Gwinnett County, GA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Occupancy cap
- Two adults per bedroom
- Family definition applies
- Total occupants must fit UDO family definition
- Zoning status
- Conditional use in all residential districts
- Signage
- No exterior evidence of STR use allowed
- Contact posting
- Owner/manager contact required near entrance
- Penalty
- $250-$1,000 fine or up to 60 days jail
Summary
Gwinnett County limits how many guests a short-term rental in the unincorporated county can sleep: no more than two adults per bedroom, and the total headcount still has to fit the UDO's definition of family. UDO Section 210-140.31(C) sets the cap; the same section bans street parking and requires the owner's contact information to be posted near the front door.
Short-term Rental Facilities shall conform to the following requirements: A.There shall be no exterior evidence that a dwelling is being used as a short-term rental.B.Outdoor parking shall only be provided on hard surface areas on the property and shall not be permitted outside such hard surface areas consistent with the provisions of this title. There shall be no parking on the street, on neighboring properties, in the yard, or in the right-of-way.C.The occupancy for a short-term rental shall be limited to two adults per bedroom. The total number of occupants of a dwelling unit must meet the definition of family provided in this UDO.D.The property owner or responsible property manager shall at all times maintain their contact information posted in a conspicuous location near the primary entrance to the home.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9).
Full Breakdown
31. That section's occupancy rule, subsection C, caps a short-term rental at two adults per bedroom, but the ceiling doesn't stop there: the total number of occupants of a dwelling unit must meet the definition of family provided in this UDO. Under the UDO, 'family' means people related by blood, marriage, adoption or guardianship living together, or no more than three unrelated people sharing a single housekeeping unit, or no more than two unrelated adults plus their minor children, whichever combination applies to the rental group.
The same section requires the operator to leave no exterior evidence that the home is a short-term rental (subsection A) and to post the property owner's or manager's contact information in a conspicuous spot near the front entrance at all times (subsection D), so code enforcement and neighbors have someone to call. These standards were added to the UDO by Ord. No. UDOA2023-00002, effective September 26, 2023. Because the use is conditional rather than by-right, the county can act on the ability to operate if the occupancy, parking, signage and contact-posting rules aren't being met, and the general UDO enforcement chapter applies to violations found afterward.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the two-adults-per-bedroom cap, or otherwise ignoring Section 210-140.31, is a UDO violation under Chapter 120. The Director can issue a notice of violation with a 14-day correction window before penalties attach. A Recorder's Court conviction carries a fine of $250 to $1,000, up to 60 days in jail, or both, and each day the overcrowding continues counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can stay overnight at a Gwinnett County short-term rental?
Do I need a sign or license number posted at my Gwinnett short-term rental?
What happens if a Gwinnett short-term rental exceeds the occupancy cap?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gwinnett County
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