Chattanooga, Tennessee Short-Term Rental Market
Chattanooga STRs averaged $194/night at 58.1% occupancy in April 2026, with a market score of 97.3 out of 100.
Quick Answer: Chattanooga, Tennessee is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Chattanooga market area is 66%. average monthly revenue in the Chattanooga market area is $4,011. average daily rate in the Chattanooga market area is $217. the top operator in the Chattanooga market area is Evolve with 68 listings. market score is 97/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the wider Chattanooga market, which covers 11 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Chattanooga.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Chattanooga, TN is a high-performing short-term rental market anchored by the Tennessee Aquarium, Lookout Mountain attractions, and robust outdoor recreation. As of April 2026, the market held approximately 2,838 active listings, posting a $194 average daily rate (ADR), 58.1% occupancy, and a RevPAR of $112.53. Year-over-year performance was nearly flat on occupancy (down just 0.1 percentage point) while ADR rose 2.5% and monthly revenue per listing grew 4.1% compared to April 2025.
Entire-place listings account for 2,633 of the market’s inventory (93% of listings), with private rooms making up the remaining 209. By bedroom count, one-bedroom properties are most common at 1,076, followed by two-bedroom (739), three-bedroom (651), four-bedroom (242), and five-bedroom (130) listings. Platform distribution is split nearly evenly between Airbnb-only (1,354 listings) and dual-channel listings on both Airbnb and VRBO (1,346), with 142 VRBO-only listings.
Chattanooga earned an overall market score of 97.3 out of 100, the highest in this batch of markets. Key drivers are investability (90.4) and rental demand (87.9), supported by revenue growth (80.3) and seasonality (82.4). The market draws roughly 11.1 million visitors annually, generating a record $1.8 billion in visitor spending in 2024.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 45% |
| Feb | 52% |
| Mar | 64% |
| Apr | 60% |
| May | 61% |
| Jun | 67% |
| Jul | 70% |
| Aug | 59% |
| Sep | 59% |
| Oct | 65% |
| Nov | 59% |
| Dec | 55% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Chattanooga are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Chattanooga market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Chattanooga market as a whole, which includes Chattanooga, so these counts are not Chattanooga-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 68 | 4,200 | ★ 4.79 |
| 2 | Unique Stays | 61 | 5,633 | ★ 4.65 |
| 3 | Timberroot Rustic Retreats | 53 | 11,084 | ★ 4.84 |
| 4 | iTrip Vacations | 53 | 1,997 | ★ 4.92 |
| 5 | River City Vacation Rentals | 52 | 4,170 | ★ 4.86 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Chattanooga?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Chattanooga are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 47.6% |
| vrbo | 5% |
| both | 47.4% |
Home Value Trends (Chattanooga)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Chattanooga are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Chattanooga — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Chattanooga requires a Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Certificate under Ordinance No. 13981 to legally operate any short-term rental. The city runs a two-tier permit system. A Homestay permit (for owner-occupied primary residences where the owner lives on-site 183 or more days per year) costs $250 to apply and $250 to renew annually. An Absentee permit (for non-owner-occupied properties) costs $500 to apply and $500 to renew annually.
Absentee (investor-operated) rentals are permitted but tightly zoned. They are allowed only in commercial and mixed-use districts that permit hotels (C-C, C-R, C-MU1, C-MU2, CC, IX, RF, RV, SH, CX) or on residential parcels of 20 or more acres. Property eligibility must be verified through the Hamilton County GIS map before purchasing for STR purposes. Homestay operators enjoy broader zoning access via the STR overlay.
Application requirements include a state ID showing the property address, proof of ownership, a homeowners insurance declaration page, a City of Chattanooga business license, a site and floor plan identifying safety features, and an emergency escape plan posted in red. Certificates expire annually, with renewals opening 30 days before expiration. Beginning January 1, 2026, the STVR certificate must be physically posted inside the rental, and a photo of the posted certificate must be uploaded at renewal.
The occupancy tax rate is 8% (4% City of Chattanooga plus 4% Hamilton County), applied on top of Tennessee’s 7% state sales tax and approximately 2.25% local sales tax. Enforcement is strict: violations are heard by an administrative hearing officer with authority to fine up to $500 per day.
Market Comparison
Chattanooga’s 58.1% occupancy in April 2026 is near the approximate U.S. STR median of 55%, and its $194 ADR is moderately below the approximate national median of $220, positioning it as a mid-rate, solid-utilization market. The RevPAR of $112.53 and the market’s 97.3 overall score reflect a market punching above its size class for investor returns.
Among the top operators, Evolve leads with 68 listings and a 4.79 rating across 4,200 reviews. Timberroot Rustic Retreats manages 53 listings with the market’s highest review count at 11,084 and a 4.84 rating, indicating a well-established specialist in cabin and mountain inventory. iTrip Vacations manages 53 listings at the highest rating among the top five at 4.92 across 1,997 reviews. River City Vacation Rentals holds 52 listings at a 4.86 rating across 4,170 reviews, and Unique Stays manages 61 listings at a 4.65 rating across 5,633 reviews. The top 5 collectively manage 287 listings, approximately 10.1% of the roughly 2,838-listing market. This low concentration indicates a primarily independent operator market with room for new entrants. All five top operators carry ratings above 4.6, reflecting a quality-competitive environment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chattanooga, Tennessee
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