Johns Creek, Georgia prohibits short-term rentals (STRs) of residential properties. Multiple sources confirm that the city does not allow STRs at all within its jurisdiction, primarily by zoning ordinance. Below are official and reputable references confirming this complete ban, along with any recent context or updates.
Johns Creek’s municipal code (zoning ordinance) effectively bans short-term rentals. The code defines a “Bed and Breakfast Inn” as a residence that rents guest rooms for fewer than 30 consecutive days, and notes this use is only permitted in certain non-residential or special districts (AG-1, TR) with a use permit
. Regular single-family residential zones are not included, meaning typical homes cannot be rented nightly or weekly. Furthermore, a “Rooming House” (lodging in a home for 30 days or longer, without meals) is distinguished from hotels
. In practice, any rental of a dwelling for less than 30 days is treated as a hotel or bed-and-breakfast use, which is not allowed in Johns Creek’s residential areas. This zoning rule amounts to a complete prohibition on short-term vacation rentals of homes in the city.
City officials have explicitly confirmed the ban. In a media inquiry around the 2019 Super Bowl, a Johns Creek spokesperson, Edie Damann, stated that “Short-term rentals are not permitted in Johns Creek.”
This was a clear affirmation that services like Airbnb/VRBO are not legally allowed to operate in the city’s residential neighborhoods. The city’s Code Compliance resources likewise treat unpermitted short-term rental activity as an “illegal use” under zoning violations
, reinforcing that such rentals have no legal allowance under current ordinances.
Local news outlets have reported on Johns Creek’s STR ban as part of broader coverage of metro Atlanta regulations. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB-TV noted that Johns Creek prohibits short-term rentals entirely in residential zones
. Similarly, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reported in 2019 that “Short-term rentals are not permitted in residential areas of Roswell, Dunwoody, Johns Creek and Milton.”
In other words, Johns Creek was one of several suburban cities that had essentially banned vacation rentals at that time. These reputable news sources corroborate that Johns Creek’s policy has been a total ban on STRs, distinguishing it from cities that chose to allow or regulate them.
As of early 2025, Johns Creek’s ban on short-term rentals remains in effect – there have been no local ordinance changes to legalize or license STRs. The city has not introduced a new STR permitting system, and rentals under 31 days continue to be prohibited by zoning. It’s worth noting that in 2019, Georgia state legislators considered House Bill 523, which would have restricted local governments from banning short-term rentals. However, that bill did not advance into law
. Thus, Johns Creek retained its authority to ban STRs, and it has maintained that stance. No recent City Council minutes or announcements indicate any reversal of the policy; rentals of residential homes for periods shorter than one month are still not allowed in Johns Creek
. Property owners and hosts in Johns Creek should be aware that operating an Airbnb or similar short stay without approval is a violation of city code.
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