Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Rules in Savannah, GA (2026)
Short-term rental rules, registration requirements, and penalties for Savannah, GA. Source-cited from official municipal code.
Yes, short-term rentals (Airbnb/VRBO) are allowed in Savannah, GA.
Savannah, GA allows short-term rentals — commonly listed on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO — subject to local regulations that have evolved significantly since 2015. Hosts must register with the city (Savannah Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) License) before listing their property. Savannah regulates STRs to balance tourism revenue with neighborhood quality of life. Key rules cover primary residence requirements, nightly limits, occupancy caps, and tax collection obligations. Hosts who operate without required registration or in violation of city rules face substantial fines. Below are the current registration requirements, rules, platform-specific notes, and penalties for Savannah.
Registration Requirements
Registration Required: Savannah Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) License. Registration fee: $150. Annual renewal: $150 annually. Register through the City of Savannah Development Services — Permits and Inspections or Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) — Savannah Historic District. Your registration number must be displayed on all platform listings. Failure to register before hosting is a violation subject to fines.
Registration Type
Savannah Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) License
Registration Fee
$150
Annual Renewal
$150
Operational Rules
Short-Term Rental Rules in Savannah: 1. STVR license required from Savannah Revenue Department 2. Property must pass City of Savannah life safety inspection before license issuance 3. Designated Responsible Party (DRP) required — available 24/7 within 30 miles 4. Maximum occupancy: 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional 5. Georgia Hotel/Motel Tax (5%) plus Chatham County hotel/motel tax plus Savannah hotel/motel tax apply 6. STVR license number must be displayed on all booking platform listings 7. Night noise violations — host responsible for guest compliance 8. Non-primary residence whole-home STRs require additional license tier in some zones
- STVR license required from Savannah Revenue Department
- Property must pass City of Savannah life safety inspection before license issuance
- Designated Responsible Party (DRP) required — available 24/7 within 30 miles
- Maximum occupancy: 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional
- Georgia Hotel/Motel Tax (5%) plus Chatham County hotel/motel tax plus Savannah hotel/motel tax apply
- STVR license number must be displayed on all booking platform listings
- Night noise violations — host responsible for guest compliance
- Non-primary residence whole-home STRs require additional license tier in some zones
Platform-Specific Rules
Platform-Specific Rules in Savannah: Airbnb: Airbnb collects and remits Georgia state and local hotel/motel taxes. Hosts must provide STVR license number. VRBO: VRBO collects applicable Georgia and Chatham County taxes. Host must provide Savannah STVR license. Always verify current platform tax collection and remittance policies directly with your platform — these can change without advance notice to hosts.
Airbnb
Airbnb collects and remits Georgia state and local hotel/motel taxes. Hosts must provide STVR license number.
VRBO
VRBO collects applicable Georgia and Chatham County taxes. Host must provide Savannah STVR license.
Penalties for Violations
Penalties for STR Violations in Savannah: $1,000 fine per day for operating without STVR license; $500 fine for occupancy limit violations; License revocation for repeated violations or safety inspection failures; Criminal citation for operating after license revocation. Savannah has enforcement mechanisms to identify unlicensed short-term rental listings on platforms. Hosts should ensure all registrations are current and listings display valid registration numbers.
- $1,000 fine per day for operating without STVR license
- $500 fine for occupancy limit violations
- License revocation for repeated violations or safety inspection failures
- Criminal citation for operating after license revocation
These regulations have been in effect since 2020-01-01. STR regulations in Savannah have evolved significantly — verify current rules directly with the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) — Savannah Historic District before hosting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do Airbnb in Savannah?
Yes, short-term rentals are allowed in Savannah, GA with registration required.
Do I need to register to host on Airbnb in Savannah?
Yes, Savannah requires Savannah Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) License for short-term rental hosts. The registration fee is $150.
What are the main short-term rental rules in Savannah?
Key rules include: STVR license required from Savannah Revenue Department. Property must pass City of Savannah life safety inspection before license issuance. Designated Responsible Party (DRP) required — available 24/7 within 30 miles.
Can I rent my whole home on Airbnb in Savannah?
Check Savannah's specific STR regulations regarding whole-home vs hosted rentals.
Source: City of Savannah Short-Term Vacation Rental Ordinance; Savannah Revenue Department. Last verified April 6, 2026. View source