LicensedRental

Barrow County, Georgia

Auburn, GA vacation rental requirements

Auburn requires a $250 yearly short-term rental permit for every rental structure except apartments. Renew by the second Monday in December or you must start a new application.

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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City permit
$250 a year
Expires December 31. Late renewals become new applications.Source
Maximum guests
2 per bedroom + 2, up to 12
Sewer homes; under 2 not counted. Septic homes: 2 per bedroom, up to 12.Source
Local contact
Within 3 hours
21 or older; renter must be 21 or older.Source
Sales tax
8%
Gwinnett County side: 6%.Source

Auburn extends into Gwinnett County.

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.

Barrow 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.

City of Auburn

  1. Apply to the city administrator

    Include ownership and contact details, bedrooms, square footage, maximum guests, a sworn bedroom safety statement, and on a first application a septic evaluation or sewer capacity letter. The city decides within 30 days.Source

  2. Advertise with the permit number

    Ads must show the permit number, maximum occupancy, maximum vehicles, and noise rules. A new contact costs $50 and must be posted within 10 days.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. The DCA report lists no Auburn hotel-motel tax; ask the city whether one applies.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.