If you own a short-term rental property in the City of Atlanta, you should be aware of the city’s new licensing requirements. The new regulations took effect on March 1, 2022. Inspectors will start enforcing the ordinance on April 1, 2022.
“Short-term rentals,” also referred to as “home-sharing,” are rentals lasting 30-consecutive days or less. Airbnbs and VRBOs are prime examples.
The Atlanta City Council adopted the City of Atlanta Short-Term Rental Ordinance last year. It requires the owner or long-term tenant of a short-term rental to obtain a license for up to two separate properties: their primary residence and one additional dwelling unit. The license is good for one year, is renewable, and carries a $150 annual fee.
Property owners can apply for a short-term rental license through the city’s online permitting portal. According to city administrators, the application processing time can take up to 10 business days.
The Short-Term Rental Ordinance comes with additional requirements and restrictions. Once an agent or host obtains a license, they must post their short-term rental license on all advertisements. The maximum occupancy for short-term rentals is two adults per bedroom. Short-term tenants must pay Atlanta’s 8% hotel-motel tax on the rental. Also, the agent or host must formally inform neighboring property owners that the house is being used as a short-term rental.
The City Council approved the licensing requirement after receiving complaints about how the short-term rentals impacted Atlanta’s quality of life and housing market. The new ordinance establishes a legal process by which residents can rent, or allow their tenant to rent, their primary residence to short-term visitors.
The City of Atlanta will begin enforcing the Short-Term Rental Ordinance on April 1, 2022. The Atlanta Police Department’s Code Enforcement will be responsible for licensed rental properties, and the Department of City Planning’s zoning inspectors will be responsible for unlicensed rental properties. Atlanta short-term rental owners who continue to engage in unlicensed rental activity on or after April 1, 2022 will be in violation of the ordinance and may be fined. Owners can also face code violations (ex: excessive noise), which may result in fines or a bar on their license. If a short-term rental property owner has three or more code violations within 12 months, the City of Atlanta will revoke their license and bar the owner from applying for another 12 months.
You can visit the City of Atlanta’s short-term rental website for more details about the Short-Term Rental Ordinance and the license application process. The city’s website should have an interactive map for property licensing status by mid-April.
Have Additional Questions? Contact Brian M. Douglas & Associates’ Real Estate Team
If you have questions about the City of Atlanta’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance, obtaining a license for your short-term rental property, or how to handle code violations, please contact our team of experienced real estate attorneys. We’re always happy to help. You can contact Brian M. Douglas & Associates at (770) 933-9009 or via our online contact page.
