Georgia short-term rental regulations

Georgia · The Peach State20 markets coveredUpdated Apr 19, 2026

Restriction mix20 markets

Prohibited2 · 10%

Strict3 · 15%

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Prohibited

Banned or owner-occupied only

2 markets

STRs are banned outright or limited to owner-occupied stays only.

Sandy Springs

Georgia

Prohibited

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

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1250.1% tax

Blue Ridge

Georgia

Prohibited

Short-term rentals (STRs) in Blue Ridge are highly restricted, generally limited to properties in the Central Business District (CBD) and requiring both a city...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1500.1% tax

Strict

Heavy restrictions apply

3 markets

Heavy regulation: caps, primary-residence rules, lottery permits, or night limits.

Athens

Georgia

Strict

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

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $500.1% tax

Decatur

Georgia

Strict

The City of Decatur requires an annual short-term rental permit, primary residency for hosts, and a local property manager available 24/7.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1250.1% tax

Atlanta

Georgia

Strict

The City of Atlanta requires all short-term rental hosts to obtain an annual license for a fee of $150.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1500.1% tax

Moderate

Permit required · STRs broadly allowed

11 markets

Permit + tax registration required; otherwise STRs are broadly allowed.

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 requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1000.2% tax

Augusta

Georgia

Moderate

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...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1500.1% tax

Glynn County

GeorgiaCounty

Moderate

Glynn County (unincorporated) requires all short-term rental hosts to obtain a Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Certificate and an Occupation Tax Certificate.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1500.1% tax

Tybee Island

Georgia

Moderate

The City of Tybee Island strictly regulates short-term rentals through a mandatory annual regulatory permit and a 7% local excise tax.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $3000.1% tax

Jekyll Island

Georgia

Moderate

Short-term rentals on Jekyll Island are governed by the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA) rather than a traditional city government.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $3500.1% tax

Valdosta

Georgia

Moderate

Short-term rentals in Valdosta are permitted but regulated through general business licensing and zoning ordinances rather than a dedicated short-term rental...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $350.1% tax

Carrollton

Georgia

Moderate

Short-term rentals in the City of Carrollton require a standard Occupational Tax Certificate (business license) and must collect an 8% local hotel-motel tax...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1000.1% tax

Savannah

Georgia

Moderate

The City of Savannah strictly regulates Short-Term Vacation Rentals (STVRs) through a mandatory certification process and geographic overlay zones.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $3000.1% tax

Macon

Georgia

Moderate

Macon-Bibb County requires all short-term vacation rentals (STVRs) to obtain an STVR permit and a business tax certificate while complying with specific zoning...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Free permit0.1% tax

Columbus

Georgia

Moderate

Columbus requires all short-term rental operators to obtain an annual permit, a business license, and collect an 8% local hotel-motel tax.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1500.2% tax

Alpharetta

Georgia

Moderate

Alpharetta permits short-term rentals subject to a strict 5% neighborhood density cap and an annual $500 licensing requirement.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $5000.2% tax

Permissive

Light-touch rules · STRs welcome

4 markets

Minimal restrictions: basic registration, no permit caps, no night limits.

Roswell

Georgia

Permissive

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

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $350.2% tax

Marietta

Georgia

Permissive

Short-term rentals in the City of Marietta are governed by general business license requirements and a specific rental property license code, alongside an 8%...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1500.1% tax

Milledgeville

Georgia

Permissive

Short-term rentals in Milledgeville require a general business license and tax registration, while unincorporated Baldwin County requires a specific $500...

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1250.2% tax

Rome

Georgia

Permissive

Rome, GA does not have a specific short-term rental ordinance; instead, STRs are regulated under general business licensing and a local 8% hotel/motel tax.

Permit requiredNight limitPrimary residence

Permit fee $1500.1% tax

Georgia short-term rental regulations

Banned or owner-occupied only

Sandy Springs

Blue Ridge

Heavy restrictions apply

Athens

Decatur

Atlanta

Permit required · STRs broadly allowed

Dahlonega

Augusta

Glynn County

Tybee Island

Jekyll Island

Valdosta

Carrollton

Savannah

Macon

Columbus

Alpharetta

Light-touch rules · STRs welcome

Roswell

Marietta

Milledgeville

Rome

Neighboring states & common comparisons