LicensedRental

Glynn County, Georgia

Jekyll Island, GA vacation rental requirements

Homes on Jekyll Island sit on land leased from the state, and renting one needs a yearly rental license from the Jekyll Island Authority. Licensees also pay percentage rent under their lease and the Authority’s lodging tax at Glynn County’s rate, plus 7% sales 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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Authority license
Required, yearly
Expires December 31. Fees are set by the Authority.Source
Guests
2 adults per bedroom + 2
Children under 16 don’t count.Source
Parking
Driveway or assigned spaces only
No overnight parking on the street or in front yards.Source
Taxes
7% sales + lodging tax at the county rate + $5/night

The license doesn’t transfer when the lease is sold. Violations are misdemeanors, up to $1,000, and three violation notices in three years can cost you the license.

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.

Glynn 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.

Jekyll Island Authority

  1. Apply to the Authority

    All lessees sign the application. List the bedrooms, maximum adult occupancy, a parking site plan with the vehicle limit, and your short-term rental agent, and pay the license fee.Source

  2. Keep up with your lease

    Report and pay the percentage rent your lease requires, keep rental agreements for 48 months, and give guests your license number. The Authority may audit once a year and inspect on three days’ notice.Source

  3. 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. The Authority’s lodging tax follows the rate Glynn County sets; for direct bookings, file it with the Jekyll Island Authority.Source

House rules for guests

Trash
“Back Door” service contract
Source
Safety
Smoke alarms, inspected extinguisher, CO alarm with propane
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.