Vacation rental resolution approved by Hamilton County Commission

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Wednesday morning, the County Commission finally approved new rules regarding vacation rentals.

Proposed by Commissioner Lee Helton, vacation rentals have now been banned in lots of less than one acre in both residential and agricultural zones of unincorporated Hamilton County.

This was presented as a compromise resolution to a previous failed proposal that would have completely banned vacation rentals in portions of the county.

Despite its passage, there were still vocal critics who were strongly against it.

Commissioner Joe Graham argued, “It could be seven tenths of an acre, it could be eight tenths of an acre, it could be a half-acre, but they don’t qualify because they don’t have an acre, so this discriminates against them. This discriminates really about rich or poor.” 

The new rules go into effect immediately but do not apply to vacation rentals already established.