's written consent and the right approvals. Every STR needs a city permit, one per property, and the property owner, not the tenant, must get it. The permit includes screening and an on-site inspection. Stays of more than 30 continuous days fall outside it. Every ArbiBase listing in Memphis has signed owner consent and a local rules check.

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Local rules

Is rental arbitrage legal in Memphis?

Every STR needs a city permit, one per property, and the property owner, not the tenant, must get it. The permit includes screening and an on-site inspection. Stays of more than 30 continuous days fall outside it.

Every Memphis listing on ArbiBase clears our regulations check and has documented landlord consent before it goes live.

Found a Memphis address yourself? See if its estimated revenue clears 1.5x the rent before you call the landlord.

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STR statusSTR with Permit
MTR (30+ nights)Outside the city STR permit (more than 30 continuous days). Confirm with your lease and HOA.
TaxesCity STR occupancy tax plus a per-room-night assessment (Ord. 5856). Under Tennessee rules, stays of 30 to 89 nights avoid occupancy tax but still owe sales tax.
Market focusSTR + MTR

Full regulation record: Is Airbnb arbitrage legal in Memphis? · Statewide rules: Is rental arbitrage legal in Tennessee? · For owners in Memphis: renting your property to an operator

Rules change. This is a summary, not legal advice. Confirm with the city before signing a lease.

Sources, checked : Memphis Ordinance 5856: short-term rental rules (council record) · Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development: Short-term Rental Registration.

Verified regulations · Memphis, TN

The verified rules in Memphis.

STR with Permit

Verified by the ArbiBase Regulations team on . Next review .

The property owner, not the tenant, must get a separate STR permit for each property, which includes screening and an on-site inspection. Ord. 5980, on third reading Oct 6, 2026 and reported adopted, lets the city revoke a permit or bar STR use at a parcel after repeated incidents leading to criminal charges, and the Council is pushing for stricter enforcement.

21 STR-friendly ZIPs mapped — see them in ArbiBase →

STR ratingSTR with Permit
Permit or licenseRequired. The city permit or license must be in place before the first short stay.
Primary residenceNot required.
MTR (30+ nights)31
Owner consentY
Operator permitN

Primary sources: Short-term Rental Registration – Memphis/Shelby County Division of Planning and Development · Ordinance amending Ord. 5631 to establish rules and regulations for short term rentals in Memphis (Ord. 5856) · Memphis Code of Ordinances, Title 5, Chapter 5-44 Short Term Rental Ordinance · Memphis City Council Agenda Documents, Aug 18, 2026 – Ordinance amending Ord. 5856 (public nuisance) · Memphis City Council Agenda, Oct 6, 2026 · Resolution Addressing Public Safety Concerns Related to Short-Term Rental Properties.
Demand drivers

Who books in Memphis.

  • Medical district: St. Jude and UT Health
  • FedEx and logistics
  • Tourism
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Approved Memphis listings, already underwritten.

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Memphis FAQ

Questions operators ask about Memphis.

Is rental arbitrage legal in Memphis?

It can be, with the right approvals. Every STR needs a city permit, one per property, and the property owner, not the tenant, must get it. The permit includes screening and an on-site inspection. Stays of more than 30 continuous days fall outside it. Every ArbiBase listing in Memphis has documented landlord consent and a local rules check before it goes live.

How much can a rental arbitrage unit make in Memphis?

ArbiBase doesn't publish Memphis medians yet: there are no verified listings there to measure. Run an address through the free Greenlight check for an estimate against the 1.5x-rent bar before you sign.

Short-term or mid-term rental in Memphis?

Both can work. Short stays need the owner's city permit, and the application asks for proof of ownership, insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and an adult responsible party within 50 miles; the permit number goes in every online ad. Demand comes from the medical district (St. Jude and UT Health), FedEx and logistics, and tourism. Stays of more than 30 continuous days aren't STRs under the city ordinance.

What changed for Memphis short-term rentals in 2026?

Ordinance 5980, on third reading on October 6, 2026 and reported adopted, lets the city revoke a permit or bar STR use at a parcel after repeated incidents. Have the owner's permit in place before the first booking.

How do I find landlord-approved properties in Memphis?

Watch the ArbiBase deal board for Memphis listings as they go live, each landlord-approved and underwritten, or use concierge sourcing to have our team find one to your buy box.

Nearby markets

Compare other markets.

Tennessee · 9 listingsNashvilleRent $1,980·68% occ.Tennessee · New guideChattanoogaNon-owner STR in commercial zonesMissouri · New guideKansas CityRegistration, zoning limits

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