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

**Yes**, Savannah requires a Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Certificate to operate legally. You need to apply through the city and ensure your property is located within a designated STVR overlay zone. The certification costs $300. Operating without this verified permit can result in fines.

What is the TOT tax rate in Savannah, GA?

**6% TOT** is the current transient occupancy tax rate for short-term rentals in Savannah. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the city. Airbnb and VRBO may automatically collect a portion of this tax in certain jurisdictions.

How much does an STR permit cost in Savannah?

**The STVR certificate costs $300** in Savannah, Georgia. You must renew this permit annually to continue operating a short-term rental legally. Make sure to factor this fee into your operating costs when calculating potential revenue and profitability for your Savannah short-term rental property.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Savannah?

**No**, tenants are not permitted to host on Airbnb in Savannah, GA. The city requires that the property owner apply for and obtain the STVR certificate. Renters cannot sublease their apartments or homes as short-term rentals without violating local ordinances and lease agreements.

Savannah

Q: Are short-term rentals allowed in Savannah?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are permitted in Savannah, but with restrictions. The City of Savannah strictly regulates STVRs through a mandatory certification process and geographic overlay zones. Properties must be located within specific STVR-eligible zoning districts to receive a permit, so check zoning regulations first.

Moderate

GeorgiaUpdated Mar 28, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

The City of Savannah strictly regulates Short-Term Vacation Rentals (STVRs) through a mandatory certification process and geographic overlay zones. Stays are defined as 30 days or fewer, and properties must be located within specific STVR-eligible zoning districts to receive a permit.

Restriction level

Severity 26

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Moderate permit fee: $300
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

If you're planning to rent out your property in Savannah for short periods, you'll need to get a permit from the city. There are rules about how long guests can stay (no more than 29 consecutive nights), and how many guests you can have. Make sure to collect and remit all required taxes, and be aware that the city actively enforces these rules, so it's important to follow them to avoid fines.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$300

Processing time30-45 days

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility9 rules

Savannah prohibits STRs in the following property types: Recreational Vehicles (RVs), Tents, Outdoor spaces.
Savannah rent control/RSO note: N/A
Savannah, GA: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Savannah allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwelling, Multi-family dwelling, Townhouse, Condo.

Requirements20 rules

Savannah STR warning: You must pay a $1.00 per night local fee in addition to the 6% tax rate.
Savannah: The certificate number must be included in all online advertisements.
Savannah STR warning: Non-owner occupied STVRs are capped at 20% of residential units per block in some districts.
Savannah STR warning: A local contact person must be available 24/7 and respond to complaints within 60 minutes.

Application process12 rules

Savannah STR permit - Step 4: Pass Safety Inspection. A city inspector will visit to ensure fire safety and building code compliance. Time: 7-10 days.
Savannah, GA: To apply for an STR permit, you'll need: STVR Application Form, Business Tax Certificate, Proof of Property Ownership, Rental Management Agreement (if applicable), Proof of Liability Insurance, Site Plan/Floor Plan.

Fees & costs1 rule

Savannah charges a registration fee of $300 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Georgia has a state sales tax of 4% that applies to STR rentals.
Savannah charges a Hotel/Motel Tax (Occupancy Tax) of 6%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Platforms generally collect the 6% city and 4% state sales tax, but hosts may still be responsible for the $1.00/night local fee and $5.00/night state fee if not collected.

Limits & restrictions9 rules

Savannah enforces quiet hours: 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
Savannah occupancy calculation: 2 adults per bedroom plus 2 additional adults for the unit, capped at maximum occupancy set by fire marshal.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Savannah requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Building code compliance inspection required, Egress window compliance, Working landline phone or emergency contact signage.

Penalties3 rules

Savannah enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 fine. Second offense: $1,000 fine. Third offense: Revocation of STVR certificate. Daily fine: $500 - $1,000 per day. Maximum fine: $1,000 per violation. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Savannah: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions3 rules

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

Frequently asked questions

5 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

Savannah

Moderate

GeorgiaUpdated Mar 28, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 26

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Moderate permit fee: $300
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

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$300

Processing time30-45 days

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility9 rules

Savannah prohibits STRs in the following property types: Recreational Vehicles (RVs), Tents, Outdoor spaces.
Savannah rent control/RSO note: N/A
Savannah, GA: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Savannah allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwelling, Multi-family dwelling, Townhouse, Condo.

Requirements20 rules

Savannah STR warning: You must pay a $1.00 per night local fee in addition to the 6% tax rate.
Savannah: The certificate number must be included in all online advertisements.
Savannah STR warning: Non-owner occupied STVRs are capped at 20% of residential units per block in some districts.
Savannah STR warning: A local contact person must be available 24/7 and respond to complaints within 60 minutes.

Application process12 rules

Savannah STR permit - Step 4: Pass Safety Inspection. A city inspector will visit to ensure fire safety and building code compliance. Time: 7-10 days.
Savannah, GA: To apply for an STR permit, you'll need: STVR Application Form, Business Tax Certificate, Proof of Property Ownership, Rental Management Agreement (if applicable), Proof of Liability Insurance, Site Plan/Floor Plan.

Fees & costs1 rule

Savannah charges a registration fee of $300 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Georgia has a state sales tax of 4% that applies to STR rentals.
Savannah charges a Hotel/Motel Tax (Occupancy Tax) of 6%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Platforms generally collect the 6% city and 4% state sales tax, but hosts may still be responsible for the $1.00/night local fee and $5.00/night state fee if not collected.

Limits & restrictions9 rules

Savannah enforces quiet hours: 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
Savannah occupancy calculation: 2 adults per bedroom plus 2 additional adults for the unit, capped at maximum occupancy set by fire marshal.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Savannah requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Building code compliance inspection required, Egress window compliance, Working landline phone or emergency contact signage.

Penalties3 rules

Savannah enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 fine. Second offense: $1,000 fine. Third offense: Revocation of STVR certificate. Daily fine: $500 - $1,000 per day. Maximum fine: $1,000 per violation. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Savannah: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions3 rules

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

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Savannah, GA?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Savannah?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Savannah?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Savannah?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Savannah, GA?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Savannah?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Savannah?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Savannah?

Disclaimer