Clayton County, GA Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- Owner occupancy
- Required on same property
- Unit location
- Inside or adjacent to home
- Investor whole-house
- Not permitted
- Rental threshold
- Under 30 days
- Authority
- County Code § 22-900
Summary
Clayton County allows short-term rentals only inside or adjacent to the owner's occupied dwelling on the same property. Non-owner-occupied, investor-run whole-house rentals are not permitted in the unincorporated county.
A short-term rental unit shall be located inside or adjacent to its owner's occupied dwelling located on the same property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 104).
Full Breakdown
Section 22-900 of the Clayton County Code defines a short-term rental unit as a nonsubsidized house, apartment, condominium, room, or lodging accommodation rented to the same tenant for under 30 days, and requires that the unit be located inside or adjacent to its owner's occupied dwelling located on the same property. This owner-occupancy tie means the county's STR framework is built around a host who lives on the parcel, similar to a hosted or accessory arrangement, rather than a detached investment rental. It effectively limits whole-property, absentee-investor STRs in the unincorporated county. Georgia has no statewide STR preemption, so this local requirement stands.
Violations & Fines
A rental that is not inside or adjacent to the owner's occupied dwelling does not meet the Section 22-900 definition and cannot be permitted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run an STR at a property I don't live at?
Does Georgia override this local rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clayton County
Compare Clayton County to another location·View the Georgia short-term rentals overview
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