Renting my primary only 9 months after purchase??

[Eric Johnson]

Hello BP community! 

I purchased a primary residence, March of this year utilizing a conventional loan with 10% down. Due to certain circumstances I will be moving this coming December/January ( only 9 months after purchase ).  After the cost of selling and capital gains taxes I'm looking at walking away with about $65K,  which is about $15k more than I have into it. 

I'd much rather keep it as a rental though...

Being that I will have only owned it 9 months, can I even legally rent it out?? I've heard several times that I have to live in it at least 12 months before I can rent it.  are there any "loopholes" around that? is it law or just a sort of "guideline" ?

Thanks in advance!!