10 verified short-term rentals rules for South Fulton, Georgia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
The City of South Fulton requires a city short-term rental permit under Title 12, Chapter 3 of the Code of Ordinances. Section 12-3004 makes it unlawful to operate, rent, or advertise any dwelling unit as an STR without first obtaining a permit from Community Development and Regulatory Affairs (CDRA). A 2025 amendment (ORD2025-011) replaced the prior Special Use Permit process.
STR guests must comply with the City of South Fulton noise ordinance (Sec. 6-3001 et seq.), and the required rental agreement instructs guests to observe quiet times of 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. Excessive noise can make a gathering of five or more people an unlawful 'nuisance party' under Sec. 12-3010, grounds for permit revocation.
South Fulton STRs owe a $200 nonrefundable city permit fee (Sec. 12-3005) plus an Occupational Tax Certificate. Section 12-3011 makes operators liable for state sales tax and the city hotel/motel excise tax, which the state DCA report lists at 7% under O.C.G.A. 48-13-51(b). Georgia also charges a $5-per-night state hotel-motel fee.
South Fulton STR applications must state the number and location of off-street parking spaces (Sec. 12-3005), and the permit posted inside the unit must list the maximum number of vehicles allowed (Sec. 12-3008). Units with four or more bedrooms must submit a parking plan with a diagram or photo. Guests must use only designated parking.
South Fulton's ordinance does not fix a numeric occupancy formula in the code text. Instead, Sec. 12-3008 requires each permit to state the unit's maximum occupancy, and the exemplar rental agreement (Sec. 12-3005) bars guests from exceeding the listed occupancy. Maximum occupancy is set per-unit through the permit and code-compliance review.
South Fulton requires proof of liability insurance of at least $500,000 to obtain and renew a short-term rental permit. Section 12-3005(b)(4) makes proof of at least $500,000 in liability coverage a mandatory attachment to the application, and the renewal checklist requires updated proof showing the property is used as an STR.
South Fulton's ordinance sets NO annual cap on the number of nights a short-term rental may operate. The only durational limit is on each stay: a 'short-term rental' is lodging for 30 consecutive days or less. There is no city-wide STR quota and no per-property nightly limit in Chapter 3.
Beyond the STR permit, South Fulton requires an Occupational Tax Certificate (business license) under Sec. 12-3004(b), a sworn code-compliance verification, public notice to neighbors, and posting of the permit inside the unit. STR permits expire annually (December 30/31) and must be renewed with a $200 fee.
South Fulton does not require the host to be on site, but Sec. 12-3006 requires every STR to designate a short-term rental agent (the owner or a natural person over 18) reachable 24 hours and able to appear at the property within 45 minutes of a city notification about noise, disturbances, or code violations.
South Fulton's Chapter 3 does NOT require an STR to be the owner's primary residence. The definition expressly allows units that 'may or may not include an on-site manager,' and permits are issued to owners (individuals or entities) regardless of whether they live there. There is no owner-occupancy mandate in the city ordinance.
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement South Fulton city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Fulton County →