Insurance Requirements: Decatur vs Stonecrest
How do insurance requirements rules compare between Decatur, GA and Stonecrest, GA?
Stonecrest has fewer restrictions than Decatur.
Decatur, GA
DeKalb County
Decatur's adopted short-term rental ordinance requires applicants to submit proof of insurance covering operation as a short-term rental as part of the annual registration package, with the city's third-party administrator (Deckard Technologies) collecting and validating insurance documentation alongside proof of ownership and the $125 application fee.
View full Decatur rules →Stonecrest, GA
DeKalb County
Stonecrest does not impose a minimum liability-insurance amount on short-term vacation rental operators. Neither Chapter 15 Article XVIII (Short-Term Vacation Rentals) nor Chapter 27 Section 4.2.58 conditions a license or Special Permit on proof of coverage, and Georgia state law has no STR insurance mandate. Coverage is strongly recommended because most standard Georgia homeowner policies exclude transient rental use of fewer than 30 consecutive days.
View full Stonecrest rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Decatur | Stonecrest |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance Required | Yes, proof at registration | - |
| Coverage Type | Policy covering STR use (HO endorsement or dedicated STR) | - |
| Specific Minimum | Not explicitly stated in city guidance | - |
| Validator | Deckard Technologies (city contractor) | - |
| Annual Permit Fee | $125 | - |
| Public Notice Period | 15 days before license issuance | - |
| Permit Posting | Within 6 ft of front door | - |
| City Insurance Mandate | - | None |
| Recommended Liability | - | $1M per occurrence minimum |
| Homeowner Exclusion | - | Most exclude rentals under 30 days |
| Airbnb AirCover | - | Up to $1M (platform bookings only) |
| State Mandate | - | None under O.C.G.A. 48-13-50+ |
| DeKalb Co. Insurance Rule | - | Unincorporated only — not Stonecrest |
| Enforcement | - | Private/lender, not City |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Decatur FAQ
Does Decatur, GA require short-term rental hosts to carry insurance?
Yes. The city's short-term rental ordinance requires operators to submit proof of insurance covering use of the property as a short-term rental as part of the annual permit application, validated by the city's contractor Deckard Technologies.
Is there a specific minimum liability amount for Decatur STR insurance?
The published city guidance does not state a specific minimum dollar amount; the requirement is that the policy must cover short-term rental operation. Many hosts carry $500,000 to $1,000,000 in liability through a home-sharing endorsement or a dedicated STR policy.
Can platform-provided coverage like Airbnb AirCover satisfy Decatur's requirement?
Hosts must submit insurance documentation that explicitly covers STR use. Some platform programs may help, but operators should confirm with the Decatur Planning Division (str@decaturga.com) and their insurer that the policy will be accepted at registration.
Stonecrest FAQ
Does Stonecrest require liability insurance for an Airbnb?
No. Stonecrest does not require short-term vacation rental operators to carry liability insurance, and neither the Chapter 15 Article XVIII license application nor the Chapter 27 Section 4.2.58 Special Permit conditions approval on proof of coverage. Insurance is voluntary but strongly recommended.
Will my homeowner policy cover Airbnb guests in Stonecrest?
Usually not. Most standard Georgia homeowner policies (ISO HO-3 and similar) exclude business or commercial activity, including transient rental for fewer than 30 consecutive days. Hosts should ask their carrier about a short-term rental endorsement, a dedicated STR policy, or a commercial general liability policy.
Does the 2025 DeKalb County STR insurance rule apply inside Stonecrest?
No. DeKalb County's 2025 Short-Term Rental Ordinance, which asks for proof of insurance such as a declaration page, applies to unincorporated DeKalb County only. Properties inside Stonecrest are governed by the city's own Chapter 15 Article XVIII and Chapter 27, neither of which requires a coverage minimum.
Compare other topics
See how Decatur and Stonecrest compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool