Legal Documents of White Pine

The county has determined that passage of a "generally applicable local law" incorporated within the zoning resolution for the regulation of short-term rental residences is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, as well as to promote the public interest by regulating the areas and methods of operation. All persons or entities that were operating short-term rentals prior to ________, 2022 and have confirmed prior operation by the remittance of taxes due on rental property pursuant to title 67, chapter 6, part of the Tennessee Code Annotated for filing periods that cover at least six (6) months within the twelve (12) month period prior to the effective date of the applicable requirements of the zoning resolution are not subject to these requirements. Following the noted effective date, operation of short-term rental residences within the county must adhere to the following standards and requirements:

1. A valid business license must be obtained from the county.
2. An application for a Short-Term Residential Permit (STRP) must be approved by the county. As part of the application, the property owner or management company must confirm tax registration on the Tennessee Taxpayer Access Point (TNTAP) for applicable sales and use taxes within the jurisdiction that the rental is operating has been completed to ensure remittance of appropriate taxes to the county.
3. Submittal of an Affidavit of Life Safety Compliance certifying installation of smoke alarms, a carbon monoxide detector, and a fire extinguisher. The affidavit must also include the number and location of this equipment.
4. The property owner must confirm effective comprehensive commercial insurance coverage of a minimum of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) for liability and property damage. (Preferably coverage specifically for short-term rentals.)
5. The applicant must sign an indemnification form to hold the county harmless related to the rental operation.
6. The building in which the short-term residential rental operates from shall be in compliance with all applicable building, housing, fire, and other adopted codes.
7. The short-term residential rental is considered the principal use of the property under county zoning. The county is not responsible for enforcing any private restrictions, deed restrictions, private covenants, or other private controls applicable to property with a short-term residential rental operation.
8. Administrative plan approval is required prior to operation of the short-term rental. The plan shall include the location of the operation, approximate square footage, ingress/egress, available parking, and a floor plan depicting all exits and the locations of the required life safety equipment.
9. Occupancy limits require no more than eight (8) renters allowed at any one time on the rental property to minimize any life-safety issues and noise levels.
10. There will be a minimum distance of five hundred feet (500') between individual short-term rentals.
11. Perimeter fencing at least four feet (4') in height around pools on the property is required.
12. The property owner operating a short-term rental following the effective date of passage of these requirements may continue to operate such use with a valid business license and STRP until such time as property is sold, transferred, or discontinues operation for at least thirty (30) continuous months. (as added by Ord. #8-22, October 2022 Ch15_11-07-23)