City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Atlanta, GA
How Atlanta regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here operate under a registration or permit system with ongoing operating rules.
- Annual short-term rental certificate required before renting any dwelling unit <=30 days (Sec. 20-1004)
- Certificate anchored to the operator's PRIMARY RESIDENCE plus a limited number of additional units
- Whole-home rental is permitted — operator is NOT required to be on-site during a guest's stay (a 24/7-reachable STR agent suffices)
- Designated short-term rental agent with 24-hour contact required; certificate number must appear on each online listing
- Three code violations at a property -> revocation and 12-month bar; 8% city STR excise tax
- No residential-zone exclusion and no citywide hard supply cap -> whole-home broadly available
Based on: Ord. 20-O-1656, 'City of Atlanta Short Term Rental Ordinance' (adopted March 15, 2021), adding Part 20 (§§20-1001 to
Summary of the rule
No person shall rent all or any portion of a dwelling unit as a short-term rental without first obtaining a short-term rental certificate; certificate is non-transferable and location-specific.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 14, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Atlanta · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.