Clayton County, GA Short-Term Rentals: Repeat Violator Strikes (2026)

Sec. 45, Sec. 6 of the zoning ordinance sets out a specific escalation ladder for short-term rental complaints. Initial complaints go to the property manager named in the zoning or use permit, who must be reachable by phone 24 hours a day while the property is rented and, once a problem is reported, is responsible for contacting the tenant to correct it within 60 minutes, including visiting the site in person if necessary to confirm the issue is resolved. Failing to respond to a complaint, or failing to report it to emergency officials when warranted, is itself treated as a violation of this section and is cause for revocation of zoning permit status.

If the same problem recurs, the complaint moves up to the Zoning Administrator or Code Enforcement division, who may investigate whether a zoning or conditional use permit was violated. At the Zoning Administrator's discretion, that investigation can be scheduled for a revocation hearing before the County Board of Commissioners. If the Board revokes the permit, the property cannot reapply for, or be issued, a zoning or conditional use permit for a vacation rental for at least one year. This zoning-side process runs alongside the business-license enforcement in Code Sec.

22-902(a), which lets the county revoke a short-term rental business permit at any time for noncompliance with the article, and Sec. 22-903, which allows a cease-and-desist notice by certified mail and a county-attorney injunction against an owner, platform or manager who keeps operating without a valid license.