Nashville couple faces crackdown on illegal Airbnb rentals

In a recent government meeting, discussions centered around a property located at 1455 Snell Boulevard, Nashville, which has been the subject of scrutiny regarding its operation as a short-term rental. The property, owned by Casey Tyler Hyatt and his wife, was acquired on February 23, 2023, and subsequently listed on an Airbnb website on December 19, 2023. However, the listing raised compliance issues under local regulations governing short-term rentals.

According to the regulations outlined in BL 2020-187, the property is classified as an RS 7.5 zone district, which permits only owner-occupied rentals and mandates a one-year waiting period before a permit can be issued. Despite this, the board has discretion under BL 2023-136.6 to consider appeals.

Metro's compliance contractor identified the property as operating without the necessary permit, documenting three stays in February and March 2024. Following further inspections, a notice of violation was issued on April 15, 2024, after which the advertisement was temporarily removed. However, it was reposted on June 1, 2024, leading to a denial of the short-term rental permit application due to prior unauthorized operations.

During the meeting, Hyatt expressed his belief that he was operating within the law, citing a misunderstanding regarding the need for a permit for owner-occupied rentals. He explained that the rentals were primarily for students from a local surgical institute, emphasizing the necessity of accommodating their needs.

As of August 21, 2024, there have been 24 documented stays at the property, with the last recorded stay ending on August 18, 2024. The case remains under review as the appellants seek to appeal the permit denial, highlighting ongoing tensions between local regulations and the demand for short-term rental accommodations in Nashville.