How to get a short-term rental permit in Savannah, GA (2026)
Savannah requires Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Certificate — the fee is $400, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Certificate |
| Permit fee | $400 |
| Renewal | Annual |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. 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.
- 2
Apply for the Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Certificate
Submit the Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) Certificate application to Savannah and pay the $400 fee. 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.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Savannah. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
- 4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.
STR rules change without warning.
Get an email the moment Savannah changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Savannah for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
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Verified July 10, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Savannah before applying.