The Sandy Springs City Council has approved regulating short-term rental properties – leased for less than 30 days on popular internet sites like Airbnb and VRBO.
“The short-term rental market is exploding,” said Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul. “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.”
According to code amendments approved Feb. 20 and effective May 1, the owner of a short-term rental unit must obtain a business license and register the unit with the city, have the unit inspected for compliance with building and fire codes, and post the city noise ordinance in a visible location.
Among some of the other rules, all parking must be on-site, and platforms and managers of multiple rental properties must register and provide detailed records of rental activity and taxes by rental unit.
Owners also must notify neighbors of their plans before being issued a permit for a short-term rental. Short-term rentals are not allowed in subsidized housing.
Most of these rentals are of apartments and condominiums in the Perimeter area, Assistant City Manager James E. Tolbert told the council.
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