Atlanta

License required

You need a short-term rental license before you rent all or part of a dwelling unit for 30 consecutive days or less.[1] Apply through the city's online permitting portal, which takes applications daily with no deadline.[3]

Who can hold it

The code lets a short-term rental owner or a long-term tenant get the license.[1] The city's FAQ says the owner, an authorized agent or a long-term tenant can apply, and its forms list includes a homeowner affidavit for long-term tenants, so ask your landlord early.[3]

Primary residence plus one unit

Until Jan 1, 2027, the code covers a primary residence and one additional dwelling unit.[1] The city says you license your primary residence first, and you can rent either unit or both.[3] Ordinance 26-O-1510 strikes those words effective Jan 1, 2027, and WABE reports that a proposed two-unit cap was rejected.[2, 6]

Fee and renewal

The fee is $150 and non-refundable with each annual application.[1] A license is valid for 12 months and the city emails a reminder 30 days before it expires.[3] No license can be transferred or used at any other address.[1]

Neighborhood limits and other codes

A news report says council barred new short-term rentals in the Home Park neighborhood in Aug 2025, while existing licensed rentals may continue.[5] WABE reports a ban in north Buckhead was rejected a few months later.[6] The license doesn't override the zoning ordinance, housing code, building code or business tax registration.[1]

Agent

Name a short-term rental agent on your application, and the owner may serve as agent.[1] The agent must be available to handle problems, post a name and emergency number in the unit, accept service of violation notices, monitor compliance and list the license number on each online listing.[1] The city's FAQ says an owner's tenant or another owner-authorized individual can also be the agent.[3]

Application papers

The application needs the unit's address, the agent's 24-hour contact details, the number and location of parking spaces and the agent's signed acknowledgment.[1] Send certified mail to each adjacent property with the unit's address and the agent's contact details.[1] If the agent changes, tell the city within ten business days.[1]

Rules and signage

Post written rules in the unit covering noise limits, a maximum of two adults per bedroom, parking, and an acknowledgment that violations can mean eviction and fines.[1] No external signage is allowed, and a copy of the license goes inside with the agent's contact details, license number, maximum occupancy and maximum vehicles.[1]

Booking platforms

License holders must make sure the platforms they use give neighbors a phone line or website for concerns and help educate agents about the ordinance.[1] The city's page says hosting platforms must also provide information to help remove illegal listings.[3]

Hotel-motel tax

Short-term rentals are subject to the city hotel-motel tax of eight percent of the charge, under O.C.G.A. 48-13-51.[1] The code makes you responsible for paying the state and local taxes that apply.[1]

Sales tax

State sales tax applies to charges for rooms and lodging furnished to transients, including by owners of private residences and rental agents.[7] The Oct 1, 2026 state rate chart lists 8.9% for Atlanta, which includes the 4% state rate.[4]

State fee and booking sites

Georgia charges a state hotel-motel fee of $5 per night, and the state's FAQ says the marketplace innkeeper, usually a booking platform, collects and remits it on each night of the stay.[8] The fee stops on the 31st day of continuous occupancy.[8]

Longer stays

Stays over 30 consecutive days fall outside the city's short-term rental definition.[1] State sales tax doesn't apply to rooms furnished to one person for 90 continuous days or more.[7]

No license

Operating without a license is unlawful and brings citations and a mandatory one year wait before the city accepts an application.[3]

Fines and revocation

Fully adjudicated violations are assessed $500 each.[1] After three violations for the same property, the city revokes pending licenses and rejects all applications for that property for 12 consecutive months.[1]

Complaints

Neighbors send complaints to the city's code enforcement or STR email, and each gets a case number.[3] Police handle violations at units with an active license, and Zoning Enforcement handles units without one.[3]

Appeals

A written appeal of a revocation, suspension or denial goes to the chief operating officer within 30 calendar days.[1] The final ruling can be appealed by certiorari to the Superior Court of Fulton County.[1]

Enforcement timing

The city's page still cites an enforcement date of March 5, 2023, and says the appeal process starts on the enforcement date.[3] The sponsor of the 2026 change told WABE the planning department will enforce the ordinance, which takes effect in January 2027.[6]