Houston County, GA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Cap formula
- 2 guests per bedroom, plus 2
- Absolute ceiling
- 15 occupants regardless of bedrooms
- Restricted hours
- 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Children exemption
- Under-12s excluded from headcount
- Variance option
- 6+ bedroom homes may request increase
- Governing sections
- County Code §§ 19-22, 19-26(a)
Summary
Houston County unincorporated short-term rentals may sleep no more than two guests per bedroom plus two additional people, capped at 15 total regardless of bedroom count, under County Code Section 19-22. Section 19-26(a) bars any host or guest from exceeding that number overnight between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and each posted certificate must list the limit at the front door.
Maximum occupancy rate means no more than two persons per bedroom, plus two additional persons. A bedroom is a room or space within the short-term rental furnished with one or more beds and that is customarily used and intended primarily for sleeping. Children under 12 years of age shall not be included in determining the maximum occupancy of a short-term rental, but in no event shall occupancy exceed 15 persons total, including children, unless a variance from such total is requested and received from the county allowing a proportional increase for dwelling units with six or more bedrooms. ... Occupancy of a short-term rental between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. shall not exceed the maximum occupancy rate, as defined in section 19-22. No person operating or occupying a short-term rental shall violate or exceed, or allow another to exceed, the maximum occupancy rate.
Full Breakdown
The county defines 'maximum occupancy rate' in Section 19-22 as no more than two persons per bedroom, plus two additional persons, with a bedroom meaning any room or space furnished with a bed and customarily used for sleeping. Children under 12 are excluded from that headcount, but the code still sets a hard ceiling of 15 total occupants no matter how many bedrooms a house has, unless the owner requests and receives a variance from the county allowing a proportional increase for dwelling units with six or more bedrooms.
: occupancy during that window cannot exceed the maximum occupancy rate, and the rule binds both the person operating the rental and anyone occupying it. Section 19-26(f)(3) requires the certificate holder to post, on or adjacent to the front door, a notice stating the maximum number of overnight occupants along with a statement that exceeding it violates the article. A local point of contact must also be on file around the clock to respond to occupancy complaints in person within two hours of notification.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the posted overnight occupancy rate is a certificate violation under Section 19-30: a first offense in a 12-month span draws a $250 fine, a second draws $500, and a third or later offense draws $1,000, with guests themselves also fined up to $1,000. Three occupancy convictions in 12 months lets the director of administration suspend or revoke the accommodation excise tax certificate under Section 19-31.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many overnight guests can a Houston County short-term rental host?
Do young children count toward the occupancy limit?
What happens if a rental exceeds the posted occupancy limit?
Can a large short-term rental request a higher occupancy limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Houston County
Compare Houston County to another location·View the Georgia short-term rentals overview
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