Homeowners FAQs

Do I need a special permit to run an Airbnb in Georgia?

All FAQs

Quick answer: Georgia has no statewide STR permit requirement, but cities and counties can impose their own rules.

It depends on where in Georgia your property is located. There is no single statewide Airbnb permit, but many Georgia cities and counties require their own short-term rental permit, license, or registration, plus payment of local hotel-motel taxes. You must check the rules for your specific city or county before you start hosting.

Local requirements vary widely. Some popular areas have detailed short-term rental ordinances, while others have few or no rules. Common requirements you may encounter include:

  • A short-term rental permit or business license from the city or county.
  • Registration for and collection of local hotel-motel excise taxes.
  • Occupancy limits, parking rules, and safety inspections.
  • Proof of liability insurance for the rental.

Be aware that these rules change often. Cities across Georgia have been adding or tightening short-term rental ordinances in recent years, sometimes capping the number of permits or restricting which zones allow rentals at all. What was allowed when you bought the property may be different now, so it is worth checking the current ordinance before you list and again at renewal time.

For example, a host in Savannah operates under that city’s short-term vacation rental ordinance, which involves a permit and may limit how many rentals are allowed in certain neighborhoods. A host in a small rural county might face almost no local requirements at all. Two properties an hour apart can have completely different rules.

Beyond the permit itself, many ordinances and platforms expect you to carry adequate liability coverage, which a standard homeowners policy often excludes for business-style short-term renting. That is where a short-term rental policy or a landlord policy with the right endorsement comes in.

Confirming the permit rules with the local government, and matching the policy to how the property is actually used, are both part of getting short-term rental coverage right. To get the coverage piece right, start a free coverage review at /coverage-review/.