March Madness will make its final stop in Atlanta in April, but ahead of that time those in the city may be curious about the rules regarding posting their homes on Airbnb or VRBO.
Airbnb has provided a guide to regulations in Atlanta online. VRBO does not outline Atlanta's regulations on its website, but encourages users to review state and local laws surrounding short-term rentals.
» RELATED: March Madness: Free, cheap things to do in Atlanta the week of the playoffs
According to the non-exhaustive guidelines provided by Airbnb, people running a short-term rental in Atlanta must obtain a hotel license and a business license. The hotel license is issued through the Atlanta Police Department's License and Permit Unit and more information on obtaining it can be found in the Code of Ordinances.
When it comes to obtaining a business license, Atlanta’s Zoning Enforcement Division will verify whether or not the business can exist in its location. Rules are available for review in the Code of Ordinances.
Atlanta homeowners are also required to pay hotel occupancy taxes if they're looking to list their home as a short-term rental. Those exempt from the tax includes guests who qualify as a "permanent resident," or have had guest stays of at least 30 consecutive days, according to the city's municipal code. However. Fulton County and the State of Georgia also assess a hotel or motel occupancy tax on guest stays of more than 30 days.
» RELATED: Need a place to stay during Final Four in Atlanta? Some options from Airbnb
There are also zoning requirements that those potentially listing short-term rentals must look out for. In reviewing Atlanta's the Land Development Code, owners should take care to pay attention to terms such as "apartment," "bed and breakfast inn," "dwelling unit," "family" and "hotel," to name a few. Bed and breakfasts, for example, require a minimum of 0.5 parking spaces per rental room plus one space per owner/manager that are less than half a mile from public transportation, like MARTA. Otherwise, it's required that there's a minimum of 0.75 parking spaces spaces per rental room and an additional parking spot per owner/manager.
Homes listed for short-term rentals must also comply with building and housing standards.
The city’s regulations specify the minimum construction, design, and maintenance standards for buildings. Also regulated are the home’s safety, health and habitability. Owners should review regulations surrounding specific residential and non-residential uses depending on their listing.
About the Author
