Draft. This page was compiled from official sources but has not completed editorial verification. Confirm every figure with the official links below before acting.
Savannah Short-Term Rental Rules: What Hosts Need to Know in 2026
Savannah certifies short-term vacation rentals only inside its STVR overlay district, which covers the Downtown, Victorian, and Streetcar local historic districts. A new certificate costs $400, and the annual renewal costs $250.
New non-owner-occupied units in the Downtown and Victorian districts face a 20% per-ward cap. Owner-occupied parcels are exempt, and capped wards run a first-come waiting list.
An overlay district, a per-ward cap, and a paperwork file
Savannah separates an entire-unit short-term rental from renting a room in an owner-occupied home. The STVR certificate applies to the whole dwelling unit for stays of 30 consecutive days or less; a room rental is regulated as a bed-and-breakfast homestay instead.
The cap is geographic and parcel-based: new non-owner-occupied STVRs in residential areas of the Downtown and Victorian districts are limited to 20% of residential parcels in each ward. Once a ward fills, the city stops issuing certificates there and maintains a waiting list.
- STVR certificates are limited to the overlay district.
- New non-owner-occupied units are capped at 20% of residential parcels per ward in the Downtown and Victorian districts.
- Owner-occupied parcels are exempt from the per-ward cap.
What the certificate covers
The certificate is tied to one property and one rental agent. It is not transferable, so a buyer must apply for a new certificate after a sale.
Entire dwelling units
An STVR is the rental of an entire dwelling unit for 30 consecutive days or less. Renting a room in an owner-occupied home is a separate bed-and-breakfast homestay use.
Overlay district only
STVRs are permitted only within the overlay covering the Downtown, Victorian, and Streetcar local historic districts. A zoning confirmation letter is available for eligibility and parking questions.
Per-ward cap
New non-owner-occupied STVRs in residential areas of the Downtown and Victorian districts are capped at 20% of residential parcels per ward; owner-occupied parcels are exempt.
License fees
| Label | Fee |
|---|---|
| New license | $400 |
| Renewal | $250 |
Certificate conditions and operating requirements
- STVRs are limited to the short-term vacation rental overlay district, which covers the Downtown, Victorian, and Streetcar local historic districts.
- New non-owner-occupied STVRs in residential areas of the Downtown and Victorian districts are capped at 20% of residential parcels per ward; owner-occupied parcels are exempt and capped wards use a first-come waiting list.
- Only an entire dwelling unit may operate as an STVR for stays of 30 consecutive days or less; renting a room in an owner-occupied home is regulated separately as a bed-and-breakfast homestay.
- Occupancy is limited to four adults for units with two or fewer bedrooms and two adults per bedroom for units with three or more bedrooms.
- A Business Tax Certificate from the Revenue Department is required before the STVR certificate is issued, and proof of insurance must show the premises is used as a short-term vacation rental.
- The STVR certificate number and the exemplar rental agreement must appear in every advertisement, and a designated rental agent must be able to respond at the property within two hours.
Enforcement: fines, revocation, and a complaint hotline
Savannah enforces the STVR ordinance through its Tourism Management office and a 24/7 complaint hotline. Violations carry escalating fines, and repeat property code violations can end the certificate.
Operating without a certificate is the highest-risk violation because the property cannot be advertised as a legal STVR at all. The certificate number and the exemplar rental agreement must appear in every listing.
- First violation: $500.
- Second violation within 12 months: $750; third: $1,000.
- Three property code violations within 12 months can revoke pending certificates.
| Item | Penalty |
|---|---|
| First violation | $500 for a first violation. |
| Repeat violations | $750 for a second violation within 12 months and $1,000 for a third within 12 months. |
| Revocation | Three property code violations within 12 consecutive months can result in revocation of pending certificates. |
Hotel/motel tax plus Georgia sales tax
Combined hotel occupancy tax ~15%
Savannah STVRs pay an 8% City of Savannah hotel/motel excise tax plus the 7% Georgia sales and use tax, for a combined rate of about 15%.
The local hotel/motel return is due by the 20th day of the month after the rental. The state sales and use tax return is also due by the 20th, and electronic filing is required once payments exceed $500.
Platforms may collect and remit some of these taxes, but the owner remains responsible for confirming what was paid and remitting anything that was not.
- Collection
- Platforms may collect and remit some lodging taxes; the owner remains responsible for the local hotel/motel tax and the state sales and use tax.
- Filing
- Local hotel/motel tax returns are due by the 20th day of the month after the rental; state sales and use tax is also due by the 20th.
Ranges vary — verify. The local hotel/motel excise rate rose to 8% effective September 1, 2023.
Permit notes
- Density caps
- New non-owner-occupied STVRs in the Downtown and Victorian historic districts are capped at 20% of residential parcels per ward; owner-occupied parcels are exempt.
- Local contact
- A designated rental agent must be able to be present at the property within two hours of a complaint call.
- Insurance
- Proof of insurance showing the premises is used as a short-term vacation rental is required for new and renewing applications.
Compare Savannah with other STR markets
Some cities regulate short-term rentals citywide, while others confine them to an overlay district and cap them block by block. Savannah uses an overlay plus a per-ward cap, with owner-occupied parcels exempt.
Phoenix
Arizona
Allowed citywide with permit (state law bars city bans — host-friendly)
Low–moderate enforcement
New license $250
Last verified
View Phoenix rules →Scottsdale
Arizona
Licensed; Arizona law preempts local bans and occupancy caps
Moderate enforcement
New license $250
Last verified
View Scottsdale rules →Sedona
Arizona
Permit required; Arizona law sets the regulatory floor
Moderate enforcement
New license $210
Last verified
View Sedona rules →Los Angeles
California
Allowed in the host’s primary residence with registration; 120-night annual cap unless extended
High enforcement
New license $441
Last verified
View Los Angeles rules →Palm Springs
California
Allowed in single-family homes with an annual certificate; new certificates capped at 20% per organized neighborhood
High enforcement
New license — Vacation Rental $1,046
Last verified
View Palm Springs rules →San Diego
California
Licensed by tier; whole-home licenses are capped by ordinance
High enforcement
New license — Tier 1 — Part-Time $193
Last verified
View San Diego rules →San Francisco
California
Allowed only in the host’s permanent residence with registration; un-hosted stays capped at 90 nights per year
High enforcement
New license $925
Last verified
View San Francisco rules →Santa Monica
California
Home-sharing only in the host’s primary residence; un-hosted vacation rentals are unlawful
High enforcement
New license $582.25
Last verified
View Santa Monica rules →Denver
Colorado
Licensed, primary residence only
High enforcement
New license $150
Last verified
View Denver rules →Washington
District of Columbia
Licensed, primary residence only
High enforcement
New license $99
Last verified
View Washington rules →Fort Lauderdale
Florida
Licensed and inspected; annual Certificate of Compliance required
High enforcement
New license — Certificate of Compliance $880
Last verified
View Fort Lauderdale rules →Miami
Florida
Licensed and enforced; city and county requirements run in parallel
High enforcement
Last verified
View Miami rules →Orlando
Florida
Owner-occupied home sharing; whole-home rentals are limited by zoning
Moderate enforcement
New license — Home Sharing Registration $275
Last verified
View Orlando rules →Tampa
Florida
State-licensed; city rental registration repealed in 2023
Low–moderate enforcement
New license $230
Last verified
View Tampa rules →Atlanta
Georgia
Licensed, primary residence plus one additional dwelling unit
High enforcement
New license $150
Last verified
View Atlanta rules →Chicago
Illinois
Registered shared housing unit (31 days or fewer)
High enforcement
New license $250
Last verified
View Chicago rules →New Orleans
Louisiana
Licensed, capped, and lottery-based
High enforcement
New license — NSTR owner permit $500
Last verified
View New Orleans rules →Boston
Massachusetts
Registered, owner-occupied primary residence only
High enforcement
New license — Limited Share $25
Last verified
View Boston rules →Las Vegas
Nevada
Licensed; owner-occupied homes only (city limits)
High enforcement
New license $500
Last verified
View Las Vegas rules →New York
New York
Legal only in a registered primary residence (hosted stays)
High enforcement
New license $145
Last verified
View New York rules →Portland
Oregon
Permitted as an accessory use (primary residence required)
Moderate enforcement
Last verified
View Portland rules →Charleston
South Carolina
Licensed, primary residence only (commercial STRs only in the overlay district)
High enforcement
New license $345
Last verified
View Charleston rules →Nashville
Tennessee
Allowed with permit; heavy zoning restrictions on investor units
High enforcement
New license $313
Last verified
View Nashville rules →Austin
Texas
Licensed & enforced
High enforcement
New license $736.60
Last verified
View Austin rules →Seattle
Washington
Licensed; up to two units per operator
High enforcement
New license $75
Last verified
View Seattle rules →Frequently asked questions
Can I operate a short-term rental anywhere in Savannah?
No. STVRs are limited to the short-term vacation rental overlay district covering the Downtown, Victorian, and Streetcar local historic districts. New non-owner-occupied units in the Downtown and Victorian districts are also subject to a 20% per-ward cap.
How much does a Savannah STVR certificate cost?
A new application costs $400 and an annual renewal costs $250; both fees are non-refundable. The certificate is valid for one year, and renewal applications are due at least 30 days before expiration.
What taxes does a Savannah STVR pay?
Hosts remit an 8% City of Savannah hotel/motel excise tax plus the 7% Georgia sales and use tax. The local return is due by the 20th of the following month, and the state return is also due by the 20th.
Official sources and cross-checks
Sources with links
- City of Savannah — Short-Term Vacation Rentals savannahga.gov
- City of Savannah — STVR Application Process savannahga.gov
- City of Savannah — STVR Regulations savannahga.gov
- City of Savannah — Local and State Taxes savannahga.gov