Sandy Springs Boosts Short Term Rental Regulations

SANDY SPRINGS, GA - From The City of Sandy Springs: The Sandy Springs City Council voted to amend the City’s code to allow for additional regulation of short-term rentals. Short-term rentals, defined as the “rental of all or part of a dwelling unit to the same guest for less than 30 days,” are permitted within residential areas. The changes add specific restrictions designed to protect the quality of life in those neighborhoods.

“The short-term rental market is exploding. While we want to be supportive of the industry, we have an obligation to protect the residential character of our neighborhoods, as well as ensure that we implement fair and equitable application of business practices, including administration of hotel and motel taxes, which apply to this type of rental,” said Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul.

The updated provisions include several provisions to help ensure that short-term rentals are monitored, pay the appropriate taxes and is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood. Included in those provisions:

• All parking must be on the lot;
• No short-term rental shall be allowed in subsidized housing;
• All hosts shall post the City’s noise ordinance in a visible location;
• The property owner must hold a business license from the City, and the unit must be registered as a short-term rental unit;
• The business license number must be included in any advertisement of the short-term rental unit;
• Before issuance of a permit for short-term rental, each property shall be inspected for compliance with all building and fire codes;
• All platforms and managers of multiple rental properties must register and provide detailed records of rental activity and taxes by rental unit; and
• All units must pay a Business License Fee and all Hotel/Motel taxes due.

Prior to the issuance of a permit for a short-term rental, the property owner must notify all property owners and residents within 500 feet of their intent to do so and provide contact information in the event of an issue or problem. The property owner must post information on the door of the property with the name and contact information of the owner and the phone number of the City Call Center for notification if problems arise.

Identification of short-term rentals and collection of applicable taxes is a challenge for local governments. According to statistics from Airbnb, nearly 7,000 Georgia residents utilized Airbnb to make extra income, with November 2017 data indicating 211 short-term rental units within the city limit.

The amendment will be effective May 1, 2018.

For information regarding the City of Sandy Springs, visit us online at www.sandyspringsga.gov or call the Citizen Response Center at 770-730-5600. Follow breaking news and traffic alerts on Twitter and community news on Facebook @SandySpringsGA.

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