Alpharetta, GA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Overnight cap formula
- Two persons per bedroom
- Overnight maximum
- 15 occupants total, any age
- Daytime maximum
- 19 occupants total (up to 4 extra)
- Overnight hours
- 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Enforcement
- Municipal court fines and license suspension or revocation
Summary
Alpharetta caps overnight guests at a short-term rental at two persons per bedroom and never more than 15 overnight occupants total, per Sec. 10-434(c)(3). Daytime guests can add up to four more, but total daytime occupancy still cannot exceed 19 persons, with the stricter overnight cap applying between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
(3)Occupancy for short-term rentals: the number of overnight occupants shall not exceed two persons per bedroom, and shall meet all life-safety codes, but in no case shall rental occupancy exceed 15 overnight persons total. The maximum capacity shall be based on the number of bedrooms. All occupants, regardless of age, are counted as persons; ... (5)The owner or local contact person(s) shall, by written agreement with the responsible person, limit daytime occupancy of the short-term rental to the specific number of daytime occupants designated in the short-term rental license application, with the number of daytime occupants not to exceed four guests in addition to the total number of allowed overnight occupants, but in no case shall the daytime occupancy of a short-term rental exceed 19 persons total. Overnight occupancy limitations shall apply between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.;
Full Breakdown
Section 10-434(c)(3) of the Alpharetta Code of Ordinances ties overnight occupancy directly to the licensed bedroom count: no more than two persons per bedroom, and in no case more than 15 overnight occupants total regardless of how many bedrooms a property has, with every occupant counted as a person no matter their age. Bedrooms themselves must meet the building-code definition of a sleeping room, with an operable emergency escape window or door and a ceiling height that satisfies the International Residential Code in effect when the certificate of occupancy issued, per Sec.
10-434(c)(4). Section 10-434(c)(5) allows a separate, higher daytime cap: up to four additional daytime guests beyond the licensed overnight count, but the total number of daytime occupants can never exceed 19 persons, and the overnight limits kick back in between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The owner or local contact person must fix the specific overnight and daytime numbers in a written agreement with the designated responsible person before the stay begins, and any advertising for the property must state the maximum occupancy, per Sec.
10-434(c)(2). The occupancy figures the owner used to obtain the license are also the numbers printed on the posted in-unit notice required under Sec. 10-435(a)(1)c, so a rental cannot silently raise its cap between the licensing application and the guest's stay.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the licensed overnight cap of two persons per bedroom (never more than 15 total) or the daytime cap of 19 persons, or renting to a group without a written occupancy agreement, violates Sec. 10-434(c) and Sec. 10-437. A first violation in 12 months draws a municipal court fine and warning, a second a fine and 30-to-90-day suspension, and a third a fine and revocation with a 12-month reapplication bar.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many overnight guests can stay at an Alpharetta short-term rental?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alpharetta
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Occupancy Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle occupancy limits.