Guide · Cost to run
What it costs to run a Savannah short-term rental.
The certificate fee is modest. In Savannah the costs that matter are the 15% tax stack plus a flat nightly fee, and whether your property sits inside the overlay district and outside a capped ward.
The short answer
Four numbers to know
| Certificate | $400 new, $250 each year after Both fees are non-refundable, even if the application is denied. A $50 zoning confirmation letter is optional. |
|---|---|
| Taxes | 15% plus $5 per night 7% sales tax and the 8% city hotel/motel tax, plus Georgia's flat $5 a night, which stops after 30 continuous nights. |
| Insurance | A policy that names short-term rental use A standard homeowner's policy alone is not enough. Get a quote before you buy. |
| Penalties | $500, then $750, then $1,000 A third violation within 12 months revokes the certificate and bars reapplying for 12 months. |
Fixed cost
What the certificate costs
The columns show how many booked nights, at an example nightly rate before tax, cover each fee (examples, not forecasts).
| Item | Amount | Nights at $150 | Nights at $250 | Nights at $400 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New application | $400 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 1.0 |
| Annual renewal | $250 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.6 |
Source: City of Savannah STVR application process page, read October 7, 2026. Not included: the Business Tax Certificate from the Revenue Department, insurance premiums, and any required condo association approval.
Guest-paid, but it shapes your price
The tax stack on a stay
An illustration: 3 nights at $300 is a $900 rental price. Percentage taxes come to $135.00 and the flat fee adds $15.00, about $150.00 in total (16.7% of the price).
| Tax or fee | Rate | On the $900 example |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia and Chatham County sales tax | 7% | $63.00 |
| City of Savannah hotel/motel excise tax | 8% | $72.00 |
| Georgia hotel-motel fee | $5 per night | $15.00 |
| Total | — | $150.00 |
This is a simplified illustration on the base rental price. The city raised its hotel/motel tax from 6% to 8% on September 1, 2023. Platforms collect the $5 fee on the operator's behalf, and city hotel/motel tax is reported monthly to the Revenue Department, so confirm how your bookings are handled before you price.
The real constraint
Whether you can get a certificate
| Where | Only inside the STVR overlay district The Downtown, Victorian and Streetcar Historic Districts, plus B-C, B-N, B-L and A-1 zones. Check the property before you make an offer. |
|---|---|
| Ward cap | 20% of residential parcels per ward Applies to non-owner-occupied rentals in the Downtown and Victorian districts. Owner-occupied units are exempt, and capped wards have a waiting list. |
| Occupancy | 4 adults, or 2 per bedroom with 3+ bedrooms A responsible agent must reach the property within two hours of a city call, and the certificate number goes in every ad. |
Full sourced rules, with evidence for each line, are on the Savannah market page. For a neighboring market, see the Charleston page.
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