Forsyth County, GA Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- County excise
- 8% of rent
- State sales tax
- 4%
- Local sales tax
- About 3%
- Total lodging tax
- Roughly 15%
- License fee
- $250 per year
Summary
Forsyth County short-term rentals owe an 8% county hotel/motel excise tax on the rent, plus Georgia's 4% state sales tax and roughly 3% local sales tax. Platforms like Airbnb collect much of it; the $250 STR license is separate.
There shall be paid a tax of eight percent (8%) of the rent for every occupancy of a guest room in a hotel, motel, inn, lodge, tourist camp, tourist cabin, or campground in Forsyth County.
Full Breakdown
Every guest-room rental in Forsyth County carries an 8% hotel/motel excise tax under the county's ordinance (Ord. No. 86), remitted to the Department of Finance. On top of that, Georgia levies 4% state sales tax plus roughly 3% in local option sales taxes, so a Forsyth STR guest pays around 15% in total lodging taxes. Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit state sales tax and, in many cases, the local excise. Operators still register with the Georgia Department of Revenue and pay the separate $250 annual STR license fee under Ordinance No. 129.
Violations & Fines
Failing to collect or remit the hotel/motel excise tax exposes the operator to assessments, penalties, and interest from the Forsyth County Department of Finance, and the Georgia Department of Revenue enforces unpaid state and local sales tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
What taxes does a Forsyth County STR owe?
Does Airbnb collect these taxes for me?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Forsyth County
How Forsyth County compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·Compare Forsyth County to another location·View the Georgia short-term rentals overview
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