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HomeShort-Term Rental LawsGeorgiaTybee Island

Local guide

Tybee Island Short-Term Rental Laws

Tybee Island short-term rentals are subject to Tybee Island STR Certificate. A City short-term rental certificate is required for eligible properties, with annual renewal and occupational tax compliance.

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Compliance layers

A Clear Answer, Then a Path Forward.

Critical Finding

See whether the property can operate now, what blocks it, and which exception may apply.

Address Context

Confirm zoning, current land use, jurisdiction, and the rules that actually govern the address.

Required Approvals

Get the permits, licenses, documents, inspections, and tax registrations needed before launch.

Recommended Path

Follow prioritized next steps, deadlines, renewal duties, and viable alternatives when rules change.

Legal status

Can you operate a short-term rental in Tybee Island?

A City short-term rental certificate is required for eligible properties, with annual renewal and occupational tax compliance.

Tybee Island: Tybee Island defines an STR as lodging rented to transient guests for fewer than 30 consecutive days.

Confirm whether the property qualifies for a certificate or an applicable exemption; primary residence alone does not remove the process.

  • Local approval

    Tybee Island STR Certificate Do not operate without an active certificate or documented exemption.

  • Published fee

    The regulatory fee is $200 plus an occupancy charge: $10 per person for capacity 1–5, $15 per person for 6–10, and $20 per person above 10. A $135 Occupational Tax Certificate is required unless a City exemption applies. Use the current Tybee Island fee schedule when filing.

  • Renewal cycle

    The certificate follows the calendar-year renewal cycle. Keep the approval active for every operating period.

Before applying

Tybee Island eligibility and property checks

Resolve the address, applicant, and private-property limits before paying a government fee.

  • Local rule 1

    Confirm whether the property qualifies for a certificate or an applicable exemption; primary residence alone does not remove the process.

    Required

  • Local rule 2

    New STR certificates are not issued in R-1, R-1B, or R-2 zoning districts; verify the parcel district before applying.

    Required

  • Primary-residence test

    Confirm whether the property qualifies for a certificate or an applicable exemption; primary residence alone does not remove the process.

    Required

  • Private restrictions

    For a Tybee Island property, government approval does not override a lease, condominium declaration, HOA covenant, mortgage, or insurance restriction.

    Required

Application path

How to complete the Tybee Island approval

Do not operate without an active certificate or documented exemption.

  1. Confirm the regulating address

    Verify that the property is governed by Tybee Island and matches the local eligibility rules.

  2. Assemble property evidence

    Prepare the required file, including Complete property, ownership, and parcel-identification information, Management-company authorization letter when an agent applies, Occupancy, safety, and 24/7 complaint-contact details.

  3. File for Tybee Island STR Certificate

    Use the official application page or portal. The published fee is The regulatory fee is $200 plus an occupancy charge: $10 per person for capacity 1–5, $15 per person for 6–10, and $20 per person above 10. A $135 Occupational Tax Certificate is required unless a City exemption applies.

  4. Keep proof of approval

    Retain the issued approval, application record, payment confirmation, and any conditions that apply to this Tybee Island property.

Application file

Documents, notice, and safety evidence

Build the file around the exact property rather than a generic hosting checklist.

  • Complete property, ownership, and parcel-identification information

    Include current, property-specific evidence for complete property, ownership, and parcel-identification information.

    Required

  • Management-company authorization letter when an agent applies

    Include current, property-specific evidence for management-company authorization letter when an agent applies.

    Required

  • Occupancy, safety, and 24/7 complaint-contact details

    Include current, property-specific evidence for occupancy, safety, and 24/7 complaint-contact details.

    Required

  • Occupational Tax Certificate application or exemption form

    Include current, property-specific evidence for occupational tax certificate application or exemption form.

    Required

  • Georgia and 7% Tybee room-tax filing records

    Include current, property-specific evidence for georgia and 7% tybee room-tax filing records.

    Required

  • Inspection or compliance review

    Complete the property, occupancy, and safety information requested in the current application and maintain compliance with the listed City ordinances.

    Required

  • Notice or local-contact duty

    Maintain the required owner, management-company, and after-hours complaint contacts and update the City when management changes.

    Required

Taxes

Tybee Island lodging taxes and booking channels

Tybee Island requires a 7% local Occupational Room Tax in addition to applicable Georgia requirements.

Tax treatment
Tybee Island requires a 7% local Occupational Room Tax in addition to applicable Georgia requirements.Rates and exemptions can depend on the address and length of stay.
Who collects
Tybee Island requires a 7% local Occupational Room Tax in addition to applicable Georgia requirements.A marketplace collection setting does not automatically resolve direct-booking obligations.
Return timing
File the local room-tax return by the 20th of the following month, including a zero return when no tax is due, and reconcile marketplace collection.Keep returns and payment confirmations even when a platform remits some charges.

Keep the approval active

Renewal, enforcement, and appeals

The published renewal cycle is The certificate follows the calendar-year renewal cycle.

Operating deadline
Do not operate without an active certificate or documented exemption.Do not treat an incomplete filing as issued approval.
Enforcement 1
Tybee Island: Operating without an active certificate or violating zoning, occupancy, sign, tax, or complaint-response rules can lead to code enforcement and loss of the certificate.Preserve the Tybee Island notice and respond within its stated deadline.
Review or appeal
Tybee Island: Use the review, correction, hearing, or appeal instructions included in the government decision or enforcement notice.Use the Tybee Island procedure and deadline in the actual decision.

From rules to action

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Tell Pine what you’re trying to do. Pine can organize the official requirements into a practical plan—and help with the research, calls, emails, and follow-ups that come next.

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More verified guidance

Related Application Guides

Continue with the related permit, registration, tax, and operating-rule guides for this location.

Tybee Island STR Certificate Guide (2026)

Prepare the Tybee Island STR Certificate: eligibility, documents, fees, application steps, verification, and renewal.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

A City short-term rental certificate is required for eligible properties, with annual renewal and occupational tax compliance. Tybee Island STR Certificate is the local approval identified by the government sources.

Tybee Island STR Certificate is required. Do not operate without an active certificate or documented exemption.

The regulatory fee is $200 plus an occupancy charge: $10 per person for capacity 1–5, $15 per person for 6–10, and $20 per person above 10. A $135 Occupational Tax Certificate is required unless a City exemption applies.

The published file includes Complete property, ownership, and parcel-identification information, Management-company authorization letter when an agent applies, Occupancy, safety, and 24/7 complaint-contact details, Occupational Tax Certificate application or exemption form, Georgia and 7% Tybee room-tax filing records.

Tybee Island requires a 7% local Occupational Room Tax in addition to applicable Georgia requirements.

Renewal in Tybee Island: The certificate follows the calendar-year renewal cycle. Tybee Island: Operating without an active certificate or violating zoning, occupancy, sign, tax, or complaint-response rules can lead to code enforcement and loss of the certificate.