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Carroll County, GA Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)

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

Key Facts

Application fee
$200.00, nonrefundable, per annual application (§22-75(a))
Hotel-motel tax
Applies under O.C.G.A. § 48-13-51 (§22-79)
Occupation tax
Still owed separately (§22-74(d))
Admin fee
$35.00 per occupation tax account (§22-9(a))
Applies to
Licensed short-term rentals, unincorporated county only

Summary

Carroll County charges a $200.00 nonrefundable fee with every annual short-term rental license application and separately subjects short-term rentals to Georgia's hotel-motel tax, on top of the county's regular occupation tax and regulatory fees.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Carroll County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

The application shall be accompanied by a non- refundable application fee in the amount of $200.00. ... Short-term rentals shall be subject to the hotel-motel tax as permitted under O.C.G.A. § 48-13-51 (a)(5) and O.C.G.A. § 48-13-51(b)(7)(a).

Full Breakdown

00; the application must also name the short-term rental agent, list parking availability, and include the agent's signed acknowledgment of the article's requirements. § 48-13-51(b)(7)(a). 00 fee (§ 22-9(c)). 00 application fee is expressly nonrefundable, it is charged whether or not the license is ultimately granted. These charges apply only to short-term rentals licensed in unincorporated Carroll County; rentals inside Carrollton, Villa Rica, Temple, Bowdon, Whitesburg, Mount Zion or Roopville are taxed under those cities' own codes.

Violations & Fines

Renting without paying the required fees and taxes is treated the same as operating without a valid license: it is punishable as provided in § 1-13, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense under § 22-78(d). Failure to pay the county's separate occupation tax on a short-term rental business carries the standard occupation-tax penalties, including a 10 percent late penalty under § 22-22(c).

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Carroll County short-term rental license application cost?
$200.00, and it is nonrefundable under § 22-75(a) regardless of whether the county ultimately grants the license. The fee is paid with the annual application to the Community Development Department.
Do Carroll County short-term rentals pay hotel-motel tax?
Yes. Section 22-79 subjects short-term rentals to the hotel-motel tax authorized for counties under O.C.G.A. § 48-13-51(a)(5) and § 48-13-51(b)(7)(a), on top of any other applicable state and local taxes.
Does getting a short-term rental license replace my Carroll County business tax registration?
No. Section 22-74(d) states the short-term rental license does not alter, supersede, or excuse the county's occupation tax, regulatory fee, or business license requirements, which apply separately under Chapter 22, Article I.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Carroll County

All Carroll County rules

How Carroll County compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·Compare Carroll County to another location·View the Georgia short-term rentals overview

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