LicensedRental

Rockdale County, Georgia

Unincorporated Rockdale County, GA vacation rental requirements

Unincorporated Rockdale allows short-term rentals only in A-R and R-1 zones, with no more than 250 licenses (then a waitlist). You need a $300 license plus an occupational tax certificate, a background check, fire and compliance inspections, and an agent 25 or older who can be on site within an hour.

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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County license
$300 + occupational tax
Annual renewal.Source
Zoning
A-R and R-1 only
No guest houses, detached structures, RVs, or trailers.Source
Cap
250 licenses
Further applications go on a waitlist.Source
Maximum guests
2 per bedroom overnight
Taxes
7% sales tax + 5% hotel-motel tax + $5/night

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.

Rockdale County, Georgia

  1. Then your city or area

    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.

Rockdale County (unincorporated areas)

  1. Assemble the license package

    Commercial occupational tax application, license application, state IDs for owner and agent, your deed, a parking plan, HOA letter if any, criminal background check, the agent duties form, citizenship affidavit, and the owner’s compliance affidavit.Source

    Rockdale license package (PDF) →

  2. Use a tax-collecting platform

    You must swear to rent only through a platform that collects and remits Georgia sales tax and local lodging taxes on your behalf.Source

  3. Pass the inspections

    Schedule the compliance inspection and complete the fire compliance form (below).Source

  4. 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. Rockdale County’s hotel-motel tax is 5%; the county requires you to use a platform that collects it.Source

Inspection checklist

What the inspector looks for, from Rockdale County (unincorporated areas)’s published checklist.

  • Fire evacuation plan posted on every bedroom door
  • Fire extinguisher, minimum 1A:10B:C, serviced every three years, top no higher than 60 inches
  • Smoke alarms in each bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on each floor
  • Carbon monoxide detection on each floor
  • House number at least 4 inches tall
  • An escape window or door in every bedroom
  • Sprinkler system if more than 10 occupants

House rules for guests

Guest registry
Keep 3 years
Names, dates, home city, and vehicle plate.Source
Events
No special events or subletting
Source
Agent
25 or older, on site within 1 hour
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.