LicensedRental

Newton County, Georgia

Porterdale, GA vacation rental requirements

Porterdale requires a yearly short-term vacation rental certificate ($45) and an inspection by the city housing official before you open and at each renewal. Your agent must reach the rental within two hours.

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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Certificate
$45 a year
Non-refundable; apply to the city manager.Source
Inspection
Before issuance and yearly
Agent
On site within 2 hours
Customarily present in the city.Source
Sales tax
7%

Three violations in 12 months revoke the certificate for 12 months.

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.

Newton 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.

City of Porterdale

  1. Apply under oath

    Include owner and agent contacts, parking spaces, a sworn code compliance form, a sample rental agreement, proof of ownership, and proof of insurance. Put the certificate number in every ad.Source

  2. 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 city code says rentals owe city taxes including the hotel-motel tax, but the DCA report lists no Porterdale rate; ask City Hall.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.