What should Carrollton hosts know about combined tax rate of 15%?

Combined tax rate of 15% is higher than standard sales tax.

What are the permit fees in Carrollton?

The $5 per night state fee is mandatory for every stay in Georgia.

What should Carrollton hosts know about city of carrollton fire inspections?

City of Carrollton fire inspections are separate from county inspections; verify you are contacting the correct fire marshal.

Are there rental limits in Carrollton?

Carroll County's specific $200 STR permit only applies to properties outside the City of Carrollton limits.

Carrollton

Moderate

GeorgiaUpdated Mar 26, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 7, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

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 plus a $5 per night state fee.

Restriction level

Severity 8

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement
Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

To host a short-term rental in Carrollton, you must register your business with the city and obtain an Occupational Tax Certificate. You are required to collect and remit a combined tax of 15% on all stays under 30 days, along with a flat $5 per night state fee. A fire inspection from the City of Carrollton Fire Marshal is a mandatory part of the business licensing process.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$100

Processing time2-3 weeks

Max fine$1,000

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Combined tax rate of 15% is higher than standard sales tax.
2The $5 per night state fee is mandatory for every stay in Georgia.
3City of Carrollton fire inspections are separate from county inspections; verify you are contacting the correct fire marshal.
4Carroll County's specific $200 STR permit only applies to properties outside the City of Carrollton limits.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility5 rules

Carrollton: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Carrollton allows tenants to host STRs. Requirements: Tenants must have explicit written permission from the property owner to operate a business on the premises.
Carrollton: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements10 rules

Carrollton requires STR registration. The permit is called "Occupational Tax Certificate". Apply through City Clerk / Finance Department. Processing time: 2-3 weeks. Renewal is required.
Carrollton: Hosts must report their rental activity monthly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.

Application process8 rules

Carrollton STR permit - Step 3: Apply for Occupational Tax Certificate. Submit your business license application to the City Clerk's office. You will need to provide E-Verify and S.A.V.E. affidavits. Required documents: Photo ID, E-Verify Affidavit, Fire Marshal Approval. Time: 1-2 weeks. Cost: 100.

Fees & costs1 rule

Carrollton charges a registration fee of $100 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

Carrollton: Combined tax rate of 15% is higher than standard sales tax.
Carrollton charges a Hotel-Motel Excise Tax of 0.08%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Major platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo remit the 4% state sales tax, but hosts should verify city-level excise tax remittance.

Limits & restrictions4 rules

Carrollton limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Carrollton: Carroll County's specific $200 STR permit only applies to properties outside the City of Carrollton limits.
Carrollton: The $5 per night state fee is mandatory for every stay in Georgia.
Carrollton enforces quiet hours: 11pm-7am.

Safety requirements2 rules

Carrollton: City of Carrollton fire inspections are separate from county inspections; verify you are contacting the correct fire marshal.
Carrollton requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Fire exit plan, Working smoke alarms in all sleeping areas.

Penalties3 rules

Carrollton enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Varies by code section. Second offense: Varies. Third offense: Permit revocation possible. Maximum fine: 1000. Permit may be revoked for violations. Criminal penalties may apply.
Carrollton: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Carrollton

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Zoning Verification

Contact the Carrollton Community Development department to ensure your property's zoning allows for transient lodging or a home-based business.

1-3 daysFree

Official resource

Step 2

Fire Inspection

Schedule a fire safety inspection with the City of Carrollton Fire Marshal. This is a prerequisite for the Occupational Tax Certificate.

1 week$50

Documents needed

Proof of safety equipment installation

Official resource

Step 3

Apply for Occupational Tax Certificate

Submit your business license application to the City Clerk's office. You will need to provide E-Verify and S.A.V.E. affidavits.

1-2 weeks$100

Documents needed

Photo ID
E-Verify Affidavit
Fire Marshal Approval

Official resource

Step 4

Register for Hotel-Motel Tax

Register with the Finance Department to collect and remit the 8% local excise tax. Note that a $5 per night state fee also applies.

InstantFree

Documents needed

Occupational Tax Certificate

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes 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.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Carrollton

Moderate

GeorgiaUpdated Mar 26, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 7, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

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 plus a $5 per night state fee.

Restriction level

Severity 8

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement
Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$100

Processing time2-3 weeks

Max fine$1,000

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Combined tax rate of 15% is higher than standard sales tax.
2The $5 per night state fee is mandatory for every stay in Georgia.
3City of Carrollton fire inspections are separate from county inspections; verify you are contacting the correct fire marshal.
4Carroll County's specific $200 STR permit only applies to properties outside the City of Carrollton limits.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility5 rules

Carrollton: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Carrollton allows tenants to host STRs. Requirements: Tenants must have explicit written permission from the property owner to operate a business on the premises.
Carrollton: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements10 rules

Carrollton requires STR registration. The permit is called "Occupational Tax Certificate". Apply through City Clerk / Finance Department. Processing time: 2-3 weeks. Renewal is required.
Carrollton: Hosts must report their rental activity monthly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.

Application process8 rules

Carrollton STR permit - Step 3: Apply for Occupational Tax Certificate. Submit your business license application to the City Clerk's office. You will need to provide E-Verify and S.A.V.E. affidavits. Required documents: Photo ID, E-Verify Affidavit, Fire Marshal Approval. Time: 1-2 weeks. Cost: 100.

Fees & costs1 rule

Carrollton charges a registration fee of $100 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

Carrollton: Combined tax rate of 15% is higher than standard sales tax.
Carrollton charges a Hotel-Motel Excise Tax of 0.08%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Major platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo remit the 4% state sales tax, but hosts should verify city-level excise tax remittance.

Limits & restrictions4 rules

Carrollton limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Carrollton: Carroll County's specific $200 STR permit only applies to properties outside the City of Carrollton limits.
Carrollton: The $5 per night state fee is mandatory for every stay in Georgia.
Carrollton enforces quiet hours: 11pm-7am.

Safety requirements2 rules

Carrollton: City of Carrollton fire inspections are separate from county inspections; verify you are contacting the correct fire marshal.
Carrollton requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Fire exit plan, Working smoke alarms in all sleeping areas.

Penalties3 rules

Carrollton enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Varies by code section. Second offense: Varies. Third offense: Permit revocation possible. Maximum fine: 1000. Permit may be revoked for violations. Criminal penalties may apply.
Carrollton: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Carrollton

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Zoning Verification

Contact the Carrollton Community Development department to ensure your property's zoning allows for transient lodging or a home-based business.

1-3 daysFree

Official resource

Step 2

Fire Inspection

Schedule a fire safety inspection with the City of Carrollton Fire Marshal. This is a prerequisite for the Occupational Tax Certificate.

1 week$50

Documents needed

Proof of safety equipment installation

Official resource

Step 3

Apply for Occupational Tax Certificate

Submit your business license application to the City Clerk's office. You will need to provide E-Verify and S.A.V.E. affidavits.

1-2 weeks$100

Documents needed

Photo ID
E-Verify Affidavit
Fire Marshal Approval

Official resource

Step 4

Register for Hotel-Motel Tax

Register with the Finance Department to collect and remit the 8% local excise tax. Note that a $5 per night state fee also applies.

InstantFree

Documents needed

Occupational Tax Certificate

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Zoning Verification

Fire Inspection

Apply for Occupational Tax Certificate

Register for Hotel-Motel Tax

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Carrollton?

3What are the safety requirements for Carrollton rentals?

4Are there specific night limits or penalties in Carrollton?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Zoning Verification

Fire Inspection

Apply for Occupational Tax Certificate

Register for Hotel-Motel Tax

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Carrollton?

3What are the safety requirements for Carrollton rentals?

4Are there specific night limits or penalties in Carrollton?

Disclaimer