Marietta's Short-Term Rentals: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles short-term rentals a little differently. In Marietta, Georgia, there are 6 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Occupancy Limits

The City of Marietta has not adopted a short-term rental ordinance and does not impose its own STR occupancy cap. Cobb County's STR ordinance (Sec. 78-407) applies only to unincorporated Cobb, but the same baseline single-family occupancy standard in Cobb Code Sec. 134-1 - 390 square feet of living area per adult occupant - is the closest Cobb-area benchmark for evaluating overcrowding complaints.

Key details: Marietta STR Ordinance: None adopted. Cobb STR Code: Sec. 78-407 (unincorporated only). Cobb Occupancy Benchmark: 390 sq ft per adult (Sec. 134-1). Single-Family Definition: 1 family or ≤2 unrelated adults + children. Posted Max-Occupancy: Required on Cobb STR certificate.

Marietta has no STR-specific occupancy fine. Overcrowding inside the city is enforceable under the residential housing/maintenance code and noise ordinance (Ch. 10-6, $500 max under §10-6-080). STRs in unincorporated Cobb that exceed the Sec. 134-1 occupancy benchmark face Cobb's STR penalty schedule under Sec. 78-407(j): $500 first violation, $750 second, and certificate revocation plus a 12-month ban after a third violation in any 12-month window.

Insurance Requirements

Neither the City of Marietta nor Cobb County requires short-term rental operators to carry a specific liability insurance amount. Marietta has no STR ordinance, and Cobb's STR code (Sec. 78-407) does not list proof of insurance among its application requirements. Standard homeowners policies typically exclude commercial rental activity, so a dedicated STR endorsement is recommended.

Key details: Marietta Insurance Rule: None - no STR ordinance. Cobb Insurance Rule: Not required by Sec. 78-407. Application Requirements: Sec. 78-407(e) - no COI listed. HO-3 Policy Coverage: Typically excludes STR use. Platform Coverage: AirCover & Vrbo up to $1M (secondary).

There is no Marietta or Cobb County code violation for failing to carry STR insurance, because no such requirement exists in either jurisdiction. Civil exposure (negligence claims by an injured guest, property damage, host liability for guest conduct) is the principal risk for uninsured operators.

Marietta is more permissive than most cities when it comes to insurance requirements. That said, there are still limits.

Taxes & Fees

Marietta imposes a Hotel-Motel Occupancy Tax (Ch. 8-32) on STRs. State collects 4% hotel-motel tax + $5/night fee. Marietta levies a local hotel-motel excise tax. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit automatically.

Key details: State Hotel-Motel Tax: 4% of rent + $5/night fee. City Ordinance: Ch. 8-32 (Hotel-Motel Occupancy Tax). Filing Authority: Marietta Business License Division. Auto-Collect: Airbnb/VRBO remit most taxes automatically.

Failure to collect/remit taxes: penalties plus interest. GA DOR enforcement for state taxes. City enforcement for local Hotel/Motel Tax.

Parking Rules

Cobb County STR ordinance requires one parking space per bedroom plus one additional space. All vehicles must park on treated/hardened surfaces per Marietta Zoning Ord. §716.09.

Key details: Minimum Spaces: 1 per bedroom + 1 additional. Surface Requirement: Hardened surface (concrete/asphalt) only. Zoning Reference: Marietta Zoning Ord. §716.09. No Front Yard RVs: RVs must park to side or rear.

Parking violations: $50 to $200 per occurrence. STR parking non-compliance: permit conditions review.

Noise Rules

STR guests must comply with Marietta's general noise ordinance (Ch. 10-6) — 65 dBA daytime / 60 dBA nighttime at property line. Quiet hours 11 PM–7 AM. Host is responsible for guest compliance.

Key details: Quiet Hours: 11 PM – 7 AM. Daytime Limit: 65 dBA at property line. Host Liability: Certificate holder responsible for guest compliance. Report Noise: Marietta Police: 770-499-3911.

Noise violation: $250 to $1,000. Multiple complaints: permit review or revocation. Host responsible for guest behavior.

Permit Requirements

City of Marietta falls under Cobb County STR ordinance (eff. Jan 1, 2023) — annual STR certificate required at $55/year from Cobb County Business License Office. Owner-occupied or locally managed properties only.

Key details: Certificate Fee: $55/year per unit. Issuing Authority: Cobb County Business License Office. Zoning Restriction: Residential (R) districts only. Effective Date: January 1, 2023. Max Stay: Under 30 consecutive days.

Up to $500/day fine for operating without a valid certificate; repeated violations may result in 12-month ban on STR at the property.

This is one of the stricter rules in Marietta's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Marietta's short-term rentals rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Marietta is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Marietta's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.