Lowndes County, Georgia
Valdosta, GA vacation rental requirements
Valdosta has no short-term rental permit in its code yet, but the city held workshops in April 2026 to help staff draft an ordinance for City Council. Stays owe 8% sales tax, the city’s 7% hotel-motel tax, and the $5 state fee.
Checked against official sources November 6, 2026Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.
In 2017 the city’s zoning administrator said Airbnb rentals were technically in violation of the zoning ordinance. Ask the Planning and Zoning office how it treats them today.
Check your HOA or condo rules too.
Your licensing checklist
In order: the state, the county, then the town.
State of Georgia
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
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
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.
Lowndes County, Georgia
Then your city or area
Business licenses, zoning, and the hotel-motel tax are set by each city and the county. Pick your area.
City of Valdosta
Check for new rules before you list
City staff are turning the 2026 workshop input into recommendations for City Council. Ask the city whether an ordinance has been adopted and whether zoning allows a short-term rental at your address.Source
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. Valdosta’s 7% hotel-motel tax is filed with the City of Valdosta; register with the city as an operator if you take direct bookings.Source
Sources
- Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Georgia · Airbnb
- Rule 560-13-2-.01 amendment notice (2025) · Georgia Department of Revenue
- City of Valdosta announces additional opportunities for community input on short-term rentals · City of Valdosta
- Code section · City of Valdosta (Municode)
- Short-Term Rentals Workshops · City of Valdosta
- Airbnb violates zoning ordinances (June 28, 2017) · Moultrie Observer (Valdosta Daily Times)
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.