Short-Term Rentals Program Goes Live on May 20, 2026

The DeKalb County Planning & Sustainability Department launches the short-term rental program on May 20, 2026. All DeKalb County short-term rental owners/operators must apply for and obtain a Short-Term Rental License within 30 days to comply. 

What is a Short-Term Rental (STR)?

A short-term rental is the rental of any room, lodging, or overnight accommodation for a period not exceeding thirty (30) consecutive days, including properties advertised through platforms such as Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and similar services. 

Beginning May 20, 2026:

Owners/operators of short-term rentals in unincorporated DeKalb County will be required to:

• Apply for and obtain a Short-Term Rental license
• Designate a 24-hour local contact/agent
• Comply with noise, nuisance, parking, and safety regulations
• Remit the required 8% Hotel/Motel Excise tax on the 20^th of every month

Important Information

• Short-term rentals are prohibited from being advertised or used as party houses or event venues. 
• Short-term rentals located within locally designated historic districts are not eligible for approval. 
• All applications will be submitted annually through the County’s Business License Division. 

Please Note

If you are applying for a Short-Term Rental license, do not utilize the County’s ePermitting system. The official Short Term Rental application process launched on May 20, 2026, and is available at the following link: https://portal.deckard.com/ga-dekalb-str-portal 

Stay Informed

Visit the Engage DeKalb Short-Term Rental webpage for updates, ordinance information, FAQs, and implementation details: https://engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov/short-term-rental 

Questions about the project? Send all questions regarding short-term rentals to STR@dekalbcountyga.gov.