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

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Strike threshold
3 violations in 12 months
Penalty
Permit revocation + 12-month ban
Appeal window
30 days to city manager
Enforcing agency
Dept. of Inspections and Code

Summary

Columbus, Georgia revokes short-term rental permits and bars new applications for a property for 12 months after three code violations within 12 consecutive months, under the consolidated Columbus-Muscogee County government's UDO.

When a property owner has accumulated three code violations for a particular property within a period of 12 consecutive months, the Department of Inspections and Code shall revoke any pending permits and reject all applications for the subject premises for a period of 12 consecutive months.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).

Full Breakdown

The Department of Inspections and Code tracks every code violation, founded accusation, and conviction tied to each short-term rental address. Once an owner racks up three violations at one property within 12 consecutive months, the department revokes any pending permits and rejects all new applications for that address for the next 12 months. Owners can appeal a revocation, suspension, or denial to the city manager within 30 days, and a timely appeal stays the penalty until a decision is issued. The rule applies citywide across the consolidated Columbus-Muscogee County government, GA, not a separate county layer.

Violations & Fines

Revocation of pending short-term rental permits and a 12-month application ban for the property; separately, unpermitted STR operation draws $500 first offense, $750 second, $1,000 third within 12 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many violations trigger STR permit revocation in Columbus, GA?
Three code violations at one short-term rental property within 12 consecutive months trigger automatic revocation of pending permits and a 12-month ban on new applications for that address.
Can I appeal a revoked short-term rental permit in Columbus?
Yes: file a written appeal with the city manager's office within 30 days; a timely appeal stays the revocation until the city manager rules on it.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Columbus

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All Columbus rules

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