Smyrna, GA Short-Term Rentals: Night Caps (2026)

Section 22-348(h) of the Smyrna Code of Ordinances lists the limitations on short-term rentals, and paragraph (4) is the annual night cap. A short-term rental unit within a single-family zoning district shall not be rented for such use for more than 180 days in any calendar year unless the property is owner-occupied. A rental to the same occupant for more than 30 consecutive days is not counted in the 180-day restriction, which tracks section 22-343's definition of a short-term rental as a stay not exceeding 30 consecutive days.

The exemption turns on owner-occupied property, which section 22-343 defines as real property containing one or more dwelling units where one is occupied by the property owner as his or her primary place of residence, with the units sharing the property identification number assigned by the county board of tax assessors. Proof requires a valid homestead exemption submitted with the license application. In lieu of that, the applicant submits a sworn affidavit and supporting documentation of residency, and without a homestead exemption two of the following are required: a valid Georgia driver's license or identification card, registration for vehicles owned by and registered in the applicant's name, a Cobb County voter's registration card, or the previous year's W-2 form or Internal Revenue Service tax return.

The other paragraphs of section 22-348(h) sit alongside the cap. Single-family zoned properties are limited to one short-term rental license and one short-term rental unit per property, advertising multiple units at once is prohibited, and a property with an active long-term lease cannot be issued a license. Accessory buildings on single-family properties can be used only if the property is owner-occupied. The section prints no night cap for other zoning districts.