Occupancy Limits: Decatur vs Stonecrest
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Decatur, GA and Stonecrest, GA?
Stonecrest has fewer restrictions than Decatur.
Decatur, GA
DeKalb County
Decatur caps overnight occupancy at two people per guest room plus two additional people per property, never exceeding ten people overnight, with up to four daytime visitors allowed but a hard ceiling of fourteen total persons (or the overnight max plus four, whichever is less) per the city's adopted short-term rental ordinance.
View full Decatur rules →Stonecrest, GA
DeKalb County
Stonecrest does not publish a per-bedroom or numerical occupancy cap for short-term vacation rentals; the practical ceiling is the Chapter 27 zoning definition of family in single-family residential districts and the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes (IPMC and IBC/IRC) sleeping-room area and life-safety occupant load enforced by the Stonecrest Building Department and DeKalb County Fire Rescue. Short-Term Vacation Rentals are listed in the Use Table at Section 4.2.58 of Stonecrest Chapter 27 and require a Special Permit in most residential districts.
View full Stonecrest rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Decatur | Stonecrest |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight Occupancy | 2 per guest room + 2 per property | - |
| Hard Overnight Cap | 10 persons | - |
| Daytime Visitors Allowed | Up to 4 additional | - |
| Total Persons Cap (Daytime) | Overnight max + 4, or 14, whichever is less | - |
| Eligible Property Types | Single dwelling units only | - |
| Density Rule | No more than 3 STRs within 1,000 ft (residential) | - |
| Effective | Registration mandatory 2026 | - |
| STR Use Standard | - | Ch. 27 §4.2.58 (Special Permit) |
| Numerical Cap | - | Not published |
| Practical Ceiling | - | Family definition + IPMC sleeping room |
| IPMC Sleeping Room | - | 70 sq ft first, 50 sq ft each added |
| Life-Safety Authority | - | DeKalb County Fire Rescue |
| DeKalb Co. Ordinance | - | Unincorporated only — not Stonecrest |
| Max Penalty | - | $1,000 / 60 days per O.C.G.A. 36-1-20 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Decatur FAQ
How many overnight guests can stay in a Decatur, GA short-term rental?
Two people per guest room plus two additional people per property, and the overnight total can never exceed ten people, regardless of the home's size.
Can I host daytime visitors at my Decatur STR beyond the overnight cap?
Yes, up to four additional daytime visitors are allowed, but the total persons on site cannot exceed the overnight maximum plus four, or fourteen people, whichever number is smaller.
Are duplexes and stacked flats allowed to operate as STRs in Decatur?
Only one dwelling unit per duplex, walk-up flat, or stacked flat may be used as a short-term rental at a time. Only single dwelling units that meet city code are eligible.
Stonecrest FAQ
How many guests can stay in a Stonecrest short-term rental?
Stonecrest does not publish a numerical guest cap. The practical ceiling is the Chapter 27 zoning definition of family in single-family districts plus IPMC sleeping-room area minimums (70 sq ft for the first occupant and 50 sq ft for each additional occupant), with life-safety occupant load determined by DeKalb County Fire Rescue under NFPA 101.
Does DeKalb County's 2025 STR ordinance set occupancy limits inside Stonecrest?
No. DeKalb County's Short-Term Rental Ordinance (TA-24-1246762, adopted July 24, 2025; implementation extended through May 20, 2026) applies to unincorporated DeKalb County only. Stonecrest's own Chapter 15 Article XVIII and Chapter 27 Section 4.2.58 govern rentals inside the city limits.
Did Georgia HB 555 change Stonecrest's STR occupancy rules?
No. House Bill 555 (the Georgians First Residential Property Protection Act, 2025) addressed institutional ownership of single-family rental homes and did not preempt local STR or occupancy regulation. Stonecrest retains full authority over STR occupancy under its zoning and property maintenance codes.
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