Chatham County, Georgia
Tybee Island, GA vacation rental requirements
Tybee Island requires a yearly short-term rental registration and occupation tax certificate, and limits rentals in its R-1, R-1-B, and R-2 residential zones. New rules adopted in August 2026 divide the island into sectors with caps and take effect January 1, 2027. Stays pay 7% sales tax plus Tybee’s 7% room tax.
Checked against official sources November 6, 2026Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.
The 2026 proposal discussed caps of up to 60% of homes in the east and south zones and 30% in the west and north. We could not confirm the final numbers; ask the city.
The code we read online is the May 2026 version and does not yet show the August 2026 amendments.
Your licensing checklist
In order: the state, the county, then the town.
State of Georgia
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
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
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
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 Tybee Island
Check the 2027 rules first
Tybee revised its rental ordinance in August 2026 and is setting up a new permit process for 2027, with caps that differ by part of the island. Check the city’s STR page and its fall workshops before you buy or list. Eligible properties could still apply for a 2026 license.Source
Register and get an occupation tax certificate
Register each rental with the city every year (due January 1) with the regulatory fee. List the bedrooms, maximum occupancy, parking, insurance, and a local agent who can fix problems within an hour. Operating unregistered costs $500 a month.Source
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. Tybee’s room tax is 7%. For direct bookings, file it with the city Finance Department by the 20th, and send a return every month even if no tax is due.Source
House rules for guests
Sources
- Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Georgia · Airbnb
- Rule 560-13-2-.01 amendment notice (2025) · Georgia Department of Revenue
- Short term rentals · City of Tybee Island
- Code section · Tybee Island (Municode)
- Code section · Tybee Island (Municode)
- City of Tybee Island amends short-term vacation rental rules (August 28, 2026) · WTOC
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.