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Is Airbnb legal in Savannah, Georgia?

Permit possible, but most downtown wards are capped. Savannah requires a Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate: $400 for a new application, $250 a year to renew. STRs are confined to the Downtown, Victorian, and Streetcar overlay districts, and non-owner-occupied parcels are capped at 20% per ward in the Downtown and Victorian districts. As of mid-2026 nearly every ward in those districts is at its cap, so a new investor buys into a waiting list, not a permit.

Showing the researched rules for Savannah, GA below. Type your Savannah address to jump to the verdict.

Legal with permit

Permit possible, but most downtown wards are capped

Savannah requires a Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate: $400 for a new application, $250 a year to renew. STRs are confined to the Downtown, Victorian, and Streetcar overlay districts, and non-owner-occupied parcels are capped at 20% per ward in the Downtown and Victorian districts. As of mid-2026 nearly every ward in those districts is at its cap, so a new investor buys into a waiting list, not a permit.

Permit and costs

Permit
Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate
Issued by
City of Savannah
Cost
$400 new, $250 annual renewal
Renewal
Annual

Key limits

Night cap
None
Ward cap
20% of parcels per ward for non-owner-occupied STVRs in Downtown and Victorian districts
Districts
STVRs only in the Downtown, Victorian, and Streetcar overlay districts
Occupancy
4 adults in units of 2 bedrooms or fewer, 2 adults per bedroom above that

Taxes

Hotel and motel taxes
Collected by Chatham County, check the current combined rate

Registration checklist

  1. 1
    Check the ward cap
    Look up the city's published list of wards already at the 20% non-owner-occupied cap before you buy.
  2. 2
    Get zoning confirmation
    Request a zoning confirmation letter from the city and notify adjacent property owners in writing.
  3. 3
    Apply and get the business certificate
    File the $400 STVR application online, then obtain a Savannah Business Tax Certificate before the STVR certificate issues.

What could change this verdict

Your HOA
Historic district condo boards and HOAs add their own rental restrictions on top of the city cap.
Certificate does not transfer
Selling the property ends the certificate, the buyer must reapply and rejoin the ward queue.

Sources

BNBCalc Savannah STR guide 2026 · Checkmate Georgia STR laws 2026

Rules researched October 2026. They change, so verify with the city before you buy.

Want this verified for your exact address?

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Also check

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Verify before you buy. Rules change often and vary by zoning, HOA, and building type. This is a research starting point, not legal advice. Always confirm with the city's planning or business-license office before signing anything.