LicensedRental

Columbia County, Georgia

Unincorporated Columbia County, GA vacation rental requirements

We found no short-term rental permit or zoning rules for short-term rentals in Columbia County’s code. Evans and Martinez are unincorporated, so stays there owe 8% sales tax and the county’s 5% lodging tax, filed monthly.

Checked against official sources November 6, 2026

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

Only when this town’s rules, fees, or forms change. Unsubscribe anytime.

County rental permit
None found
Lodging tax
5%
Platforms must collect it; file it yourself for direct bookings, monthly, even when zero.Source
Taxes
8% sales + 5% county + $5/night

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.

Columbia 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.

Columbia County (unincorporated areas)

  1. 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. File the county’s 5% lodging tax with Columbia County Finance by the 20th of each month, even with zero due.Source

    Columbia County lodging tax →

  2. Ask about zoning and a business license

    Ask Columbia County Planning whether your zoning allows a short-term rental and whether you need an occupation tax certificate. Check your HOA rules too.

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.