Occupancy Limits: Kennesaw vs Marietta
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Kennesaw, GA and Marietta, GA?
Marietta has fewer restrictions than Kennesaw.
Kennesaw, GA
Cobb County
Kennesaw's Short-Term Rental Ordinance (Chapter 22, Article XIII), adopted July 2025 with applications opening October 1, 2025, regulates STRs as bed-and-breakfast-style uses limited to single-family residentially zoned areas. Each licensed STR may have a maximum of five guest rooms, must provide one off-street parking spot per guest room, and must be the operator's primary residence. The ordinance caps the city at 150 STR licenses, allows no more than two licenses per property owner, and requires a 250-foot buffer between licensed STR properties.
View full Kennesaw rules →Marietta, GA
Cobb County
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.
View full Marietta rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Kennesaw | Marietta |
|---|---|---|
| Max Guest Rooms | 5 per STR | - |
| Parking | 1 spot per guest room | - |
| Citywide License Cap | 150 (first-come) | - |
| Per-Owner Cap | 2 licenses | - |
| Buffer | 250 ft between STRs | - |
| Allowed Zones | Single-family residential only | - |
| 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 |
| City Enforcement | - | Noise Ch. 10-6 & housing code |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Kennesaw FAQ
How many guests can stay in a Kennesaw short-term rental?
The ordinance limits each STR to five guest rooms with one off-street parking spot per guest room. The STR must be in a single-family residentially zoned area and operated as the owner's primary residence in bed-and-breakfast style.
When did Kennesaw's STR ordinance take effect?
The Mayor and Council adopted Chapter 22, Article XIII in July 2025, and the Business License Office began accepting applications on October 1, 2025. Pre-existing operators had a 90-day window to register and are exempt from the buffer and citywide cap.
How many STR licenses are available in Kennesaw?
The Business License Division issues a maximum of 150 short-term rental licenses citywide on a first-come, first-served basis. No single owner may hold more than two licenses, and there must be at least 250 feet between any two licensed STR properties.
Marietta FAQ
How many guests can I host at a Marietta short-term rental?
Marietta has no STR ordinance and sets no specific guest cap. The closest local benchmark is Cobb County Sec. 134-1, which requires at least 390 square feet of living area per adult occupant for single-family dwellings - a standard Cobb's STR rule applies in unincorporated Cobb but not inside Marietta city limits. Hosts typically set a self-imposed maximum to avoid noise and housing-code complaints.
Does Cobb County's STR occupancy rule apply to my Marietta rental?
No. Sec. 78-407 expressly applies only to 'the unincorporated areas of Cobb County.' Properties inside the City of Marietta are governed by Marietta's own code, and the city has not adopted a short-term rental ordinance.
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