Short-Term Rentals: DeKalb County

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Key Information

Please see the revised draft ordinance dated March 3, 2025.

The ordinance regulating short-term rentals has been proposed by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. The proposal affects Chapter 24 (Taxation) and Chapter 27 (Zoning Ordinance) of the Code of DeKalb County of Ordinances.

Read the draft here or read below for key information regarding the ordinance.

A short-term rental (STR) is defined as the rental of any room, lodging or overnight accommodations for a period not exceeding thirty (30) consecutive days. This term shall encompass the rental of a vacation home, residential dwelling, guestroom, or overnight lodging that an owner advertises through a marketplace facilitator such as but not limited to: AirBNB.com, Booking.com, Hometogo.com and/or VRBO.com.

There shall be imposed, assessed, levied and paid an excise tax of (8%) eight percent of the rent for occupancy of a short-term rental in the unincorporated area of the county, as authorized by O.C.G.A. § 48-13-51(b).

Proposal Highlights (Supplemental Regulations):

1. No person shall rent, lease or otherwise exchange for compensation all or any portion of a dwelling unit as a short-term rental, as defined by this Code, without first obtaining a permit from the County’s Business License Division of the Department of Planning & Sustainability and complying with the regulations contained in this section.

2. No permit issued under this section may be transferred or assigned or used by any person other than the one to whom it is issued, or at any location other than the one for which it is issued.

3. Applicants shall submit an application for a short- erm rental permit to the County’s Business License Division on an annual basis. Application fees shall be established by the department. Such application shall include:

a. Name, address, telephone number and email address of the owner(s) of record of the dwelling unit for which a permit is sought;

b. Address of the dwelling unit to be used as a short-term rental;

c. Name, address, telephone number and email address of the short- term rental Agent, which shall constitute his or her 24-hour contact information. An owner may serve as the rental Agent and is responsible for notifying the department of a change to the rental Agent and/or any such contact information within five (5) business days of said change;

d. Owner’s sworn acknowledgement that he or she has received a copy of this section, reviewed it and understands such requirements;

e. The number and location of parking spaces allotted to the premises;

f. Owner’s agreement to use his or her best efforts to assure use of the premises by occupants will neither disrupt the neighborhood nor interfere with the rights of neighboring property owners to the quiet enjoyment of their properties; and

g. Any other information the County’s Business License Division of the Department of Planning & Sustainability deems necessary to achieve the objectives of this section.

4. The director of the Department of Planning & Sustainability is hereby authorized to deny an application, or a renewal thereof, for a short-term rental permit under this subsection pursuant to section 15-45 of this Code. Furthermore, the director shall suspend or revoke a short-term rental permit based on the determination that one or more of the conditions outlined in section 15-45 has occurred.

5. Any owner who is adversely affected or aggrieved by a final decision of the director shall have the right to appeal such denial, suspension, or revocation to the hearing officer pursuant to the procedures outlined in section 15-46 of this Code. An appeal shall be based on a claim that the director’s decision was based on an erroneous finding of a material fact or an incorrect application of this Code or other applicable laws and regulations.

6. All short-term rentals shall be subject to an excise tax pursuant to chapter 24 of this Code.

7. All short-term rentals shall be subject to nuisance and noise regulations pursuant to chapter 16 of this Code.

Next Steps

Short-Term Rentals (TA-24-1246762) was deferred 2-cycles at the Board of Commissioners meeting held Thursday, March 27, 2025. This will come before the Board of Commissioners at the July 24, 2025, meeting. The meeting will be held at 178 Sams St Decatur, GA 30030 at 5:30 PM.

Key Information

Please see the revised draft ordinance dated March 3, 2025.

The ordinance regulating short-term rentals has been proposed by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. The proposal affects Chapter 24 (Taxation) and Chapter 27 (Zoning Ordinance) of the Code of DeKalb County of Ordinances.

Read the draft here or read below for key information regarding the ordinance.

A short-term rental (STR) is defined as the rental of any room, lodging or overnight accommodations for a period not exceeding thirty (30) consecutive days. This term shall encompass the rental of a vacation home, residential dwelling, guestroom, or overnight lodging that an owner advertises through a marketplace facilitator such as but not limited to: AirBNB.com, Booking.com, Hometogo.com and/or VRBO.com.

There shall be imposed, assessed, levied and paid an excise tax of (8%) eight percent of the rent for occupancy of a short-term rental in the unincorporated area of the county, as authorized by O.C.G.A. § 48-13-51(b).

Proposal Highlights (Supplemental Regulations):

1. No person shall rent, lease or otherwise exchange for compensation all or any portion of a dwelling unit as a short-term rental, as defined by this Code, without first obtaining a permit from the County’s Business License Division of the Department of Planning & Sustainability and complying with the regulations contained in this section.

2. No permit issued under this section may be transferred or assigned or used by any person other than the one to whom it is issued, or at any location other than the one for which it is issued.

3. Applicants shall submit an application for a short- erm rental permit to the County’s Business License Division on an annual basis. Application fees shall be established by the department. Such application shall include:

a. Name, address, telephone number and email address of the owner(s) of record of the dwelling unit for which a permit is sought;

b. Address of the dwelling unit to be used as a short-term rental;

c. Name, address, telephone number and email address of the short- term rental Agent, which shall constitute his or her 24-hour contact information. An owner may serve as the rental Agent and is responsible for notifying the department of a change to the rental Agent and/or any such contact information within five (5) business days of said change;

d. Owner’s sworn acknowledgement that he or she has received a copy of this section, reviewed it and understands such requirements;

e. The number and location of parking spaces allotted to the premises;

f. Owner’s agreement to use his or her best efforts to assure use of the premises by occupants will neither disrupt the neighborhood nor interfere with the rights of neighboring property owners to the quiet enjoyment of their properties; and

g. Any other information the County’s Business License Division of the Department of Planning & Sustainability deems necessary to achieve the objectives of this section.

4. The director of the Department of Planning & Sustainability is hereby authorized to deny an application, or a renewal thereof, for a short-term rental permit under this subsection pursuant to section 15-45 of this Code. Furthermore, the director shall suspend or revoke a short-term rental permit based on the determination that one or more of the conditions outlined in section 15-45 has occurred.

5. Any owner who is adversely affected or aggrieved by a final decision of the director shall have the right to appeal such denial, suspension, or revocation to the hearing officer pursuant to the procedures outlined in section 15-46 of this Code. An appeal shall be based on a claim that the director’s decision was based on an erroneous finding of a material fact or an incorrect application of this Code or other applicable laws and regulations.

6. All short-term rentals shall be subject to an excise tax pursuant to chapter 24 of this Code.

7. All short-term rentals shall be subject to nuisance and noise regulations pursuant to chapter 16 of this Code.

Next Steps

Short-Term Rentals (TA-24-1246762) was deferred 2-cycles at the Board of Commissioners meeting held Thursday, March 27, 2025. This will come before the Board of Commissioners at the July 24, 2025, meeting. The meeting will be held at 178 Sams St Decatur, GA 30030 at 5:30 PM.

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Page last updated: 16 Apr 2025, 02:34 PM