Cartersville, Georgia Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Cartersville, GA?

Yes, short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Cartersville, Georgia. The City of Cartersville has established a comprehensive regulatory framework for Short-Term Vacation Rentals (STVRs), including mandatory registration, tax collection requirements, and ongoing compliance obligations. The city requires all STVR operators to register with the City Clerk, collect an 8% excise tax on all rentals, and submit monthly tax reports regardless of whether any rentals occurred.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Cartersville?

Cartersville hosts earn a median $29,316/year with $155 ADR and 63% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $38,247+ per year.

See the full Cartersville market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Cartersville

Step 1: Verify Zoning Eligibility

Before proceeding with registration, confirm that your property is eligible for STR use:

City Properties: Must be located within Cartersville city limits
County Properties: Must comply with Bartow County zoning requirements, which mandate that only one single-family residence per lot is eligible, and the property must remain a single-family residential use
Structure Requirements: Property must be a safe, code-compliant structure
Nuisance Compliance: Property cannot be a nuisance to surrounding properties

Step 2: Complete Registration Process

Download and Complete Application: Obtain the Short-Term Vacation Rental Registration Application from the City Clerk
Submit Application: Mail completed application to City Clerk at P.O. Box 1390, Cartersville, GA 30120, or deliver in person to 10 N. Public Square, 2nd Floor, Cartersville, GA 30120
Provide Required Information:
- Owner/operator contact details
- Property address and description
- Marketplace facilitator information
- 24-hour contact information

Step 3: Set Up Tax Collection System

Understand Tax Obligations: 8% excise tax on all rentals
Obtain Tax Forms: Get Hotel Motel Tax Form and STVR Tax Form from City Clerk
Establish Monthly Filing Process: Set up calendar reminders for monthly submissions

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Municipal Requirements (City of Cartersville)

STVR Registration Certificate (mandatory for each dwelling unit)
Completed STVR Registration Application
Signed Registration Acknowledgment Form
Monthly Tax Collection Forms (due 20th of each month)
Updated tax forms reflecting any changes to marketplace facilitators within 15 days

Tax Collection Obligations

Excise Tax Rate: 8% on gross rental income
Filing Frequency: Monthly, regardless of rental activity
Due Date: 20th of each month for previous month's rentals
Late Filing Consequences: Loss of 3% vendor credit, penalties, and interest
Vendor Credit: 3% of tax collected if paid timely

Zoning Compliance Requirements

Single-family residential use only
Code-compliant structure
Safe operating conditions
No nuisance violations

Specific Regulations: City, County, and State Level

City of Cartersville Regulations

Registration Requirement: All STVRs must register with City Clerk
Tax Collection: 8% excise tax on transient lodging
Marketplace Registration: All STVR platforms must register with city
Amendment Requirements: Changes to facilitators must be reported within 15 days
Neighborhood Standards: Operators must ensure no disruption to neighbors
Monthly Reporting: Mandatory submission of tax forms even with $0.00 in gross rent

Bartow County Zoning Regulations

Use Limitation: Only one single-family residence per lot eligible
Residential Character: Property must remain single-family residential use
Safety Requirements: Must be code-compliant structure
Nuisance Prohibitions: Cannot create nuisance for surrounding properties

State of Georgia Requirements

HB317 Compliance: STVR platforms collect local Hotel-Motel Excise Taxes
Platform Registration: All STVR platforms must register with local governments
Tax Remittance: Platforms remit taxes directly to local authorities
Reporting Standards: Standardized collection and reporting procedures

Contact Information for Local Authority

City of Cartersville - City Clerk

Primary Contact for STVR Registration and Tax Collection

Physical Address: 10 N Public Square, Cartersville, GA 30120 (2nd Floor)
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1390, Cartersville, GA 30120
Phone: 770-387-5600
Tax Remittance Contact: Julia Drake, City Clerk
Email: Contact through main phone line for STVR inquiries

Bartow County Planning & Zoning

Zoning Compliance and County Regulations

Contact: John Parton, Zoning Administrator
Address: 135 West Cherokee Avenue, Cartersville, GA 30120 (1st Floor, Suite 124)
Phone: 770-607-6312
Email: partonj@bartowcountyga.gov

Source Documentation Links

City of Cartersville Documents

County and State Resources

Important Compliance Notes

Registration Timing: Applications must be complete to be processed; incomplete applications will be rejected
Tax Filing Discipline: Monthly filing is mandatory even during periods with no rentals
Platform Compliance: Ensure all marketplace facilitators are properly registered
Zoning Verification: Confirm zoning eligibility before making property investments
Amendment Filing: Report changes to registration details within 15 days as required

Investment Considerations

The regulatory framework is well-established and transparent
Monthly tax obligations require consistent administrative attention
Strong demand exists for short-term rentals in the Cartersville market
Proximity to Atlanta creates steady tourism and business travel demand
Compliance with both city and county regulations is essential for successful operation

This guide provides the essential framework for operating a compliant short-term rental business in Cartersville, Georgia. Investors should maintain close communication with the City Clerk's office for ongoing regulatory updates and ensure strict adherence to all filing deadlines and compliance requirements.

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Ask the AI Advisor about Cartersville

Cartersville is a small city in Bartow County in northwestern Georgia, with a population of roughly 23,000 residents. It sits along the Etowah River, an area historically associated with the Cherokee and earlier Mississippian cultures, and today it carries a friendly, small-town feel that doubles as a convenient stop between Atlanta and the mountains of north Georgia. Cartersville is best known for its two prominent museums, its proximity to Lake Allatoona, and its role as a gateway to outdoor recreation in the surrounding hills. The city is located approximately 50 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta, generally reached by Interstate 75 in under an hour of driving.

A short drive south of the city center, the Tellus Science Museum stands out as one of northwest Georgia's most popular cultural destinations. The museum features exhibits on geology, fossils, and space science, along with a planetarium and a small observatory, and it draws both school groups and traveling families who pair a visit with other stops in the region. Just a few minutes away in downtown Cartersville, the Booth Western Art Museum is widely regarded as one of the largest museums of western American art in the country, with a large permanent collection, a gallery dedicated to a presidential cowboy-art collection, and a range of rotating exhibitions that appeal to a broad audience of visitors.

A few miles south of town, the Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site preserves one of the most significant Native American archaeological sites in the southeastern United States. Visitors can climb to the top of a tall earthen platform mound, walk a nature trail along the Etowah River, and view artifacts in the site's small museum that explain the Mississippian-period culture that built the town. The site offers a quieter, more reflective experience that contrasts nicely with the busier museum scene in Cartersville itself.

About 10 to 15 minutes northwest of downtown, Red Top Mountain State Park stretches along the wooded shores of Lake Allatoona, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir. The park is a regional favorite for hiking, swimming, picnicking, and camping, while the broader lake attracts boaters, anglers, and visitors to its many marinas and day-use areas throughout the year.

Cartersville's appeal for short-term rental owners comes from this unusually dense concentration of attractions within a small radius. Guests can easily spend a weekend taking in a world-class western art collection, exploring a major science museum, walking among ancient mounds, and spending a day on the lake, all while enjoying an unhurried pace and a price point typically more modest than stays closer to Atlanta. Its position along I-75 makes it a natural overnight stop for road trippers heading toward Chattanooga or the north Georgia mountains, and its mix of educational, cultural, and outdoor draws gives it broad year-round appeal.