Short-Term Rental Laws in Savannah, Georgia

Savannah's 2017 STR ordinance imposes per-ward density caps and a distinction between owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied (investor) STRs. In the historic landmark wards (the Historic District proper — wards 1, 2, 3, 4), non-owner-occupied STRs are capped at 20% of dwelling units per ward, with the cap effectively reached in most central wards. Owner-occupied STRs in those same wards are not subject to the cap. Outside the Historic District, residential zones permit STR but require the city Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate and Chatham County registration. The 20% cap in the central Historic wards is the binding investment-eligibility test — most new applications in the cap-reached wards are waitlisted indefinitely.

Historic District (Wards 1–4) non-owner-occupied STRs capped at 20% per ward — most central wards are at cap. Owner-occupied STRs (operator primary residence) are exempt from the ward cap and remain available. Outside the Historic District (Midtown, Southside, Eastside, Westside, Southbridge, Pooler-adjacent), STR is broadly permitted in residential zones with city certificate. Tybee Island is a SEPARATE jurisdiction with its own rules. The Victorian District + Streetcar Historic District overlays add architectural-review requirements but not additional STR restrictions.

Operators must hold a short-term rental permit before listing. See the official permit portal.

Savannah Revenue Department + Code Enforcement administer. The 20% ward cap is enforced via the Short-Term Vacation Rental Certificate registry — applications above cap go to waitlist. Annual renewal. Operating without a certificate (especially in cap-reached wards): civil penalties starting at $1,000 first violation, escalating to $2,500+ for repeat violations with daily stacking. Chatham County's separate accommodations tax registration is cross-referenced. Code Enforcement is among the most active in Georgia, with weekly platform data audits in the Historic District.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Savannah is approximately 14.000% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).

GA State sales tax 4% + Chatham County local option 3% + Savannah Hotel-Motel Tax 6% + GA State $5/night Hotel-Motel Fee + small city options — combined ~14.0% effective on transient lodging (plus $5/night flat)

Verify the current combined rate via the Utah State Tax Commission before remitting — rates drift quarterly.