LicensedRental

Clayton County, Georgia

Riverdale, GA vacation rental requirements

Riverdale applies its bed and breakfast standards to short-term rentals, which require the owner or an agent to live on the property and an annual occupational tax permit. Stays pay 8% sales tax plus the city’s 3% hotel-motel tax.

Checked against official sources November 6, 2026

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Standards
Same as a bed and breakfast
Owner or agent resident on the premises.Source
Parking
2 spaces + 1 per guest room
Taxes
8% sales + 3% hotel-motel + $5/night

Ask the city which zoning districts allow bed and breakfast-style rentals.

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.

Clayton County, Georgia

  1. Find who governs your address

    Cities set their own rules; unincorporated areas follow the county code. Pick your area below.

  2. Know what the platform collects

    Airbnb collects state and local sales tax, the $5 state fee, and the local hotel-motel tax on its bookings.Source

City of Riverdale

  1. Get an occupational tax permit

    Get the city’s annual occupational tax permit. If you already pay an occupational tax in another jurisdiction, bring proof and the city waives its fee.Source

  2. 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. Riverdale’s hotel-motel tax is 3%. For direct bookings, file it with the 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.