State Airbnb laws2026 35 sources cited

Georgia Short-Term Rental Laws & Hotel Tax (2026)

Short-term rentals are legal in Georgia with no state permit; cities and counties license them (Atlanta $150 a year, Savannah $400), and stays carry 4% state sales tax, local taxes up to 8% and a $5 per night state fee.6,7,8,14,15,17,19,21,25,28

Source: AirROI Reviewed by , Founder @ AirROI Rules checked

From 29 official sources, 2 Airbnb help pages and 3 news reports. Not legal advice.

The short answer

Georgia Airbnb Laws in Brief

  • No state permit: each city and county decides. Atlanta, Savannah, Tybee Island, Athens-Clarke County, Gilmer County, Glynn County and the City of Ellijay require a license, certificate or permit.
  • License costs: Atlanta $150 a year, Savannah $400 new and $250 to renew, City of Blue Ridge $100 a year, City of Ellijay $150 a year.
  • Taxes on a stay: 4% state sales tax, 2% to 5% county sales tax, a local hotel-motel tax of up to 8%, and $5 a night for the first 30 nights. Airbnb collects all of them.
  • Local fines run $250 to $1,000 per violation (Savannah $500 to $1,000, Atlanta $500, Blue Ridge from $250); the state training law adds $500 to $2,000 for third-party-managed rentals.

At a glance

Georgia Short-Term Rental Laws at a Glance

State license required
Yes
Next rule change
January 2027

The laws in brief

The rules a Georgia host meets first, each linked to the ordinance, statute or official page it comes from. Details and exceptions follow below.

Georgia Short-Term Rental Laws at a Glance
TopicRule
PermitPermits are set by cities and counties30
Who can hostAtlanta: primary residence plus one more home14,15,29
WhereSavannah: rentals only in the overlay district17,18,19
Building rulesHOA and condo rules can still ban rentals7,16
Minimum stayShort-term means 30 days or less in most cities4,17,26
GuestsGilmer County: two guests per bedroom plus two7
Listing displayAtlanta: license number on every listing14
PlatformsPlatforms collect the state fee9
SafetyThird-party managers must complete annual human-trafficking training2

Your home

Can You Host an Airbnb in Georgia? It Depends on the Home

Whether you can host in Georgia turns on whose home it is and whether you live there.

Your own home, rented whole while you're away

Allowed with conditions

Allowed with a local license where the city or county requires one: Atlanta licenses a primary residence at $150 a year, Savannah issues certificates in its overlay district, and the City of Blue Ridge allows rentals only in its Central Business District. Unincorporated areas of Gilmer and Glynn counties require a host license or certificate.6,7,14,17,25

A second home or investment property you don't live in

Allowed with conditions

Depends on the place. Atlanta covers one additional unit on a primary-residence license; Savannah's 20% ward cap applies to non-owner-occupied homes in its historic districts; Athens-Clarke County limits commercial rentals to certain zones; and Gilmer and Glynn counties license any rental in their unincorporated areas.7,15,17,18,25,26,28

A room in your home with you present

Allowed with conditions

Rented rooms fall under the same local license where the ordinance covers any portion of a dwelling, as in Atlanta; Savannah regulates a rented room in an owner-occupied home separately as a bed and breakfast homestay.4,18

A condo or home in an HOA community

Allowed with conditions

City licenses do not override association rules: Atlanta says homeowner associations can prohibit rentals, and Gilmer County requires a certification that no deed restriction or covenant bars short-term rental use.7,16

A rented home (tenant hosting)

Allowed with conditions

In Atlanta a long-term tenant can apply for the license for their primary residence, and Athens-Clarke County allows a long-term tenant to run a home-occupation rental; the lease and landlord permission still apply.14,26

Permit

Do You Need a License for Airbnb in Georgia?

Yes. Georgia hosts need the Local short-term rental license from city, consolidated government or county where the home stands (for example Atlanta's Department of City Planning, Savannah's Planning and Urban Design office, Glynn County's Licensing and Compliance Department). It costs $150.6,7,8,14,15,17,19,21,25,28

Who needs it
Hosts in places that license short-term rentals, including Atlanta, Savannah, Tybee Island, Athens-Clarke County, the City of Ellijay and unincorporated Gilmer and Glynn counties. The state does not issue a host permit.6,7,8,14,15,17,19,21,25,28
Issued by
The city, consolidated government or county where the home stands (for example Atlanta's Department of City Planning, Savannah's Planning and Urban Design office, Glynn County's Licensing and Compliance Department)
Valid for
Atlanta licenses last 12 months; Savannah certificates renew annually; Gilmer County licenses expire on December 31 each year.
Processing
Atlanta states up to ten business days for a short-term rental license.
On listings
The number must appear on every listing
Platform checks
The state does not check licenses. Atlanta requires the license number on every online listing, and Blue Ridge asks license holders to report their listing identification numbers on each monthly hotel-motel tax return.

Fees

Fees
FeeAmount
Atlanta short-term rental licensePaid with the application and renewed each year; one license covers a primary residence and one additional unit.$150
Savannah short-term vacation rental certificate (new application)Non-refundable application fee for a new certificate; a city Business Tax Certificate is also required.$400
Savannah short-term vacation rental certificate (renewal)Non-refundable annual renewal application fee.$250
City of Blue Ridge annual permitAnnual permit fee paid to the city's planning and zoning department, in addition to an application fee set by the city council.$100
City of Ellijay short-term rental licenseThe applicant applies and pays each year.$150
Tybee Island regulatory fee (2025 schedule)Base fee, plus $10 to $20 per person of the home's stated maximum occupancy; a revised ordinance adopted in August 2026 brings a new permitting process in 2027.$200

Who qualifies

  • Atlanta: the license covers the host's primary residence and one additional dwelling unit; the primary residence must be registered first
  • Savannah: a certificate for the rental of a whole dwelling in the short-term vacation rental overlay district, with a 20% per-ward cap on non-owner-occupied homes in the Downtown and Victorian districts
  • City of Blue Ridge: only properties zoned Central Business District; City of Ellijay: not in residential (R-1) districts
  • Athens-Clarke County: owner-occupant or long-term tenant for a home-occupation rental, one structure per parcel; commercial rentals need a special-use permit in allowed zones
  • Gilmer and Glynn counties: a host license or certificate for every rental in the unincorporated area

How to apply

  1. Confirm whether the home is inside a city or in unincorporated county territory, then check that city's or county's zoning and eligibility rules.
  2. Apply on the local portal: Atlanta's online permitting portal, Savannah's STVR registration portal, Glynn County's OpenGov portal or Gilmer County's Neumo account.
  3. Name a local contact or agent who can respond about complaints, and send any required notice to neighbors.
  4. Register for the local hotel-motel tax and any business or occupation tax certificate; Savannah requires its Business Tax Certificate before the certificate is issued.
  5. Register a Georgia Tax Center account with the Department of Revenue for sales tax on bookings that do not go through Airbnb.

Permit rules

Permits are set by cities and counties
Georgia issues no statewide host permit. Hosts look up the permitting, zoning, safety and health rules of the city and county where the home stands, as Airbnb advises for the United States.30
Platforms collect the state fee
A host who lists with a marketplace innkeeper such as Airbnb does not collect the state fee; the platform collects and remits it for each night of the stay.9 In force since July 1, 2021
Platforms also collect local hotel-motel taxes
Since July 1, 2021, online lodging platforms must collect and pay local hotel-motel taxes on the stays they book, following House Bill 317 of 2021; hosts handle the local tax themselves only on direct bookings.10,27 In force since July 1, 2021
Atlanta: license number on every listing
Atlanta hosts or their agents must list the short-term rental license number on each online listing.14 Applies to: Atlanta · In force since March 1, 2022
Gilmer County: host license and safety attestation
Every short-term rental in unincorporated Gilmer County needs a host license before operating, renewed each year, and the application must attest that a safety inspection by a qualified professional was done.7 Applies to: Unincorporated Gilmer County
Glynn County: certificate before renting under 30 days
Owners in unincorporated Glynn County, which includes Saint Simons Island, need a short-term rental certificate before renting for fewer than 30 days, and the county sets standards for noise, parking, trash and a local contact.25 Applies to: Unincorporated Glynn County
Tybee Island: revised ordinance and new permitting in 2027
Tybee Island revised its short-term rental ordinance in August 2026 and will start a new permitting process in 2027; properties eligible under the current rules may still apply for a 2026 license.21 Applies to: Tybee Island · Takes effect January 2027

Who can host

What Georgia Cities and Counties Can and Can't Regulate

Atlanta: primary residence plus one more home
One Atlanta license can include the host's primary residence and one additional dwelling; the primary residence must be registered first, and the owner may rent either or both. Ordinance 26-O-1510 removes this two-home wording from the license rule on January 1, 2027.14,15,29 Applies to: Atlanta · In force since March 1, 2022
HOA and condo rules can still ban rentals
Atlanta's rules do not override private covenants, leases or association rules, and Gilmer County requires hosts to certify that no deed restriction bars rentals.7,16
Savannah: rentals only in the overlay district
Savannah allows whole-dwelling short-term vacation rentals within its overlay district, which includes the Downtown, Victorian and Streetcar historic districts, and a certificate is required before operating.17,18,19 Applies to: Savannah
Savannah: 20% per-ward cap
New rentals in the residential parts of Savannah's Downtown and Victorian districts are capped at 20% of residential parcels in each ward; owner-occupied parcels are exempt.17,18 Applies to: Savannah · In force since September 29, 2017
City of Blue Ridge: Central Business District only
Inside the City of Blue Ridge, short-term vacation rentals are allowed only on property zoned Central Business District, with a certificate and occupation tax certificate; some existing rentals are grandfathered.6 Applies to: City of Blue Ridge · In force since February 21, 2023
City of Ellijay: not allowed in R-1 districts
The City of Ellijay treats short-term rentals like hotels for zoning and does not permit them in residential R-1 districts, with a conditional-use path for some properties next to the Central Business District.8 Applies to: City of Ellijay
Athens-Clarke County: home-occupation and commercial rentals
Athens-Clarke County has regulated short-term rentals as a land use since February 2024: a home-occupation rental needs an owner-occupant or long-term tenant and one structure per parcel, while commercial rentals are limited to certain zones.26,28 Applies to: Athens-Clarke County · In force since February 6, 2024

Local rules

Local Rules in Georgia's 7 Largest Airbnb Markets

A state license doesn't replace local rules. Cities and counties still set registration, occupancy, parking and safety requirements. These are Georgia's largest markets by active Airbnb listings, with the share of each market's listings that display a registration or license number.

  1. 1. Atlanta

    Fulton County (part in DeKalb County) County

    Atlanta requires a short-term rental license for any rental of a dwelling for up to 30 consecutive days. One $150 annual license covers the host's primary residence and one additional dwelling, and the host need not be present during stays; Ordinance 26-O-1510, adopted on September 21, 2026, removes that two-home wording from the license rule on January 1, 2027. The hotel-motel tax is 8%, and fully adjudicated violations cost $500 each.4,14,15,16,29,35

    • License $150 a year, valid 12 months, usually issued within ten business days
    • Primary residence plus one additional dwelling per license until January 1, 2027 (Ordinance 26-O-1510); the primary residence is registered first
    • License number on every online listing; HOA and condo rules can still prohibit rentals
    • Hotel-motel tax 8%; $500 per adjudicated violation and a one-year wait after unlicensed operation

  2. 2. Savannah

    Chatham County

    Savannah allows whole-dwelling short-term vacation rentals within its overlay district, with a certificate that costs $400 new and $250 to renew, plus a city Business Tax Certificate. New non-owner-occupied rentals in the Downtown and Victorian districts are capped at 20% of residential parcels per ward, and fines run $500 to $1,000 per violation. The city's hotel-motel tax is 8%.5,17,18,19,20

    • Certificate required before operating; $400 new and $250 annual renewal
    • Rentals only in the STVR overlay district (Downtown, Victorian and Streetcar historic districts)
    • 20% per-ward cap on non-owner-occupied parcels; owner-occupied parcels exempt
    • Fines $500, $750 and $1,000 for a first, second and third violation in 12 months

  3. 3. Blue Ridge

    Fannin County

    Inside the City of Blue Ridge, short-term vacation rentals are allowed only on property zoned Central Business District, with a certificate, an occupation tax certificate and a $100 annual permit fee. Rentals outside the city limits fall under Fannin County's own short-term vacation rental ordinance, which the county was revising in August 2025. The city's hotel-motel tax is 8%.6,13,23

    • City limits: rentals only on Central Business District property
    • Annual permit fee $100; certificate and occupation tax certificate required
    • Minimum fine $250 for each occurrence of renting without a certificate
    • Hotel-motel tax 8% in the city

  4. 4. Tybee Island

    Chatham County

    Tybee Island requires a short-term rental certificate with an annual regulatory fee based on occupancy ($200 base plus $10 to $20 per person on the 2025 schedule) and a 7% room tax. The council revised the ordinance in August 2026 with sector caps in the residential districts, and a new permitting process starts in 2027.21,22,32

    • Annual certificate; 2025 regulatory fee $200 plus $10 to $20 per person of occupancy
    • Revised ordinance adopted August 2026 with sector caps for the R-1, R-1-B and R-2 residential districts
    • New permitting process in 2027; eligible properties can still apply for a 2026 license
    • Local room tax 7%, due by the 20th of the following month, even when no tax is owed

  5. 5. Ellijay

    Gilmer County

    Ellijay-area rentals fall under two sets of rules. In unincorporated Gilmer County every rental needs an annual host license with a safety-inspection attestation, insurance and a 24-hour local contact; inside the City of Ellijay a $150 annual license applies and rentals are not permitted in R-1 residential districts. The local hotel-motel tax is 8%.7,8,13,24

    • Gilmer County: host license before operating, expiring December 31 each year
    • Gilmer County: occupancy of two persons per bedroom plus two; insurance that covers short-term rental use
    • City of Ellijay: $150 annual license; not permitted in R-1 districts
    • Fines $500, $750 and $1,000 in the city; three times the license fee for operating without one in the county

  6. 6. Saint Simons

    Glynn County

    Saint Simons Island is in unincorporated Glynn County, where an owner needs a short-term rental certificate before renting for fewer than 30 days. The county sets standards for noise, parking, trash and a local contact, and collects a 7% accommodation excise tax monthly.25

    • Certificate required before renting for fewer than 30 days; apply or renew through the county's OpenGov portal
    • Standards for noise, parking, trash and local contact information
    • Accommodation excise tax 7%, paid monthly
    • Occupation tax certificate required when renting six or more properties

  7. 7. Athens-Clarke County Unified Government

    Clarke County

    Athens-Clarke County has regulated short-term rentals as a land use since February 6, 2024. Home-occupation rentals need an owner-occupant or long-term tenant and one structure per parcel, while commercial rentals are allowed only in certain zones with a special-use permit. Operators collect or have the platform collect the 7% hotel-motel tax.26,27,28

    • Two classes: home occupation (owner-occupant or long-term tenant, one structure per parcel) and commercial
    • Commercial rentals need a special-use permit in allowed zones
    • Hotel-motel excise tax 7% plus a business occupation tax certificate
    • Rentals on the legal non-conforming list must comply within 24 months of March 1, 2025

Taxes

Georgia Short-Term Rental Taxes

About 14% to 17% on the nightly price and cleaning fee in the largest markets (typically 15%), plus $5 a night for the first 30 nights.

Georgia Short-Term Rental Taxes
TaxRateCollected by
State sales and use tax 4% of the listing price including cleaning fees, for reservations of 89 nights or fewer4%11,31Airbnb
County and special-district sales taxes 2% to 5% of the listing price including cleaning fees; combined state and local sales tax is 7% in Chatham, Fannin, Gilmer and Glynn counties, 8% in Clarke County and 8.9% in Atlanta—11,31Airbnb
State hotel-motel fee $5 for each night, for the first 30 nights of a stay$5 a night9,31Airbnb
Local hotel-motel excise tax Set by each city or county, typically 0% to 8% of the price including cleaning fees for the first 30 days: 8% in Atlanta, Savannah and the City of Blue Ridge, 7% in Tybee Island, Athens-Clarke County and unincorporated Glynn County—4,13,20,21,25,27,31Airbnb

What the host still handles

  • A Georgia Tax Center account with the Department of Revenue for sales tax (and the state hotel-motel fee where the host is an innkeeper) on bookings that do not go through Airbnb
  • The local hotel-motel excise tax account for direct bookings, with monthly returns due by the 20th (Savannah, Tybee Island, Athens-Clarke County, Glynn County and Gilmer County)
  • A city or county business tax or occupation tax certificate where required (Savannah's Business Tax Certificate, Athens-Clarke County's business occupation tax certificate, Glynn County for six or more rentals)
  • In Gilmer County, a monthly revenue report even when the platform has paid the tax9,11,13,20,31

Operating rules

Operating Rules for Georgia Short-Term Rentals

State law limits local registration of rental property
A state code-enforcement statute says no local government may require the registration of residential rental property and may inspect it only on probable cause. Whether that reaches nightly rentals is disputed; Atlanta, Savannah, Gilmer County and other governments license them anyway.3
$5 state hotel-motel fee on each night
The state charges $5.00 for each calendar night a home is rented through an innkeeper or marketplace innkeeper, and it applies to cabins and other short-term rentals booked through online marketplaces.9,10 In force since July 1, 2021
The fee stops on the 31st night
The $5 state fee is not charged once a guest's uninterrupted stay reaches the 31st day; checking out and back in restarts the count.9
Direct bookings: sales tax stays with the host
A host with no county or city business or occupation tax obligation is not an innkeeper and owes no state fee on direct bookings, but must still remit sales and use tax on the guest's stay.1
Sales tax applies to lodging
Georgia taxes the sale of accommodations; the state rate is 4% and county and special-district taxes are added by location.11,12
Third-party managers must complete annual human-trafficking training
Every third-party property manager of a short-term rental in Georgia must complete human-trafficking awareness training within 60 days of employment and every year after, and hosts must keep training records and adopt a reporting policy. The Attorney General's office can fine violators $500, $1,000 and $2,000.2 Applies to: Rentals run by a third-party property manager · In force since July 1, 2026
Self-managed and very part-time rentals are exempt from the training law
The training law does not apply to rentals managed directly and exclusively by their owner, whether or not a platform is used, or to rentals offered for fewer than 15 days a calendar year.2 In force since July 1, 2026
Short-term means 30 days or less in most cities
Savannah, Atlanta and other cities treat a rental of up to 30 consecutive days as a short-term rental; Athens-Clarke County counts any stay shorter than 31 days.4,17,26
Gilmer County: two guests per bedroom plus two
Maximum occupancy in unincorporated Gilmer County is two persons per bedroom plus two for each rental, and owners must carry insurance that specifically covers short-term rental use.7 Applies to: Unincorporated Gilmer County

Fines

How to Avoid Airbnb Fines in Georgia

Fines in Georgia fall on hosting without the Local short-term rental license, or outside the rules above. With it in hand and the rules followed, none of the fines below apply.

  • State human-trafficking training law: an administrative penalty of $500 for a first willful violation, $1,000 for a second and $2,000 for a third or later, for third-party-managed rentals.2
  • State hotel-motel fee: a late return adds 5% or $5 a month (capped at 25% or $25), and a false or willfully unfiled return draws a penalty of 50% of the fee due.1
  • Savannah: $500 for a first violation, $750 for a second within 12 months and $1,000 for a third; three violations in 12 months revoke pending certificates and bar new applications for the property for 12 months.5
  • Atlanta: $500 per fully adjudicated violation; operating without a license brings citations and a mandatory one-year wait before an application is accepted.4,14
  • City of Blue Ridge: renting without a valid certificate is a violation with a minimum fine of $250 for each occurrence.6
  • City of Ellijay: $500 for a first violation, $750 for a second within 12 months and $1,000 for a third.8
  • Gilmer County: operating more than 30 days without the host license draws a warning and a penalty of three times the license fee, then a citation if unpaid within ten days.7

Changes

What's Changed in Georgia's Airbnb Rules, and What's Next

3 changes are scheduled after October 20, 2026; the most recent rules are listed first.

  1. March 1, 2027 Upcoming
    Athens-Clarke County non-conforming rentals must comply

    Rentals on Athens-Clarke County's final legal non-conforming list may keep operating for up to 24 months from March 1, 2025, after which they must meet the ordinance; a change in ownership ends the status earlier.26

  2. January 1, 2027 Upcoming
    Atlanta drops the primary-residence-plus-one license wording

    Ordinance 26-O-1510, adopted by the Atlanta City Council on September 21, 2026, takes effect on January 1, 2027 and removes the words limiting a license to the host's primary residence and one additional dwelling unit.29

  3. January 2027 Upcoming
    Tybee Island's new permitting process begins

    Tybee Island will implement a new permitting process for short-term vacation rentals in 2027; local news reports an effective date of January 1.21,33

  4. October 14, 2026 Not in force
    Gilmer County hearing on host license amendments

    Gilmer County scheduled a public hearing for October 14, 2026 on proposed amendments to its short-term rental host license ordinance.24

  5. August 27, 2026
    Tybee Island revises its short-term rental ordinance

    Tybee Island City Council voted on a rewrite of its short-term rental rules that adds sector caps in the residential districts; the city says the new permitting process starts in 2027.21,32,33

  6. August 2026
    Court rules for Tybee Island in rental lawsuit

    A Chatham County judge dismissed the 2023 Tybee Alliance lawsuit that argued short-term rentals are residential rental property the city could not regulate this way, according to a local news report of August 6, 2026.34

  7. July 1, 2026
    Human-trafficking training law takes effect

    The Georgia Human Trafficking Prevention Training Act began requiring annual training for third-party property managers of short-term rentals, with penalties of $500 to $2,000.2

  8. January 25, 2026 Not in force
    Atlanta: proposed Office of Short-Term Rentals and 275-day host presence rule

    Councilmember Byron Amos introduced legislation to create an Office of Short-Term Rentals and to allow rentals only in a permanent resident's primary residence occupied by the host at least 275 days a year; it was referred to the Community Development/Human Services Committee and has not passed.35

  9. February 6, 2024
    Athens-Clarke County regulates short-term rentals as a land use

    The Mayor and Commission adopted text amendments that made short-term rentals a land use regulated by Title 9 of the county code.26

  10. September 1, 2023
    Savannah raises its hotel-motel tax to 8%

    Savannah's hotel-motel excise tax rose from 6% to 8% on September 1, 2023, after the city moved to the state's O.C.G.A. 48-13-51(b) authorization.20

  11. July 1, 2021
    State fee extended to short-term rentals; platforms collect

    House Bill 317, enacted April 21, 2021, extended the $5 state hotel-motel fee to any accommodation, including short-term rentals, and made marketplace innkeepers such as Airbnb collect and remit it.10

Earnings

What Could a Short-Term Rental in Georgia Earn?

The rules shape the numbers: a permit that costs $150 a year and taxes of 15% plus $5 a night that Airbnb adds to guests' bills. For a specific address, the Airbnb income calculator estimates revenue, occupancy and nightly rate from comparable listings, so you can test the numbers before applying.

Estimate what a home could earn

FAQ

Georgia Short-Term Rental Laws: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Airbnb legal in Georgia?

Yes. Georgia has no statewide ban or host permit; cities and counties set the rules, and Atlanta, Savannah, Tybee Island, Athens-Clarke County, the City of Ellijay and unincorporated Gilmer and Glynn counties license short-term rentals.7,14,17,21,25,26,30

Do I need a permit for Airbnb in Georgia?

The state requires none, but most large markets do: Atlanta needs a short-term rental license and Savannah a short-term vacation rental certificate. Hosts in other places check the city and county where the home stands.14,17,30

How much is a short-term rental license in Georgia?

Atlanta charges $150 a year, Savannah $400 for a new certificate and $250 to renew, the City of Blue Ridge a $100 annual permit and the City of Ellijay $150 a year. Tybee Island's 2025 schedule was a $200 base fee plus $10 to $20 per person of occupancy.6,8,14,17,22

Can I rent a home I don't live in?

In many places, yes. Atlanta's license covers one additional dwelling beyond the primary residence, Savannah caps non-owner-occupied rentals at 20% of residential parcels per ward in its historic districts, and Gilmer and Glynn counties license any rental in their unincorporated areas.7,15,17,25

Does Airbnb collect hotel tax in Georgia?

Yes. Airbnb collects the 4% state sales tax, county sales tax, the $5 state hotel-motel fee and all locally imposed occupancy taxes on Georgia reservations; hosts handle the taxes themselves only on direct bookings.27,31

What is Georgia's $5 per night hotel-motel fee?

It is a state fee of $5 for each calendar night an accommodation is rented through an innkeeper or marketplace innkeeper. It stops on the 31st consecutive night, and platforms such as Airbnb collect it for the host.9

What is the total tax on an Airbnb stay in Georgia?

About 14% to 17% of the price including cleaning fees in the largest markets, plus $5 a night for the first 30 nights: 4% state sales tax, county sales taxes that bring the combined rate to 7% to 8.9%, and a local hotel-motel tax of 7% to 8%.11,13,31

What is the fine for an illegal short-term rental in Georgia?

Fines are local: Savannah and the City of Ellijay charge $500, $750 and $1,000 for a first, second and third violation within 12 months, Atlanta $500 per adjudicated violation and Blue Ridge at least $250 per occurrence. Atlanta also bars an unlicensed host from applying for one year.4,5,6,8,14

Is there a limit on how many nights I can host in Georgia?

The state sets no night cap, and the licensing ordinances reviewed for Atlanta and Savannah set none. Limits come from caps on the number of rentals, such as Savannah's 20% per-ward cap and Tybee Island's sector caps.4,18,32

Can my HOA or condo association stop me from hosting?

Yes. Atlanta says its rules do not override homeowner or condo association rules, and Gilmer County requires hosts to certify that no deed restriction or covenant prohibits short-term rentals.7,16

Can a Georgia city ban short-term rentals?

Georgia has no statewide law shielding rentals from local rules. The City of Blue Ridge allows them only in its Central Business District and the City of Ellijay does not permit them in R-1 residential districts. A state statute bars local registration of residential rental property, but a Chatham County judge ruled in August 2026 that Tybee Island may regulate short-term rentals.3,6,8,34

Do I need human-trafficking training to host in Georgia?

Only if a third-party property manager runs the rental. Since July 1, 2026, managers must complete annual training; rentals managed directly and exclusively by the owner, or rented fewer than 15 days a year, are exempt.2

Method

How These Rules Were Checked

Each rule on this page was checked in October 2026 against the official source cited beside it: the ordinance or statute, the permit office's own pages and the tax authority. Airbnb's help pages are cited on their own only for what Airbnb itself does, such as the taxes it collects and the permit checks it runs, and otherwise only beside an official source; news reports only for when a change was announced. Rules that could not be confirmed on an official page are left out. Atlanta's city page and the Municode codes for Atlanta, Blue Ridge, Gilmer County and Ellijay were read in a browser; Atlanta's FAQ PDF was read from an Internet Archive copy dated December 11, 2025.

Rules change with council votes, court rulings and new state laws, so the page is rechecked every three months and whenever a scheduled change takes effect. It summarizes the rules for information and is not legal advice; the state agency and your city or county has the final word on any application.

Sources

Sources

Each rule above links to the source it comes from. Official ordinances, statutes and government pages come first, then Airbnb's own help pages.

  1. 1. Rule 560-13-2-.01 State Hotel-Motel Fee · Georgia Department of Revenue (Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia)
  2. 2. Senate Bill 570, Georgia Human Trafficking Prevention Training Act (as passed, 2026 signed legislation) · Office of the Governor of Georgia
  3. 3. O.C.G.A. 36-74-30: Other enforcement methods; probable cause for investigation required · Official Code of Georgia Annotated (FindLaw copy)
  4. 4. Part 20 - Short Term Rentals, Atlanta Code of Ordinances (Land Development Code) · Municode Library
  5. 5. Chapter 11. Short-term Vacation Rental Ordinance (revisions as of September 28, 2017) · City of Savannah
  6. 6. Chapter 10, Article V. Short-Term Vacation Rentals, Blue Ridge Code of Ordinances · Municode Library
  7. 7. Chapter 45 - Short-Term Rentals, Gilmer County Code of Ordinances · Municode Library
  8. 8. Chapter 60 - Short-Term Rental Units, Ellijay Code of Ordinances · Municode Library
  9. 9. State Hotel-Motel - FAQ · Georgia Department of Revenue
  10. 10. Policy Bulletin FET-2021-01: Changes to the State Hotel-Motel Fee, effective July 1, 2021 · Georgia Department of Revenue
  11. 11. Georgia Sales and Use Tax Rate Chart, effective October 1, 2026 · Georgia Department of Revenue
  12. 12. What is Subject to Sales and Use Tax? · Georgia Department of Revenue
  13. 13. Hotel/Motel Excise Tax Rates and Revenue Report (updated January 4, 2024) · Georgia Department of Community Affairs
  14. 14. Short-Term Rental · City of Atlanta Department of City Planning
  15. 15. City of Atlanta Short Term Rental Program · ATL311
  16. 16. City of Atlanta Short-Term Rental License Additional Frequently Asked Questions · City of Atlanta Office of Buildings
  17. 17. STVR - Short-Term Vacation Rentals · City of Savannah
  18. 18. Short-term Vacation Rental Regulations · City of Savannah
  19. 19. Apply to become a certified Short-Term Vacation Rental · City of Savannah
  20. 20. Local & State Taxes · City of Savannah
  21. 21. Short Term Rentals · City of Tybee Island
  22. 22. City of Tybee Island Short Term Rental Application (2025) · City of Tybee Island
  23. 23. Lodging Tax Info & Forms · Fannin County Government
  24. 24. Short Term Rental General Information · Gilmer County Georgia
  25. 25. Short-Term Rental Certificates · Glynn County
  26. 26. Short-Term Rentals (STRs) · Athens-Clarke County
  27. 27. Short-Term Rentals & Hotel Motel Tax / Business Occupation Tax Certificates · Athens-Clarke County
  28. 28. Short-Term Rental Information · Athens-Clarke County Planning Department
  29. 29. Ordinance 26-O-1510: amend Section 20-1004 (short-term rental license), adopted September 21, 2026 · Atlanta City Council
  30. 30. Responsible hosting in the United States · Airbnb Help Center
  31. 31. Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Georgia · Airbnb Help Center
  32. 32. Staff report, City Council meeting August 13 and 27, 2026: short-term rental text amendment (copy posted by Savannah Agenda) · City of Tybee Island
  33. 33. City of Tybee Island amends short-term vacation rental rules · WTOC
  34. 34. Judge dismisses Tybee Island vacation rental lawsuit · WTOC
  35. 35. New short-term rental legislation introduced · Center for Civic Innovation