What is a Short-Term Rental?
A Short-Term Rental is the primary use of all or part of a dwelling unit by rental for temporary occupancy for living, sleeping, or lodging of less than thirty (30) consecutive days.
The City of Decatur will begin to require that all Short-Tem Rentals be registered in 2026.
The process requires public notification of the Short-Term Rental Application for 15 days prior to the issuance of a license. The forms needed for submittal are provided below.
How to Apply for a Short-Term Rental License:
We do not accept paper applications or applications via email. All applications must be submitted through our permitting portal at:
https://decaturga-self.govplatform.com/
The $125 fee must be paid at time of submittal and will not be refunded if the application is denied.
Please be sure to have the full address and completed forms provided below prior to beginning your registrations process.
The Requirements for Obtaining a Short-Term Rental Permit are:
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Maximum Overnight Occupancy. Two (2) people per guest room, plus two (2) additional people per property. Under no circumstances shall the maximum overnight occupancy exceed ten (10) people. The short-term rental owner shall ensure that all contracts, online listings, and advertisements clearly set forth the maximum number of overnight guests permitted at the short-term rental.
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Maximum Daytime Guests. Four (4) additional guests/ visitors may visit during the daytime. Specifically, the short-term rental shall not exceed the maximum overnight occupancy plus four (4) additional visitors, or fourteen (14) persons, whichever is less.
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Maximum Number of Short-Term Rentals. Only single dwelling units in compliance with City Code shall be used as short-term rentals. In duplexes, walk up flats, and stacked flats, no more than one dwelling unit per building may be rented or used at a time as a short term.
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Noise Restrictions. All activities associated with the short-term rental shall meet the general noise standards located in Chapter 42, Article III, Noise. The short-term rental owner shall ensure that all rental agreements and online listings and advertisements clearly set forth rules prohibiting excessive noise and disturbing sounds and alerting renters to the noise restrictions.
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Amplified Sound. No bands, DJ’s, sirens, or other outdoor amplified sound, other than household speakers, shall not be allowed.
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Refuse Collection. Recycling and refuse storage bins shall be stored within screened storage areas.
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Local Designated Property Manager. All short-term rentals must have a local designated property manager who is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, during all times that the short-term rental is rented or used as a short-term rental. Local designated property managers may be professional property managers, realtors, property owners, or another designated person who is a minimum of twenty-one (21) years of age. The local designated property manager must be able to travel to the short-term rental within one (1) hour of being contacted.
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Short Term Rental Permit. Prior to use as a short-term rental, the owner must obtain an annual short-term rental permit. A copy of the short-term rental permit listing all applicable standards and limits shall be posted within the short-term rental property. The owner shall post these standards and limits in a prominent place within six (6) feet of the front door of the short-term rental and include them as part of all rental agreements.
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Permit Fee. The annual short term rental permit is $125.
- Online Listings. All online advertisements and/or listings for the short-term rental shall include the following:
a. Maximum occupancy,
b. Maximum number of vehicles,
c. Notification regarding the noise ordinance,
d. Notification that no outdoor amplified sound other than household speakers is allowed, and,
e. The name, address, and phone number of the local designated property manager.
If you should have any questions, please contact str [at] decaturga.com (str[at]decaturga[dot]com)