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Decatur, GA STR Regulations 2026 | HostReady

Decatur, GA

Short-Term Rental Regulations

Low EnforcementLow Risk Market

77

Risk Score

[State-level baseline for Georgia] Georgia has no state preemption. Cities like Savannah and Atlanta have detailed local regulations.

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At a Glance

Last verified todayVerified from 9 sources

STR License

Yes

Primary Residence

No

Parking Required

Yes

Permit Cap

Limited permits

Enforcement

Low

Tax Rate

12%

License Fee

$175/year

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Decatur, GA Regulations Guide

[State-level baseline for Georgia] Georgia has no state preemption. Cities like Savannah and Atlanta have detailed local regulations.

Licensing and Permits

Decatur requires hosts to obtain an STR license or permit before listing their property on platforms like Airbnb or VRBO. The city caps STR permits at 150.

Enforcement

Decatur has low enforcement of STR regulations. Operating without proper licensing or failing to comply with local regulations can result in citations, fines, and potential loss of your permit.

Get the full Decatur compliance guide

Tax rates, platform collection details, occupancy limits, operational requirements, and more.

Compiled from 9 official government sources and continuously monitored for changes. Always verify current requirements with your local municipality before making investment or operational decisions.

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. STR regulations change frequently. Always verify current requirements with your local municipality before making investment or operational decisions.

More GA Markets

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Key Details

A short term rental permit must be obtained from the Zoning Administrator prior to use as a short term rental.
Maximum overnight occupancy is two persons per guest/sleeping room plus two additional persons per property, not to exceed 10 persons total.
Maximum daytime guests/visitors shall not exceed overnight occupancy plus four visitors, or 14 persons, whichever is less.
A local designated property manager (minimum age 21) must be available 24/7 and able to travel to the short term rental within one hour of being contacted.
The local designated property manager must respond to complaints and correct issues within 60 minutes, including visiting the site if necessary.
Short term rentals are subject to annual inspections for compliance with the International Residential Code/International Building Code and the International Fire Code.
Only single dwelling units may be used; in duplexes, walk-up flats, and stacked flats, no more than one unit per building may be used as a short term rental at a time.
Outdoor amplified sound (other than household speakers) is prohibited at short term rentals.
Owners must pay hotel/motel occupancy tax per Chapter 94, Article III, and obtain a business license per Chapter 22, Article II.
All online advertisements/listings must include max occupancy, max number of vehicles, noise ordinance notice, outdoor amplified sound prohibition, and the name, address, and phone number of the local designated property manager.
After application is determined complete, the property must be posted with a placard for 15 days notifying the public; no application can be approved without this 15-day advertisement period.
Written authorization from any applicable HOA or property-owner's association must be provided to the Zoning Administrator.
Permits may be revoked or suspended by the City Commission for good cause after a hearing with at least 10 days' written notice.
Existing short term rentals at the time the ordinance took effect had 120 calendar days to come into compliance.
Short term rentals are prohibited in accessory structures, non-habitable structures, and temporary structures like RVs, tents, canopies, and yurts (though permitted within ADUs per Section 6.8.3).

Citation receipts

11 cited facts for Decatur

1 multi-source verified10 single source

Every published fact below is taken from the city's own ordinance text. Quotes are verbatim — click through to the source to read them on the issuing authority's page.

accommodation_tax_rate8%
verified 2 months ago
“Yes. All STRs are subject to an 8% excise tax pursuant to Chapter 24 of the DeKalb County Code of Ordinances.”
engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov →
county_tax_rate8%
verified 2 months ago
“Yes. All STRs are subject to an 8% excise tax pursuant to Chapter 24 of the DeKalb County Code of Ordinances.”
engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov →
License fee$175/year
verified 2 months ago
“What is the application fee? The annual STR application fee is $175 plus a small processing fee. ... The annual renewal fee is $175.”
engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov →
License nameShort Term Rental
verified 2 months ago
“Short term rental.”
library.municode.com →
license_requiredYes
verified 2 days ago
“All property owners planning to operate a short-term rental in unincorporated DeKalb County must apply for a STR license before advertising or listing the property on platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, VRBO, or similar sites.”
engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov →
Local contact requiredYes
verified 12 days ago
“The agent must provide 24 hour contact information and be available to respond to complaints or emergencies.”
engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov →
Local tax8%Verified by 3 sources
verified 2 months ago
“An 8% excise tax is charged on all short-term rentals, as authorized by state law.”
engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov →
Lodging tax rate8%
verified 1 day ago
“Yes. All STRs are subject to an 8% excise tax pursuant to Chapter 24 of the DeKalb County Code of Ordinances.”
engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov →
Parking requiredYes
verified 12 days ago
“A site plan or drawing showing the number and location of onsite parking spaces”
engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov →
special_district_tax_rate8%
verified 2 months ago
“Yes. All STRs are subject to an 8% excise tax pursuant to Chapter 24 of the DeKalb County Code of Ordinances.”
engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov →
Where to applyhttps://portal.deckard.com/ga-dekalb-str-portal
verified 2 months ago
“How do I apply for a Short Term Rental (STR) license? Please visit the following webpage to submit your online application: DeKalb County, GA | XCP Portal https://portal.deckard.com/ga-dekalb-str-portal”
engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov →