Rental Rules by City / Free checklist / Savannah

Is my Savannah rental legal? Checklist

Chatham County, Georgia · Based on our Savannah page, last verified Oct 24, 2026 · Print

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📋 The Basics

Can I rent my place short-term here?: Yes, with a permit
Do I need a permit?: Yes. You need a Short-Term Vacation Rental certificate before you rent.
What taxes do I pay?: Total about 15% plus $5.00 per night. Check your Airbnb payout report to see which ones Airbnb collects; you pay the rest yourself.

Your 3 steps to be legal

Apply for the STVR certificate.
Get a Business Tax Certificate.
File the hotel/motel tax by the 20th of each month.

⚠️ Biggest risk: Buying a rental and not applying within 6 months.

Words confusing? See the glossary. Details and official sources are below.

This is the general rule for Savannah. Does your address qualify?

The free info covers the city as a whole. Your property can still be different: zoning can change from one street to the next, and an HOA or condo ban can stop rentals even where the city allows them.

Your $49 Compliance Check looks at your exact property:

Whether your exact address and zone allow short-term rentals
A check of HOA / condo rental restrictions to look for
Which permits and tax accounts you personally need
What you're missing right now
A personal report with clear next steps and official sources, by email
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Permit / license / registration

Certificate: A Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) certificate is required before operating; certificates are not transferable (new owners must apply within 6 months).
Business tax: After approval, get a Business Tax Certificate from the Revenue Department before the STVR certificate is issued.
Tax filing: Hotel/motel tax return due by the 20th of each month.

Zoning, where allowed & definitions

Not listed on our page: Verify with the city/county before renting.

Night limits, minimum stays & occupancy

Not listed on our page: Verify with the city/county before renting.

Fees, penalties & pending changes

Fees: New application $400; annual renewal $250 (non-refundable).

Taxes & who collects them

Register / account for GA + Chatham County sales tax (7%)
Register / account for City of Savannah hotel/motel tax (8%)
Per-night fee $5.00
What Airbnb collects: What Airbnb collects here: verify on Airbnb's local tax help pages and in your payout reports; you remain responsible for any tax it does not collect.
Vrbo and direct bookings: check which taxes Vrbo collects in your area; for direct bookings you collect and remit all of them yourself.

Total rate: 15%. City hotel/motel tax 8% since Sep 1, 2023 (2026 Revenue Ordinance). Sales tax 7% per GA DOR rate chart; GA $5/night state hotel-motel fee (stays under 31 nights; Airbnb/Vrbo collect it on their bookings). Calculate.

HOA / condo check

Read your declaration, bylaws and rules for rental bans, minimum terms, caps and approval requirements.
Get any association sign-off or approval letter your city or association requires.
See our HOA & condo guide.

Insurance

Confirm your homeowner/condo policy covers short-term rental use, or add a short-term rental policy. Platform host protection is not a substitute for insurance.
Ask your association whether it requires specific liability coverage.

Deadlines

Renew city/county permits or registrations on their schedule (often annually): confirm the date with the office that issued it.
File state and local lodging tax returns on the schedule your tax office assigns.

Official sources

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Not legal or tax advice. Last verified Oct 24, 2026. Rules and rates change: confirm with the official sources linked before you rent or file.