LicensedRental

Chatham County, Georgia

Garden City, GA vacation rental requirements

Garden City allows short-term rentals in its R-A, R-1(B), R-2, R-I-N, and M zones with a city short-term rental permit and a business license. Stays pay 7% sales tax plus the city’s 6% hotel-motel tax.

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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Zones
R-A, R-1(B), R-2, R-I-N, M
City permit
Required + business license
Guests
2 per bedroom + 2 overnight
Daytime limit is double. No more than six bedrooms may be rented.Source
Taxes
7% sales + 6% hotel-motel + $5/night

We could not find the permit fee in the code. Ask the city before you apply.

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.

Chatham 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 Garden City

  1. Apply for the permit and license

    Apply to the city for a short-term rental permit and a business license for each rental. The city reviews applications within 10 days. Every bedroom needs an emergency escape window or door.Source

  2. Taxes on each stay

    Stays here owe 7% 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. Garden City’s hotel-motel tax is 6% (DCA report). For direct bookings, file it with the City of Garden City.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.