Columbus, GA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

Short-term vacation rentals (any rental of 30 days or less) inside the consolidated Columbus-Muscogee County jurisdiction are governed by Chapter 4, Article 9 of the UDO and administered by the Inspections & Code Department. Each rental unit must obtain a Certificate of Occupancy for a Short-Term Vacation Rental before being offered, and a separate permit is required for each property. Maximum overnight occupancy is set at two guests per bedroom plus one additional guest, a cap intended to prevent oversized gatherings on residential parcels. Every permitted rental must designate a local short-term rental agent under UDO Section 4.9.5 who is reachable 24 hours a day to respond to operational, nuisance, or safety complaints, and a neighbor notification step under Section 4.9.6 is part of the application. Each unit must comply with the city's building, health, and safety codes, and must keep a properly maintained, charged fire extinguisher on site. Operators also need a Short Term Vacation Rental business license from the Business License Office and must remit the Columbus hotel/motel excise tax along with applicable Georgia state lodging fees. The application fee is $40 (non-refundable) per unit, and a Columbus Police Department background check is required at intake.