What should Sandy Springs hosts know about owner-occupancy on the same property?

Owner-occupancy on the same property is mandatory, making non-resident investment properties illegal.

What are the permit fees in Sandy Springs?

Notification must be sent to everyone within 500 feet of the property.

Are there rental limits in Sandy Springs?

There is a strict 100-day annual limit per group/family for rentals.

What should Sandy Springs hosts know about the city uses third-party monitoring?

The city uses third-party monitoring (Host Compliance) to track and cite unregistered listings.

Sandy Springs

Prohibited

STRs Allowed

GeorgiaLast updated: February 12, 2026

Baseline Verification

100%

Basic verification complete

Verified: Feb 12, 2026

Summary

Short-term rentals in Sandy Springs are strictly regulated, requiring an annual business license, mandatory property inspections, and a primary residence/owner-occupancy requirement.

Restriction Level

🚫

Prohibited

Score: 100 (lenient)

Why this classification:

•Primary residence required
•Owner-occupied required
•Moderate night cap: 100 nights/year
•Limited to 1 property per owner
•Tenants cannot host
•Permit required
•Reporting required
•Safety standards required

In Plain English

To host a short-term rental in Sandy Springs, you must live on the property where the rental is located. You are required to obtain an annual business license, undergo a safety inspection, and notify neighbors within 500 feet of your intent to rent. Additionally, individual rentals are capped at 100 days per calendar year.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

100/year

Primary Residence

Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

$125

Processing Time

7-10 business days

Max Fine

$1,000

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

Regulation Details

Eligibility(8)

•Sandy Springs requires that the property be the host's primary residence. Primary residence is defined as: The short-term rental unit must be located inside or adjacent to its owner's occupied dwelling on the same property.
•Sandy Springs: Properties with affordable housing restrictions or subsidies cannot be used for short-term rentals.

Requirements(11)

•Sandy Springs STR warning: There is a strict 100-day annual limit per group/family for rentals.
•Sandy Springs requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: $500,000. Proof of insurance specifically covering short-term rental activity is required during application.

Application Process(8)

•Sandy Springs: To apply for an STR permit, you'll need: Business License Application, Neighbor Notification Affidavit, Proof of Insurance, Authorized Agent Affidavit.
•Sandy Springs: The city uses third-party monitoring (Host Compliance) to track and cite unregistered listings.

Fees & Costs(2)

•Sandy Springs charges a registration fee of $125 (annual).
•Sandy Springs: Notification must be sent to everyone within 500 feet of the property.

Taxes(2)

•Georgia has a state sales tax of 0.04% that applies to STR rentals.
•Sandy Springs charges a Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax of 0.07%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit state taxes; hosts must ensure local 7% is remitted monthly if not collected by platform.

Limits & Restrictions(7)

•Sandy Springs occupancy calculation: Maximum of 4 unrelated persons per dwelling unit. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
•Sandy Springs limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
•Sandy Springs limits STRs to 100 nights per year. This applies to all rentals.
•Sandy Springs limits STRs to a maximum of 4 guests. Formula: Maximum of 4 unrelated persons per dwelling unit

Safety Requirements(1)

•Sandy Springs requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Post noise ordinance in visible location, Building code inspection required before permit issuance.

Penalties(2)

•Sandy Springs: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
•Sandy Springs enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Warning or Citation. Second offense: Increased fines and potential court appearance. Third offense: Permit revocation. Maximum fine: 1000. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions(2)

•Sandy Springs exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
•Sandy Springs: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

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Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Other Georgia Markets

Dahlonega

Georgia

Moderate

Short-term rentals in Dahlonega require both a city business license and an annual STR license, and are strictly prohibited in R-1 residential zones.

Permit required

0.2% total tax

Athens

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Strict

Athens-Clarke County strictly regulates short-term rentals by requiring primary residency in residential zones and limiting commercial rentals to non-residential districts.

Permit requiredPrimary residence

0.1% total tax

Augusta

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Augusta-Richmond County currently does not have a dedicated short-term rental ordinance or permit, though hosts must obtain a general business license and pay hotel-motel taxes.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Roswell

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Roswell adopted a comprehensive short-term rental ordinance in June 2025 requiring business registration, annual fire inspections, and a local agent available 24/7.

Permit required

0.2% total tax

Sandy Springs

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

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Regulation Details

Eligibility(8)

Requirements(11)

Application Process(8)

Fees & Costs(2)

Taxes(2)

Limits & Restrictions(7)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(2)

Exemptions(2)

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Step-by-Step Application Guide

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Other Georgia Markets

Dahlonega

Athens

Augusta

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Sandy Springs

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Frequently Asked Questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Sandy Springs?

2What is the short-term rental tax rate in Sandy Springs?

3Are there limits on how many nights I can rent my property?

4What are the requirements for operating an STR in Sandy Springs?

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Dahlonega

Athens

Augusta

Roswell