LicensedRental

Baldwin County, Georgia

Unincorporated Baldwin County, GA vacation rental requirements

Since December 2025, Baldwin County requires a yearly short-term rental certificate from the chief building official, issues no more than 150 a year, and won’t issue a new one within 300 feet of an existing rental. Guests are capped at 2 per bedroom plus 2, up to 12.

Checked against official sources November 6, 2026

Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.

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Certificate
Yearly; expires December 31
Reapply each year; existing rentals get priority. Homes rented under 14 days a year are exempt.Source
Cap
150 certificates a year
Spacing
300 feet from an existing rental
Applies to new certificates, measured property line to property line.Source
Maximum guests
2 per bedroom + 2, up to 12
Taxes
8% sales + 8% county hotel-motel + $5/night

The ordinance isn’t on Municode yet; we read the adopted text in the county’s December 2025 meeting packet.

Current rentals were not grandfathered; their renewals are only prioritized under the cap.

Your licensing checklist

In order: the state, the county, then the town.

State of Georgia

  1. Know what the platform collects

    Airbnb collects state and local sales tax, the $5-a-night state hotel-motel fee, and the local hotel-motel tax on its Georgia bookings. Ask any other platform what it collects, and keep records either way.Source

  2. Register for direct bookings

    If guests book and pay you directly, register for sales tax with the Georgia Tax Center and file the local hotel-motel tax with your city or county. If your city or county requires a business license or occupation tax for the rental, the DOR treats you as an innkeeper and you also owe the $5 state fee on direct bookings.Source

    Georgia Tax Center →

  3. Check your city or county

    Most of the rules are local: short-term rental permits, business licenses (occupation tax), zoning limits, and caps. Some cities ban rentals in residential zones. Pick your area.

Baldwin County, Georgia

  1. Then your city or area

    Permits, zoning, and the hotel-motel tax are set by each city, and by the county outside city limits. Pick your area.

Baldwin County (unincorporated areas)

  1. Apply to the chief building official

    Apply under oath with owner and agent contacts, a parking plan (no more than 1 vehicle per bedroom plus 2), a docking plan if you have a lake dock, a sample rental agreement, proof of ownership, and proof of homeowner’s insurance. The county and fire marshal may inspect before issuing.Source

  2. Name an agent who can come within 2 hours

    The agent is your 24-hour contact, accepts service of violation notices, and must appear at the rental within two hours of a county or law enforcement call.Source

  3. Taxes on each stay

    Stays here owe 8% sales tax, the local hotel-motel tax, and the $5-a-night state fee. Airbnb collects all three on its bookings. For direct bookings, file sales tax (and the $5 fee, if you need a local license) with the Georgia Tax Center. Get an occupation tax certificate, and pay county lodging taxes to the Baldwin County business services department for direct bookings. Unpaid taxes revoke the certificate for 12 months.Source

Fees

Certificate applicationWe didn’t find the amount.Set by the county fee schedule
Operating without a certificate$500 a day
Violations in 12 monthsThe third revokes the certificate for 12 months.$500–$1,000, then $1,000

Source

Inspection checklist

What the inspector looks for, from Baldwin County (unincorporated areas)’s published checklist.

  • Interconnected smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level
  • Carbon monoxide alarms with an attached garage or fuel-burning appliances
  • 5-lb ABC fire extinguisher in each kitchen and on each level
  • One 95-gallon trash container per 4 guests allowed

House rules for guests

Events
Not allowed
No weddings, concerts, or large parties.Source
Boats
Per the docking plan
Never at another owner’s dock without permission.Source

Sources

A plain-language summary to help you prepare, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the office before you apply. Spot something out of date? Email hello@licensedrental.com.