Short-term rental rules · Savannah, Georgia
Short-term rentals in Savannah, explained properly.
Short-term vacation rentals (STVRs) are allowed only within a designated overlay district covering the Downtown, Victorian, and Streetcar historic districts plus a handful of business and agricultural zones. Non-owner-occupied rentals in the Downtown and Victorian historic districts are capped at 20% of residential parcels per ward, and as of 2026 every ward in those districts has reached its cap, leaving only a waitlist for new non-owner-occupied certificates.
Draft. These rules were compiled from the official sources listed below but have not yet been checked line by line. Confirm with the city before making decisions.
At a glance
What you need to know before you buy or list
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Are short-term vacation rentals allowed? | Only within the STVR Overlay District: Downtown Historic District, Victorian Historic District, Streetcar Historic District, and B-C, B-N, B-L, and A-1 zones[1] |
| Non-owner-occupied ward cap | 20% of residential parcels per ward in the Downtown and Victorian Historic Districts; owner-occupied units are exempt[2][3]Confirming |
| Streetcar Historic District rule | Parcels zoned TN-2 need two or more dwelling units, at least one of which must be owner-occupied[2] |
| Registration required? | Yes — an STVR Certificate must be obtained before operating[4] |
| Application and renewal fees | $400 new application (non-refundable); $250 annual renewal (non-refundable)[4] |
| Maximum stay length | 30 consecutive days or fewer qualifies as an STVR[5] |
| Maximum occupancy | 4 adults for units with 2 or fewer bedrooms; 2 adults per bedroom for units with 3+ bedrooms[2] |
| Penalty for violations | $500 (1st violation), $750 (2nd within 12 months), $1,000 (3rd within 12 months) — a third violation in 12 months triggers certificate revocation and a 12-month re-application ban[5] |
| Typical combined guest tax | ~15% (7% combined sales tax + 8% city hotel/motel excise tax), plus a flat $5/night Georgia state hotel-motel fee (waived after 30 continuous nights)[6][7]Confirming |
| Last researched | September 25, 2026 |
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Detailed rules
The full picture, section by section
Eligibility & zoning
| Where STVRs are permitted | STVR Overlay District only: Downtown Historic District, Victorian Historic District, Streetcar Historic District, and B-C, B-N, B-L, and A-1 zones[1] |
|---|---|
| Grandfathered certificates | Applications submitted before September 28, 2017 are grandfathered and remain renewable regardless of the current ward cap[1] |
| Waiting list for capped wards | Owners can apply for a first-come, first-served waiting list in wards that have reached the 20% non-owner-occupied cap[2] |
| Condominiums | Condo association declaration must explicitly permit (or not prohibit) short-term rentals[2] |
Licensing & application
| Application process | Apply online (transitioning to Rentalscape software); after approval, a Business Tax Certificate from the Revenue Department must be obtained and forwarded to Planning and Urban Design before final certification[1][4] |
|---|---|
| Adjacent owner notification | New applicants must notify adjacent property owners with specific property details before certification[2] |
| Optional zoning confirmation letter | A $50 Zoning Confirmation Letter is available to confirm parking or zoning eligibility in writing before applying[8]Confirming |
| Public verification tools | eTRAC system lets the public search STVR certificate status, expiration, and certificate number; an online complaint portal and hotline are also provided[9] |
Operations & requirements
| Insurance requirement | Proof of insurance that specifically names short-term vacation rental use is required — a standard homeowner's policy alone is not sufficient[5][3]Confirming |
|---|---|
| Advertising requirement | The certificate number and rental agreement must appear in all advertisements for the unit[2] |
| Local agent response time | A responsible agent must appear on the premises within two hours of notification from the city[5] |
| Parking disclosure | Application must state the number and location of parking spaces allotted; the certificate must display the maximum number of vehicles that may be parked at the unit[5] |
Taxes & fees
| Combined state and local sales tax | 7% (Georgia state sales tax plus Chatham County local sales tax)[10]Confirming |
|---|---|
| City hotel/motel excise tax | 8%, raised from 6% effective September 1, 2023[6][11] |
| Georgia state hotel-motel fee | Flat $5 per night, collected by marketplace platforms on the operator's behalf; stops applying after 30 continuous nights by the same guest[7] |
| Human-trafficking-awareness training (new statewide requirement) | Georgia SB 570 requires STVR operators to complete human-trafficking-awareness training within 60 days of beginning operation and annually thereafter, effective July 1, 2026[12][3]Confirming Penalties for non-compliance are reported at $500-$2,000 per violation, but that figure comes from a secondary source rather than the enacted statute text. |
Changes
Recent and pending changes
Checked Savannah City Council agendas, the Chatham County commission (which regulates unincorporated Chatham STVRs separately from the city), and Georgia General Assembly bill tracking as of the research date below. Savannah's non-owner-occupied ward caps in the Downtown and Victorian Historic Districts are reported to be fully exhausted as of 2026, so any further loosening would require a council-level ordinance change — watch council agendas for that. Georgia's new SB 570 human-trafficking training mandate took effect July 1, 2026 and applies statewide, including to all Savannah STVR operators.
Signed into law May 11, 2026 as Act 519; requires short-term rental operators statewide to complete human-trafficking-awareness training within 60 days of starting operation and annually thereafter.
The city's first hotel/motel tax increase in nearly three decades took effect September 1, 2023, raising the rate from 6% to 8% of taxable lodging charges.
City council adopted the 20% per-ward cap on non-owner-occupied short-term vacation rentals in the Downtown and Victorian Historic Districts, along with the grandfathering cutoff of September 28, 2017 for existing applications.
Sources
Every rule above links to one of these
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This page is general information compiled from official sources, not legal or tax advice. HOA rules, deed restrictions and zoning for a specific property can be stricter. Confirm with the local permitting office and a qualified professional before buying or listing a property.