Atlanta, GA Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- Hotel-motel tax rate
- 8% of rental charge
- Annual license application fee
- $150.00, non-refundable
- Tax authority
- O.C.G.A. § 48-13-51
- Licensing agency
- Dept. of Planning & Community Development
- Per-violation penalty
- $500.00 fully adjudicated
Summary
Atlanta short-term rentals owe an 8% hotel-motel tax on every stay, plus a $150 non-refundable annual license application fee to the city.
Short-term rentals shall be subject to the hotel-motel tax of eight percent of the charge furnishing short-term rentals as permitted under O.C.G.A. § 48-13-51(a)(5) and O.C.G.A. § 48-13-51(b)(7)(a).
(Ord. No. 2021-14(20-O-1656), § 1, 3-24-21)
APPENDIX A - BUILDING CODE AMENDMENTS [Chapter I of the Standard Building Code is amended in full to read as follows:]
Footnotes: --- (1) --- Editor's note— This appendix is a compilation of ordinances amendatory of the Atlanta Building Code. Such amendments were not published in the 1977 city code. The actual text of the amendments are published as enacted; words in brackets have been added where necessary to express the intent of the amendment. A history note appears at the end of each amended section giving the source of the amendment.
Cross reference— Building code adopted, § 8-2071.
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 20-1010, short-term rentals in Atlanta are subject to the state and local hotel-motel tax of 8% of the charge for furnishing the rental, authorized by O.C.G.A. § 48-13-51(a)(5) and (b)(7)(A). Separately, § 20-1005(a) requires an annual short-term rental license application submitted to the Department of Planning and Community Development, accompanied by a non-refundable $150.00 application fee. Both the tax and the license fee apply on top of any other required registrations, such as business tax certificate registration under Chapter 30.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required license or filings can trigger revocation/suspension of the license; adjudicated code violations carry a $500.00 penalty per violation under § 20-1008(c)-(d), separate from tax remittance obligations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Atlanta short-term rental hosts pay hotel-motel tax?
Is there a separate license fee?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Atlanta
How Atlanta compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·Compare Atlanta to another location·View the Georgia short-term rentals overview
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