Dougherty County, GA Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)

Section 2-19-4(9) sits among the required application documents in § 2-19-4(a): alongside proof of ownership, the STVRA's contact information, a sworn code compliance verification form, and letters to adjacent property owners, an applicant must supply proof of homeowner's insurance listing the unit as a short-term rental. The application is submitted annually, under oath, to the county administrator or designee, together with a fifty dollar non-refundable fee. Review of the complete application, including the insurance documentation, is handled by the director of planning and development services or a designee under § 2-19-6, and a certificate cannot be issued unless the owner demonstrates compliance with the applicable codes.

Because the certificate is not transferable under § 2-19-4(12), a change in ownership requires a fresh application, and with it fresh proof of insurance naming the new owner's policy. If an applicant submits false statements or information, including on the insurance documentation, § 2-19-6 makes that grounds for revocation, suspension, or denial of the certificate, and for denial of future applications for the same property. The insurance requirement works alongside the code compliance verification form in § 2-19-2, which the owner must sign certifying the unit meets applicable zoning, building, health, and life safety code provisions before it can legally be occupied by paying guests.