Rental Rules by City / Free checklist / Tybee Island

Is my Tybee Island rental legal? Checklist

Chatham County, Georgia · Based on our Tybee Island 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. A city STR permit, with a new process starting 2027.
What taxes do I pay?: Total about 14% 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 city STR permit.
File the monthly city room tax return.
Watch for the 2027 sector caps.

⚠️ Biggest risk: New 2027 caps may limit permits.

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

This is the general rule for Tybee Island. 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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🔎 How we check: official city, county and state sources, a last-verified date on every page, and nothing guessed. Learn more

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Permit / license / registration

Permit: City STR permit required; fee $200 base plus $10-$20 per allowed guest (e.g. 5 bedrooms = $440).
2027 changes: Revised ordinance (Aug 2026) brings a new permit process with sector caps starting January 2027: verify.

Zoning, where allowed & definitions

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

Night limits, minimum stays & occupancy

Occupancy: Maximum 2 adults per bedroom plus 2; parking plan, insurance and an exterior emergency-contact sign required.

Fees, penalties & pending changes

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

Taxes & who collects them

Register / account for GA + Chatham County sales tax (7%)
Register / account for Tybee Island room excise tax (7%)
Per-night fee $5.00
What Airbnb collects: A monthly city room tax return is required even if Airbnb pays the tax for you.
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: 14%. City 7% room tax (monthly return due by the 20th, even if zero). 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.