Short-Term Rental Laws in Savannah, GA (2026)
Short-term vacation rentals (STVRs, entire-dwelling rentals of 30 days or less) are legal in Savannah only inside the STVR Overlay District — the Downtown, Victorian and Streetcar local historic districts (plus limited business/agricultural zones) — and every operator needs an annual STVR Certificate ($400 new, $250 renewal) plus a Business Tax Certificate. The biggest restriction is a 20% per-ward cap on non-owner-occupied STVRs in the Downtown and Victorian districts (effective Sept. 29, 2017); most wards have hit the cap, so new investor-owned rentals there go on a first-come waiting list, while owner-occupied properties are exempt. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
⏳ Verification in progress — data compiled July 10, 2026, human review pending
Savannah STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Restricted |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Certificate |
| Permit fee | $400 |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Owner occupancy required | No |
| Primary residence only | No |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~15% of gross revenue |
| Insurance | Yes — proof of insurance is required with every new and renewal application, and the policy must indicate the premises is used as a short-term vacation rental. No minimum coverage amount is specified on the city's pages. |
| Enforcement | Since July 26, 2024 all applications, renewals and rental-agent changes run exclusively through the city's Rentalscape/Deckard online STVR registration portal (str.deckard.com), which the city also uses for STR monitoring and ordinance enforcement. Complaints are routed to Code Compliance via a public Vacation Rental Complaint Portal and a 24/7 hotline (912-226-0320). The designated 24-hour rental agent must appear on the premises within two hours of city notification of problems, and the STVR certificate number must be published in every advertisement or listing. Citations are heard by an STVR staff board or Chatham County Recorder's Court. |
| Current rules effective | 2017-09-29 |
What will guests pay in taxes on a Savannah stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for Savannah, GA — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
Savannah occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| City of Savannah hotel/motel excise tax (8%)· collection varies | $36.00 |
| Georgia state + local sales tax (combined, Chatham County) (7%)· collection varies | $31.50 |
| Georgia state hotel-motel fee (flat $5 per night) (0%)· collection varies | $0.00 |
| Total tax (15%) | $67.50 |
| Guest pays | $517.50 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Permits & licensing
Savannah requires Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Certificate to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $400, renewed annual.
Non-refundable new application fee of $400.00; non-refundable annual renewal fee of $250.00. A $50 Zoning Confirmation Letter fee applies if zoning eligibility confirmation is requested. A separate Business Tax Certificate from the city Revenue Department is also required before the STVR Certificate is issued. Fees were $300 new / $150 renewal under the 2017 fee schedule; the city's current pages show $400/$250 but the effective date of the increase could not be confirmed.
Zoning & location rules
STVRs are limited to the STVR Overlay District (Zoning Ordinance Sec. 7.5), which covers the Downtown, Victorian and Streetcar local historic districts; city guidance and industry summaries indicate the use is otherwise allowed only in certain business/agricultural zoning classifications (B-C, B-N, B-L, A-1). In residential areas of the Downtown and Victorian districts a 20% per-ward cap applies to non-owner-occupied parcels (effective Sept. 29, 2017); owner-occupied parcels are exempt. Most wards have met the cap, and the city maintains a first-come, first-served waiting list for openings. Certificates are non-transferable (City Code Sec. 8-11012). Occupancy is capped at 4 adults for units with up to two bedrooms and 2 adults per bedroom for units with three or more bedrooms. No annual night cap or minimum-stay requirement was found.
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| City of Savannah hotel/motel excise taxRaised from 6% to 8% effective September 1, 2023 — the city's first increase since 1995 — and applies to STVRs. Airbnb states it collects all locally imposed occupancy taxes on Georgia reservations, and Avalara reports Airbnb/Vrbo collect Savannah lodging tax; for direct bookings the operator must file and remit to the city Revenue Department by the 20th of each month. | 8% | varies |
| Georgia state + local sales tax (combined, Chatham County)The city instructs operators to remit '7% State Use and Sales Tax' to the Georgia Department of Revenue (4% state plus local sales taxes). Georgia's marketplace facilitator law requires platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo to collect it on platform bookings (Airbnb: 4% state plus 2%-5% county/local); hosts remit on direct bookings and must register for a state sales tax number. | 7% | varies |
| Georgia state hotel-motel fee (flat $5 per night)Flat $5 per night (not a percentage) for the first 30 nights of a stay. Collected and remitted by Airbnb/Vrbo on platform bookings; host-remitted to the Georgia Department of Revenue otherwise. | 0% | varies |
Enforcement & penalties
Since July 26, 2024 all applications, renewals and rental-agent changes run exclusively through the city's Rentalscape/Deckard online STVR registration portal (str.deckard.com), which the city also uses for STR monitoring and ordinance enforcement. Complaints are routed to Code Compliance via a public Vacation Rental Complaint Portal and a 24/7 hotline (912-226-0320). The designated 24-hour rental agent must appear on the premises within two hours of city notification of problems, and the STVR certificate number must be published in every advertisement or listing. Citations are heard by an STVR staff board or Chatham County Recorder's Court.
Fines that 'may not be waived or reduced': $500 first violation, $750 second violation within 12 months, $1,000 third violation within 12 months. Three code violations at a property within 12 consecutive months triggers revocation of the certificate and a 12-month bar on new applications for that premises. False application statements are grounds for revocation, suspension, and denial of future applications.
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Recent rule changes in Savannah
April 28, 2026
Chatham County weighs STR ordinance overhaul (adjacent jurisdiction)
Chatham County (which surrounds Savannah; applies to unincorporated areas, not the city proper) held stakeholder meetings on updating its short-term rental ordinance, focused on licensing all rentals, noise/party/occupancy/parking/density concerns, and ensuring hotel/motel taxes are collected from platforms. A signal of tightening regional enforcement, though it does not change City of Savannah rules.
Official source →July 26, 2024material
Rentalscape online portal becomes exclusive channel for STVR applications and enforcement
The city launched the Rentalscape/Deckard STVR registration portal in July 2024; as of July 26, 2024 all new applications, annual renewals and rental-agent changes must go through the portal (paper applications no longer accepted). The platform also digitizes STR monitoring, complaint routing to Code Compliance, and ordinance enforcement, with a public complaint portal and 24/7 hotline.
Official source →September 1, 2023material
Savannah hotel/motel tax raised from 6% to 8%, applied to STVRs
Following state legislative authorization, Savannah increased its hotel/motel excise tax from 6% to 8% effective September 1, 2023 — the first increase since 1995. The 8% tax applies to short-term vacation rentals, including Airbnb/Vrbo stays.
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in Savannah?
Airbnb is legal in Savannah, GA, but with significant restrictions — check the zoning and eligibility rules on this page before listing. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Savannah?
Yes. Savannah requires a Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Certificate to operate a short-term rental, which costs $400 and must be renewed every year. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a Savannah short-term rental permit cost?
The Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Certificate costs $400 (annual renewal). Non-refundable new application fee of $400.00; non-refundable annual renewal fee of $250.00. A $50 Zoning Confirmation Letter fee applies if zoning eligibility confirmation is requested. A separate Business Tax Certificate from the city Revenue Department is also required before the STVR Certificate is issued. Fees were $300 new / $150 renewal under the 2017 fee schedule; the city's current pages show $400/$250 but the effective date of the increase could not be confirmed.
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Savannah?
Yes — Savannah does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Savannah?
Hosts in Savannah are subject to: City of Savannah hotel/motel excise tax (8%), Georgia state + local sales tax (combined, Chatham County) (7%), Georgia state hotel-motel fee (flat $5 per night) (0%) — roughly 15% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.
›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Savannah?
Fines that 'may not be waived or reduced': $500 first violation, $750 second violation within 12 months, $1,000 third violation within 12 months. Three code violations at a property within 12 consecutive months triggers revocation of the certificate and a 12-month bar on new applications for that premises. False application statements are grounds for revocation, suspension, and denial of future applications. Since July 26, 2024 all applications, renewals and rental-agent changes run exclusively through the city's Rentalscape/Deckard online STVR registration portal (str.deckard.com), which the city also uses for STR monitoring and ordinance enforcement. Complaints are routed to Code Compliance via a public Vacation Rental Complaint Portal and a 24/7 hotline (912-226-0320). The designated 24-hour rental agent must appear on the premises within two hours of city notification of problems, and the STVR certificate number must be published in every advertisement or listing. Citations are heard by an STVR staff board or Chatham County Recorder's Court.
Savannah's STR rules changed 2 times recently.
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Related
Nearby covered cities
- Charleston, SCPrimary residence only
- Myrtle Beach, SCRestricted
- Atlanta, GAPermit required
- Orlando, FLPrimary residence only
- Asheville, NCRestricted
Sources
- Short-term Vacation Rental Regulations — City of Savannah (official)retrieved July 10, 2026
- STVR — Short-Term Vacation Rentals — City of Savannah (official)retrieved July 10, 2026
- STVR Application Process — City of Savannah (official)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Local & State Taxes (STVR) — City of Savannah (official)retrieved July 10, 2026
- City of Savannah Code, Chapter 11 — Short-Term Vacation Rentals (ordinance PDF)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Georgia — Airbnb Help Centerretrieved July 10, 2026
- Savannah lodging taxes on STRs increase from 6% to 8% September 1 — Avalara MyLodgeTaxretrieved July 10, 2026
- City of Savannah Launches New Online Portal for STVR Management — Savannah Business Journal (July 2024)retrieved July 10, 2026
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Savannah and a qualified professional before operating.