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  1. Home
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  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Georgia
  6. ·
  7. Sandy Springs

Sandy Springs

Prohibited
GeorgiaUpdated Mar 25, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

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

Verified Feb 12, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

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

Severity 100
Classification
Prohibited
100
Severity

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

What this means for you

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

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limit100/year
Primary residenceRequired
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$125
Processing time7-10 business days
Max fine$1,000

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Owner-occupancy on the same property is mandatory, making non-resident investment properties illegal.
  2. 2Notification must be sent to everyone within 500 feet of the property.
  3. 3There is a strict 100-day annual limit per group/family for rentals.
  4. 4The city uses third-party monitoring (Host Compliance) to track and cite unregistered listings.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility8 rules
  • 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.
Requirements11 rules
  • 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 process8 rules
  • 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 & costs2 rules
  • Sandy Springs charges a registration fee of $125 (annual).
  • Sandy Springs: Notification must be sent to everyone within 500 feet of the property.
Taxes2 rules
  • 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 & restrictions7 rules
  • 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 requirements1 rule
  • 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.
Penalties2 rules
  • 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.
Exemptions2 rules
  • 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).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Sandy Springs

0/4
steps completed
Step 1

Notify Neighbors

Notify all residents and property owners within a 500-foot radius of your intent to operate a short-term rental and provide emergency contact info.

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • Neighbor Notification Affidavit
Official resource
Step 2

Apply for Business License

Submit a New Business Occupational Tax Certificate application via the Build Sandy Springs portal or at City Hall.

7-10 days$125
Documents needed
  • Business License Application
  • Authorized Agent Affidavit
  • Proof of Insurance
Official resource
Step 3

Schedule Inspection

Schedule a mandatory inspection for compliance with building and fire codes through the permitting department.

1 week$50
Official resource
Step 4

Post Required Documentation

Once the permit is issued, post the city's noise ordinance and emergency contact information in a visible location within the unit.

1 dayFree
Documents needed
  • Noise Ordinance Poster

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

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