Short-term rentals are legal in Georgia in general, but the City of Atlanta’s licensing rules make most investor-owned short-term rentals hard to run inside the city, and suburbs and HOAs have their own rules. Before you buy a house to run on Airbnb or Vrbo, check the rules for that exact address.
City of Atlanta
- A license is required. Renting a home for less than 30 days in the city needs a short-term rental license, and the license number must appear on every listing.
- Primary residence plus one. An owner or long-term tenant can license only their primary residence and one additional unit. The city has said that applicants must live in Atlanta, so an out-of-town investor generally cannot license a house there.
- Taxes. Operators must collect and pay the city’s hotel-motel tax as well as state and local sales tax.
- Enforcement. The city has adopted enforcement rules and penalties for operating without a license.
The suburbs
DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett and Fulton counties and their cities each set their own rules, from permits and registration to limits in residential zones. Check with the city or county where the property sits.
Homeowners associations
Many subdivisions in metro Atlanta ban rentals shorter than 30 days or limit leasing in their covenants. Read the declaration and rules before you make an offer.
How we underwrite
Because so many investor-owned addresses cannot legally host short stays, we generally size a DSCR rental loan on long-term market rent. A deal that only works as a short-term rental carries extra risk in Atlanta.
Common questions
Usually not in the city. Atlanta licenses short-term rentals only for an owner’s primary residence and one additional unit.
The license applies to stays of less than 30 days. Monthly and longer rentals fall under ordinary landlord rules.
Generally we use long-term rent in Atlanta. Ask us about a specific address.