Legal Documents of Rocky Top

There are three (3) types of permits available under this chapter.

1. Owner occupied. This type of permit is available to owners who utilize the property as their principal residence, except in the instance of duplexes as further described in this section. A person can only hold one (1) owner occupied operating permit in the city, and it is only available to natural persons. The owner is not required to remain or be present at the short-term rental unit during the period when it is used as a short-term rental.
   
   1. If there is an accessory dwelling structure on the property, this type of operating permit can be used for either the primary dwelling or the accessory structure, but not for both. If the property houses a legal duplex and an owner owns both sides of the duplex, this type of permit is available to the owner for either side of the duplex so long as the owner's principal residence is on one side of the duplex.
   2. Proof of ownership and residency is required for this type of permit and shall be established by the deed for the property as recorded in the Anderson County/Campbell County Register of Deeds Office. Residency shall be established by at least two (2) of the following documents, which must list the address of the short-term rental unit on the document:
      1. Owner's motor vehicle registration;
      2. A valid driver's license or Tennessee identification card for owner;
      3. The address used for the school registration of owner's children;
      4. The owner's voter registration card; or
      5. Owner's W-2 form reflecting the property address.
   3. At least one owner (1) listed on the deed for the short-term rental unit must establish residency at the short-term rental unit.
2. Non-owner occupied (renter). This type of permit is available to an owner or lessee of the property and is available to a natural person or a business entity. Upon application for a non-owner-occupied permit, if a lessee is applying, they must provide the owner's signature as set forth above.

3. Unoccupied. This type of permit is available to a non-occupant owner of premises where the premises are only occupied when used as a short-term rental unit and is available to natural persons and business entities. These permits may also be held by an owner's agent, such as a rental company, with the rental company providing the same information and guarantees as is required of a lessee of property.

   If there is an accessory dwelling structure on the property, the permit can be used for the primary dwelling or accessory dwelling structure, but not for both. If a property houses a legal duplex and an owner owns both sides of the duplex, only one side of the duplex can be used. (Ord. #594, Oct. 2024)