LicensedRental

DeKalb County, Georgia

Chamblee, GA vacation rental requirements

Chamblee requires a yearly short-term rental certificate and a home occupation tax certificate. Whole homes with six or more bedrooms can’t be rented short-term, and room rentals need a resident on site. Stays pay 8% sales tax plus the city’s 8% 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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City certificate
STR certificate + home occupation tax certificate
Valid one year; fee set by city council.Source
Size limit
Under 6 bedrooms
Whole homes with 6 or more bedrooms are not eligible.Source
Room rentals
Up to 2 rooms, host on site
Taxes
8% sales + 8% hotel-motel + $5/night

We didn’t find the certificate fee amount in the code. Ask the city.

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.

DeKalb County, Georgia

  1. Find out who governs your address

    DeKalb’s county license covers only unincorporated areas. If you are in a city, that city’s rules and hotel-motel tax apply instead. 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 Chamblee

  1. Apply for the certificate

    Apply with proof of ownership, proof of insurance, your agent’s written agreement, parking details, and a code compliance form. After the certificate, get a home occupation tax certificate.Source

  2. Name an agent who can come within 2 hours

    Your agent must reach the property within two hours of a city call. Changing agents requires a new certificate.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. Chamblee’s hotel-motel tax is 8%. 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.