Free planning checklist
Smoky Mountain STR Build Checklist
25 things to design into a rental cabin before you build, so it's ready for the Sevier County short-term rental inspection. Built from the county's published requirements by people who build and host cabins there.
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- Interconnected smoke alarms in every sleeping area, including sofa beds
- CO alarms within 15 feet of every bedroom door
- An extinguisher and an evacuation map on every level
- Fire pit 15 feet and charcoal grill 10 feet from the structure
- Tempered glass on windows within 60 inches of the hot tub
- Staying at 12 guests or fewer
- Permit, septic and driveway checks before you buy land
The STR-ready standard
Designed for the inspection, not just the photos
"Airbnb-ready" usually means nice finishes. Here it means each plan is checked against the life-safety items a rental inspector looks for, starting with Sevier County, Tennessee, home of the Great Smoky Mountains cabin market.
See all 25 items in the free checklistGuests or fewer
Above 12 occupants, or over three stories or 5,000 sq ft, newer Sevier County rentals can need a change of occupancy and sprinklers.
Fire pit to structure
Wood-burning fire pits sit at least 15 feet from the cabin. Decks count as part of the structure.
Hot tub glass
Windows within 60 inches of a hot tub must be tempered or filmed. Our window schedule flags them.
CO alarms to bedroom doors
CO alarms within 15 feet of every bedroom door, plus interconnected smoke alarms, an extinguisher and an evacuation map on every level.
Source: Sevier County Fire Marshal's Office, STRU inspection items (rev. 11/8/2024). Rules differ by city and county; confirm locally.