Decatur, GA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

3 of the Decatur UDO requires a short term rental permit before any short term rental use begins in the city. Subsection j requires every short term rental to have a local designated property manager available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, during all times the property is rented or used as a short term rental; that manager can be a professional property manager, a realtor, the property owner, or another designated person who is at least 21 years old, but whoever holds the role must be able to travel to the short term rental within one hour of being contacted.

Subsection k requires the owner to obtain the short term rental permit before the use begins and to post a copy of the permit, listing all applicable standards and limits, within the short term rental property itself so guests can see the rules that apply. These permit and manager requirements sit alongside other conditions in the same subsection, including a local business license under Chapter 22, a hotel/motel occupancy tax registration under Chapter 94, and annual inspections for building, fire and residential code compliance. Under subsection u, the City Commission can revoke or suspend a short term rental permit for good cause after a hearing held on at least ten days' written notice to the permit holder, stating the time, place and purpose of the hearing along with a general statement of the charges.

Good cause includes multiple violations of federal, state or city law connected with the rental, and irregularities or false information in the permit application itself.