Short-Term Rentals in Bartow County, GA (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Bartow County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Unincorporated Bartow County does not require a separate permit to operate a short-term rental. Instead, Bartow County Code § 18-133 sets mandatory safety standards, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, egress windows and fire extinguishers, and lets the community development director investigate complaints, inspect the property and issue magistrate court citations against owners who fail to comply.
Bartow County Short-Term Rental Safety Standards
Some RestrictionsBartow County Code § 18-133(b)(1), (4), (c)(1)-(2), (6)
(b)Safety requirements.(1)Every bedroom, adjoining hallway, and common area shall be equipped with an operational smoke detector that meets Underwriters Laboratory (UL) 217 standards and shall be maintained in good working order at all times. ... (4)Each floor of the short-term rental shall be equipped with a portable minimum five-pound ABC fire extinguisher that is fully charged, not past expi...
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Unincorporated Bartow County requires every short-term rental to provide off-street parking for one vehicle per rented bedroom, restricted to hard-surfaced gravel, concrete, or asphalt areas. County Code § 18-133(a)(2) bars parking in yards, though the community development director can cut the space count by up to half with written justification.
Bartow County Short-Term Rental Parking Rule
Some RestrictionsBartow County Code § 18-133(a)(2)
(2)Parked vehicles. The rental must have parking off the street sufficient for one car for each bedroom being rented; the director shall have discretion to reduce this requirement by up to 50 percent with justification. Parking shall only be on designated hard surfaced areas with gravel, concrete or asphalt surfacing; and shall not be permitted outside such hard-surfaced areas (i.e., no parking...
Occupancy Limits
A short-term rental in unincorporated Bartow County cannot sleep more than two overnight guests per bedroom plus two more per residence, and total overnight occupancy tops out at 15 people. Bartow County Code § 18-133(a)(1) lets the community development director raise that cap to as high as 24 with justification.
Bartow County Short-Term Rental Occupancy Cap
Some RestrictionsBartow County Code § 18-133(a)(1)
(1)Occupancy limitation. The number of overnight occupants shall not exceed two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons per residence, but in no case shall rental occupancy exceed 15 overnight persons total. The director shall have discretion to increase this limit to not more than 24 with justification. Additional non-overnight guests are permitted up to the same amount as the occupanc...
Host Presence Rule
Unincorporated Bartow County requires every short-term rental to have an owner or designated local contact who responds to the property within one hour after the county gives notice of a violation, disturbance, or complaint, any hour of any day. County Code § 18-133 pairs this host-presence duty with occupancy caps, safety equipment, and code enforcement inspections of the rental.
Bartow County STR Host Response Rule
Some RestrictionsBartow County Code § 18-133(a)(3)
(3)Owner responsibility. The owner or other designated person shall be required to respond to the location of the short-term rental 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and within one hour after being notified by the county of the existence of a violation of this article or any other provision of this Code, or any disturbance or complaint requiring immediate remedy or abatement regarding the cond...
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