Short-Term Rental Laws in Atlanta, GA (2026)
Short-term rentals (stays of 30 days or less) are legal in Atlanta, but every unit needs a Short-Term Rental License from the Department of City Planning, with a $150 non-refundable application fee paid annually. The biggest restriction is that a host may only license their primary residence plus one additional dwelling unit (max 2 units), and since August 2025 STRs are prohibited outright in the SPI-8 Home Park district near Georgia Tech. Enforcement has been inconsistent — the city says enforcement began March 5, 2023, but council members and news investigations reported little actual enforcement through 2025. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Atlanta STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Allowed with permit |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | Short-Term Rental License (STRL) |
| Permit fee | $150 |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Owner occupancy required | Yes |
| Primary residence only | No |
| Max units per owner | 2 |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~16.9% of gross revenue |
| Insurance | No insurance requirement in the ordinance currently in force. A 2024 proposed amendment (24-O-1687) would have required proof of liability insurance of not less than $500,000 in the aggregate, but it was held in committee and not adopted. |
| Enforcement | The city states enforcement of the STR ordinance became effective March 5, 2023 (after ordinance 22-O-1241 temporarily suspended administrative penalties in 2022). In practice enforcement has been widely reported as weak: an 11Alive investigation and Councilmember Jason Dozier (2025) stated the licensing law 'is not being enforced' to date, and Dozier opposed new STR legislation until existing rules are enforced. Industry sources expected registration enforcement to ramp up ahead of the June-July 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. Complaints are handled through a public intake portal run by the Department of City Planning (STR@atlantaga.gov / 404-546-7990). |
| Current rules effective | 2021-03-24 |
What will guests pay in taxes on a Atlanta stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for Atlanta, GA — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
Atlanta occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Georgia state sales tax (4%)· usually collected by platform | $18.00 |
| County/local sales taxes (Fulton County + City of Atlanta + TSPLOST) (4.9%)· usually collected by platform | $22.05 |
| Georgia state hotel-motel fee (0%)· usually collected by platform | $0.00 |
| City of Atlanta hotel-motel excise tax (8%)· collection varies | $36.00 |
| Total tax (16.9%) | $76.05 |
| Guest pays | $526.05 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Permits & licensing
Atlanta requires Short-Term Rental License (STRL) to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $150, renewed annual.
Non-refundable $150.00 application fee, submitted annually with each application/renewal. A single license can cover the host's primary residence plus one additional dwelling unit. A December 2024 proposal (24-O-1687) to raise the fee to $250 and add a $500,000 liability-insurance requirement was held in committee and has not been adopted.
Zoning & location rules
STRs are broadly allowed citywide: Sec. 20-1004(d) lets an owner or long-term tenant license their primary residence plus one additional dwelling 'without any additional requirements, fees, permits, licenses, zoning or related restrictions,' and short-term rentals appear as a permitted principal use across many commercial, mixed-use, SPI and landmark districts. Exception: since August 18, 2025, STR operation is prohibited in the SPI-8 Home Park District (Sec. 16-18H.004, Ord. 2025-29/25-O-1249); news reports state existing licensed operators there were grandfathered. A proposed ban for District 7 (north Buckhead/Lindbergh) was rejected 7-6 by City Council on November 17, 2025. Proposed citywide 1,000-foot spacing between licensed STRs and a 10% cap in multi-family complexes (24-O-1687) were never adopted.
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia state sales tax4% of listing price incl. cleaning fees for stays of 89 nights or less; Airbnb/Vrbo collect and remit as marketplace facilitators. Hosts booking direct remit to the Georgia Department of Revenue. | 4% | platform |
| County/local sales taxes (Fulton County + City of Atlanta + TSPLOST)Airbnb states it collects county/local sales tax of 2%-5% in Georgia. Combined state+local sales tax in the Fulton County portion of Atlanta is 8.9% (4% state, 3% Fulton, 1.5% City, 0.4% TSPLOST); the DeKalb portion differs. Verify the exact rate for the property address with the GA DOR rate lookup. | 4.9% | platform |
| Georgia state hotel-motel feeFlat $5.00 per night (not a percentage), applies to the first 30 nights of a reservation; collected by platforms under Georgia's marketplace-facilitator rules. | 0% | platform |
| City of Atlanta hotel-motel excise taxSec. 20-1010 makes STRs subject to the 8% hotel-motel tax (O.C.G.A. 48-13-51(a)(5) and (b)(7)(a)). Airbnb states 'All locally imposed Occupancy Taxes will be collected on reservations in Georgia,' so platform bookings are covered; hosts taking direct bookings must register with the city and remit the 8% themselves. | 8% | varies |
Enforcement & penalties
The city states enforcement of the STR ordinance became effective March 5, 2023 (after ordinance 22-O-1241 temporarily suspended administrative penalties in 2022). In practice enforcement has been widely reported as weak: an 11Alive investigation and Councilmember Jason Dozier (2025) stated the licensing law 'is not being enforced' to date, and Dozier opposed new STR legislation until existing rules are enforced. Industry sources expected registration enforcement to ramp up ahead of the June-July 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. Complaints are handled through a public intake portal run by the Department of City Planning (STR@atlantaga.gov / 404-546-7990).
Fully adjudicated violations carry a $500.00 penalty per violation. When an agent accumulates three violations for the same property, the city revokes pending licenses and rejects all applications for that property for 12 consecutive months. City guidance states operating without a license results in enforcement action including citations and a mandatory one-year waiting period before any STRL application will be accepted for that unit. Other violations are punishable under City Code section 1-8; each day of a continuing violation is a separate offense.
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Recent rule changes in Atlanta
November 17, 2025
City Council rejects District 7 (north Buckhead/Lindbergh) STR ban
By a 7-6 vote, Atlanta City Council rejected a proposal to prohibit short-term rentals across District 7 in northeast Atlanta. Existing rules remain unchanged in that area.
Official source →August 18, 2025material
New STRs banned in Home Park neighborhood (Ord. 2025-29 / 25-O-1249)
Council voted 11-2 (reported as 12-2 by some outlets) to prohibit short-term rental operation in the SPI-8 Home Park District near Georgia Tech; now codified at Sec. 16-18H.004. News reports state existing licensed operators may continue.
Official source →December 10, 2024
Citywide STR overhaul (24-O-1687) introduced, then held in committee
Proposal by Councilmember Byron Amos would raise the application fee to $250, require $500,000 liability insurance, impose 1,000-foot spacing between licensed STRs, cap STRs at 10% of units in multi-family complexes, and require complex-level licenses. Held in committee (Dec 2024, and again in March and July 2025); not adopted as of July 2026.
Official source →March 5, 2023material
Enforcement of STR licensing ordinance became effective
After ordinance 22-O-1241 temporarily suspended administrative penalties in 2022, the city set enforcement of the STR ordinance (20-O-1656) as effective March 5, 2023 — though council members and news investigations subsequently reported little actual enforcement.
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in Atlanta?
Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are legal in Atlanta, GA, but you must obtain a Short-Term Rental License (STRL) before operating. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Atlanta?
Yes. Atlanta requires a Short-Term Rental License (STRL) to operate a short-term rental, which costs $150 and must be renewed every year. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a Atlanta short-term rental permit cost?
The Short-Term Rental License (STRL) costs $150 (annual renewal). Non-refundable $150.00 application fee, submitted annually with each application/renewal. A single license can cover the host's primary residence plus one additional dwelling unit. A December 2024 proposal (24-O-1687) to raise the fee to $250 and add a $500,000 liability-insurance requirement was held in committee and has not been adopted.
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Atlanta?
Generally no. Atlanta requires the owner to occupy the property, which rules out running a dedicated investment property as a short-term rental in most cases. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Atlanta?
Hosts in Atlanta are subject to: Georgia state sales tax (4%), County/local sales taxes (Fulton County + City of Atlanta + TSPLOST) (4.9%), Georgia state hotel-motel fee (0%), City of Atlanta hotel-motel excise tax (8%) — roughly 16.9% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.
›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Atlanta?
Fully adjudicated violations carry a $500.00 penalty per violation. When an agent accumulates three violations for the same property, the city revokes pending licenses and rejects all applications for that property for 12 consecutive months. City guidance states operating without a license results in enforcement action including citations and a mandatory one-year waiting period before any STRL application will be accepted for that unit. Other violations are punishable under City Code section 1-8; each day of a continuing violation is a separate offense. The city states enforcement of the STR ordinance became effective March 5, 2023 (after ordinance 22-O-1241 temporarily suspended administrative penalties in 2022). In practice enforcement has been widely reported as weak: an 11Alive investigation and Councilmember Jason Dozier (2025) stated the licensing law 'is not being enforced' to date, and Dozier opposed new STR legislation until existing rules are enforced. Industry sources expected registration enforcement to ramp up ahead of the June-July 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. Complaints are handled through a public intake portal run by the Department of City Planning (STR@atlantaga.gov / 404-546-7990).
Atlanta's STR rules changed 3 times recently.
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Related
Nearby covered cities
- Gatlinburg, TNPermit required
- Nashville, TNPermit required
- Destin, FLPermit required
- Kissimmee, FLRestricted
- New Orleans, LARestricted
Sources
- City of Atlanta - Department of City Planning: Short-Term Rentalretrieved July 9, 2026
- ATL311 - City of Atlanta Short Term Rental Program (KB0013809)retrieved July 9, 2026
- Atlanta Code of Ordinances, Part III Land Development Code, Part 20 - Short Term Rentals (codified through Supp. 105, March 16, 2026)retrieved July 9, 2026
- Atlanta Code of Ordinances, Sec. 16-18H.004 - SPI-8 Home Park District: Short-term rentals (prohibition, Ord. 2025-29/25-O-1249)retrieved July 9, 2026
- City of Atlanta Office of Buildings - Short-Term Rental Division enforcement noticeretrieved July 9, 2026
- Atlanta City Council Ordinance 24-O-1687 (proposed STR amendments - held in committee)retrieved July 9, 2026
- Airbnb Help Center - Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Georgiaretrieved July 9, 2026
- SaportaReport - After Home Park STR ban, Dozier pushes for enforcement first (2025)retrieved July 9, 2026
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Atlanta and a qualified professional before operating.