Barrow County, GA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Egress requirement
- Operable window/door in every bedroom
- Fire extinguisher
- 5-lb ABC extinguisher on every floor
- Sewer/septic
- Must handle approved bedroom count
- Septic verification
- Health Department evaluation in application
- Pool standard
- International Swimming Pool and Spa Code
- Applies to
- Permitted short-term rentals only
Summary
Unincorporated Barrow County requires every permitted short-term rental to keep a working emergency escape window or door in each bedroom, a charged fire extinguisher on every floor, and a working sewer connection or septic system sized for the approved bedroom count. The county has no separate habitability code for ordinary long-term rentals; these standards apply specifically to short-term rental permits.
(3)Every bedroom shall have at least one operable window or door for emergency escape or rescue that opens directly to the exterior of the residential dwelling unit. The emergency door or window shall be operable from the inside to provide a full, clear opening without the use of separate tools.(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 expiration date, and that meets all National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards as adopted by the State of Georgia. ... (6)The short-term rental must have a sewer connection or a septic system in good working order and capable of handling the number of bedrooms approved for rental.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 26-155(c) sets the safety and sanitation conditions attached to every short-term rental permit. Every bedroom must have at least one operable window or door for emergency escape or rescue that opens directly to the exterior and can be opened from the inside without separate tools. Each floor of the rental must carry a portable, minimum five-pound ABC fire extinguisher that is fully charged, not expired, and meets National Fire Protection Association standards as adopted by Georgia. The rental must have a sewer connection or a septic system in good working order, capable of handling the number of bedrooms approved for rental; where the property is on septic, the owner's permit application must include a Barrow County Health Department performance evaluation verifying the system can handle the intended use, per Sec.
26-154(a)(5)k. The owner must also keep a street-visible house number posted at all times, and any private swimming pool at the rental must meet the current International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. These conditions sit alongside the smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector requirements in the same subsection, and every applicant swears under Sec. 26-154(a)(5)e that all bedrooms and their egress meet these code requirements before the Director will issue the permit.
Violations & Fines
Failing to maintain required egress, fire extinguishers, or a working sewer/septic system is grounds for permit denial before issuance and for suspension or revocation once operating, under Secs. 26-154(a)(7) and 26-156. A confirmed violation is also prosecuted in magistrate court under Sec. 26-157's progressive scale: up to $250 for a first offense with a warning, up to $500 and a 30-to-90-day suspension for a second, and up to $1,000 with revocation and a 12-month reapplication bar for a third.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Barrow County require rental homes to have an escape window in every bedroom?
Do Barrow County short-term rentals need a fire extinguisher?
What septic or sewer standard applies to a Barrow County short-term rental?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Barrow County
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