Is Rental Arbitrage Legal in Atlanta, GA?
Licensed, capped at primary residence plus one additional unit. Atlanta issues a short-term rental license (STRL) to an owner or long-term tenant for their primary residence and exactly one additional dwelling unit, with no additional fees for this pair. The license must be displayed on all advertisements. Multifamily buildings are capped at 33% of units in 3-12 unit buildings and 15% in 13+ unit buildings. The application is available online daily with no deadline.
Can a renter do rental arbitrage here? Only in limited areas. Renters can only operate in certain zones, or with a special approval. Confirm the exact property qualifies before you sign.
Requirements
- City of Atlanta short-term rental licence (STRL) for each unit
- License number posted on all advertisements
- Government-issued ID
- Affidavit of primary residence from the property owner and occupant
- Proof of primary residence (utility bills from past 6 months) for owner and tenant
- Property deed or proof of ownership
- Certified mail notification of adjacent properties (neighbors) with copies of notifications
- For multifamily buildings: evacuation plan maps posted in all units
- For an additional dwelling unit: separate affidavits and neighbor notifications
- 24/7 contact information for the STR agent
- Registration with required websites (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.)
- Compliance with noise ordinance (Atlanta City Code Sec. 74-131)
- Maximum 2 adults per bedroom; posted rules acknowledging this
- Posted parking information
Restrictions
- Primary residence plus one additional dwelling unit per licence holder only
- Multifamily buildings (3-12 units): no more than 33% as short-term rentals
- Multifamily buildings (13+ units): no more than 15% as short-term rentals
- All properties must comply with noise ordinance limits (City Code Sec. 74-131)
- Maximum occupancy limited to 2 adults per bedroom
- Neighbor notification required via certified mail before approval
- License must be posted on all advertisements
- 30-day appeal window from enforcement date
- Long-term tenants can licence their rental, but owner permission is implied
Taxes and Fees
- Georgia sales tax: 4%
- Atlanta hotel-motel tax: 8%
- Georgia state hotel-motel fee: $5 per night (for stays 30 days or fewer)
Official permit or registration page
Next Step
Legal is one half of the decision. The other half is whether the deal earns enough to be worth the risk.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who Can Get an Atlanta Short-Term Rental License?
- An owner or long-term tenant, for their primary residence plus one additional dwelling unit.
- How Many Units Can One Person Run in Atlanta?
- Two at most: the primary residence and one additional unit.
- Are There Limits in Apartment Buildings?
- Yes. Short-term rentals are capped at 33% of units in buildings of 3 to 12 units and 15% in buildings of 13 or more.
- Does the License Number Go on Listings?
- Yes. The license number must appear on all advertisements.