LicensedRental

Gwinnett County, Georgia

Duluth, GA vacation rental requirements

Duluth requires special use approval for short-term rentals in its R-100, R-75, and CBD districts (they’re allowed in RM), with a $200 fee. Rentals can’t sit next to another rental in single-family districts, and guests are capped at 2 per bedroom plus 4.

Checked against official sources November 6, 2026

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Approval
Special use, $200
Paid after staff deems the application complete.Source
Zoning
RM allowed; R-100, R-75, CBD by special use
In a PUD, follow the PUD’s rules or seek an amendment.Source
Spacing
No two rentals side by side
In single-family districts. Multi-unit buildings: 1 per 2 units (duplex), 1 per 3 (triplex), 1 per 4 (four or more).Source
Maximum guests
2 per bedroom + 4
May be lower on septic.Source
Taxes
6% sales tax + 5% hotel-motel tax + $5/night

The packet points to Article 3, Section 344 of the Unified Development Code for the full rules; we didn’t find that code online. The local contact is reviewed yearly with the occupational tax certificate renewal.

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.

Gwinnett County, Georgia

  1. Then your city or area

    Permits, zoning, and the hotel-motel tax are set by each city or by the county outside city limits. Inside a city, the city’s own hotel-motel tax normally applies instead of the county’s; ask your city to confirm. Pick your area.

City of Duluth

  1. Prepare drawings

    Upload a scaled site plan (structures, setbacks, off-street parking, utilities, septic) and a scaled floor plan. On septic, include Gwinnett County Environmental Health approval.Source

  2. Apply through the permitting portal

    Show proof of smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and a fire extinguisher. Mail your local contact’s information to adjacent owners and submit proof of mailing. Staff review completeness within 14 days.Source

  3. Post the interior sign

    Show the local contact’s 24-hour number, maximum occupants, parking, trash day, extinguisher location, emergency contacts, address, and quiet hours.Source

  4. Taxes on each stay

    Stays here owe 6% 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. For direct bookings, file the City of Duluth’s 5% hotel-motel tax 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.