LicensedRental

White County, Georgia

Cleveland, GA vacation rental requirements

Cleveland requires a city permit ($250 the first year, $100 after), a business license, and a yearly fire department inspection for short-term rentals in its residential zones. Guests are capped at 15, and the city defines a short-term rental as 24 nights or fewer.

Checked against official sources November 6, 2026

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City permit
$250 first year, $100 renewal
Expires December 31; renew by November 30 or reapply.Source
Inspection
Fire department, every year
Maximum guests
15 overnight
All ages count.Source
Taxes
8% sales tax + 8% hotel-motel tax + $5/night

Fines start at up to $250; a second violation in 12 months brings up to $500 and a 30- to 90-day suspension.

A rental unused for 12 months loses its permit. Changing your local contact costs $25.

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.

White County, Georgia

  1. Then your city or area

    Permits, zoning, and the hotel-motel tax depend on whether you’re inside a city. Pick your area.

City of Cleveland

  1. Apply for the permit, business license, and tax certificate

    List all owners, a local contact 21 or older who responds 24/7, bedrooms and square footage, maximum guests, and a code compliance form showing bedrooms and egress meet code. Certify insurance for short-term rental use. Apartments can’t be permitted.Source

  2. Screen and sign up your renter

    Rent to a responsible person 21 or older, copy their ID, and have them sign that they’ve read the rules. Keep the records 3 years.Source

  3. Post the notice and permit

    By the front door, post the owner and contact numbers, nearest hospital, maximum guests, trash day, and quiet hours, plus a copy of the permit and its conditions. Keep the street number visible at the driveway.Source

  4. 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. Cleveland charges an 8% hotel-motel tax; file it with the City of Cleveland.Source

House rules for guests

Parking
Hard-surfaced areas only, as permitted
Trailers and boats count as vehicles; no street parking.Source
Ads
Show maximum guests, vehicles, and noise rules
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.