City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Tybee Island, GA
How Tybee Island regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Rules here limit which homes may operate as short-term rentals, how many, where, or for how many nights a year.
- New-certificate exclusion in residential zones R1 / R1B / R2 since 2021
- Sector percentage caps 30% to 60% (eff. Jan 1, 2027)
- Frozen certificate pool — no new residential entrants
- 60 day active rental use requirement
- Active litigation
Based on: City of Tybee Island Code Ch.22, Ord. 2021-05 (Nov 2021) + Aug 2026 sector-cap amendment (eff 2027-01-01)
Summary of the rule
New STR certificates prohibited in R-1/R-1B/R-2 zones since Ord. 2021-05 (Nov 2021), amended 2022; existing holders may renew
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Active litigation / open question
Tybee Alliance v. City of Tybee Island — filed Jan 2023; first arguments Jan 2026; dismissed by Chatham County judge Aug 2026 (STRs lack 'relatively continuous physical presence'; city may regulate more strictly than long-term rentals) Source ↗
Reported as fact only, reflecting the code as currently in effect — not legal advice, and not a prediction of the outcome. Verify current status before relying on it.
Regulatory change ahead
Tybee Island revised its short-term vacation rental ordinances in August 2026 and is setting up a new permitting process that applies from 2027. Source ↗
Reported as fact only, reflecting the code as currently in effect — not legal advice, and not a prediction of the outcome. Verify current status before relying on it.
Last reviewed Sep 8, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Tybee Island · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch tracks changes from public sources — council agendas, state bills, local news — not a complete legal compendium.
A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
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.