Nashville appeals board upholds denial of short‑term rental permit over undeclared operation

The Metropolitan Short‑Term Rental Appeals Board on June 24 upheld a decision to deny a short‑term rental permit for 3679 Rich Brier Circle after staff presented records showing multiple online advertisements and dozens of documented stays before a permit was issued.

Metro codes staff traced three advertising listings and documented stays in December 2025 through February 2026. Short‑term rental compliance contractor records and inspector verification formed the basis of the zoning administrator’s determination that the property had operated without a permit and therefore triggered a one‑year waiting period before eligibility.

Appellant Sahil Dasawad told the board he and a co‑host moved from South Carolina intending to run a side Airbnb business and that they did not realize a Nashville short‑term rental permit was required. “As soon as we were notified that a short‑term rental permit is required, we stopped all of our short‑term rental business,” Dasawad said. He said some stays in April were booked earlier and could not be canceled through Airbnb.

Neighbor Dr. Angela Stone and two written opponents said they saw guests with luggage, observed inebriated people lingering near the house and flagged what they described as a relisting under alternate names after citation. Stone said the behavior showed a “deliberate attempt to go around the proper permitting procedures.”

Board members debated intent, whether the appellant had taken remedial action and the credibility of the claim that Airbnb would not allow cancellations. After discussion, the board voted to uphold the zoning administrator’s decision; the motion to deny relief carried 2‑1.

The board’s decision means the appellant must follow the Metro code process for any future application, including the one‑year waiting period tied to operation prior to permitting unless the board or code staff take a different action in a future proceeding.