The dream of owning a vacation home at a favorite destination spot can become a reality for many. Renting out that vacation home on a short-term basis can significantly offset the costs of this investment. Unfortunately, not every community is open to the idea of short-term rentals.

A recent study examines 59 U.S. cities and assesses their openness to short-term rentals, comparing them across five criteria: legal framework, restrictions, tax collections, licensing requirements and hostile enforcement of regulations.

Two Georgia cities made the list by Roomscore 2016: Short-Term Rental Regulation in U.S. Cities. Savannah earned an A+, receiving extra points for having tailored short-term rental frameworks and having no significant legal restrictions, but took a small hit in the categories of tax collection, licensing and hostile enforcement.

Atlanta and nine other cities earned an F because of laws that ban short-term rentals or make them practically impossible.

Top cities for rental regulation in the U.S.

1T. Savannah, Ga.

1T. Galveston, Texas

3. Louisville, Ky.

4. San Diego, Calif.

5T. Mesa, Ariz.

5T. Detroit, Mich.

7. Colorado Springs, Colo.

» RELATED: Atlanta has Airbnb's most desired rental property in the world

Worst cities for rental regulation in the U.S.

59T. Atlanta, Ga.

59T. Denver, Colo.

59T. Oklahoma City, Okla.

56. Fresno, Calif.

55T. New Orleans, La.

55T. Jacksonville, Fla.

53. Fort Worth, Texas

About the Author

Keep Reading

“Superman” was one of several Warner Bros. features filmed in Georgia. The director, James Gunn, has ambitions to shoot the second installment in the Peach State. (Jessica Miglio/Warner Bros. Pictures/TNS)

Credit: TNS

Featured

Former Fulton County election worker Ruby Freeman talks to her daughter, Wandrea ArShaye "Shaye" Moss, a former Georgia election worker, after she testified before the U.S. House Select Committee at its fourth hearing on its Jan. 6 investigation on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)

Credit: TNS