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Marietta, GA

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STR Regulations for Marietta, Georgia

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

Yes, short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Marietta, Georgia. Marietta operates under Cobb County's jurisdiction for short-term rental regulations, and the county has established a comprehensive regulatory framework for STRs that went into effect January 1, 2023.

Short-term rentals are permitted only in residential zoning districts (R) and are prohibited in commercial zoning districts (C). A property must not exceed 30 consecutive days of lodging to qualify as a short-term rental under the ordinance.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Marietta?

Marietta hosts earn a median $31,544/year with $170 ADR and 66% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $43,975+ per year.

See the full Marietta market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Marietta

Step 1: Verify Zoning Compliance

  • Confirm your property is zoned Residential (R) using Cobb County's My Neighborhood GIS Map
  • Ensure the property meets all residential property codes for building, fire prevention, sanitation, and health

Step 2: Designate a Local Agent

  • Appoint a local agent who can be contacted about parking, noise, and other issues
  • The agent must be available to quickly resolve any problems that arise

Step 3: Apply for Certificate

  • Submit an annual application for a short-term rental certificate to the Cobb County Business License Division
  • Pay the $55 non-refundable application fee
  • Renew the certificate annually (expires December 31)

Step 4: Comply with Operational Requirements

  • Limit occupancy to one person per 390 square feet
  • Provide one parking space per bedroom plus one additional space
  • Maintain compliance with all residential property standards

Step 5: Handle Tax Obligations

  • Ensure all hotel/motel taxes and tourism fees are collected and paid
  • Note that platforms like Airbnb and VRBO typically collect state sales tax automatically
  • Verify all applicable taxes are being collected and remitted

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Primary Requirements

  1. Short-Term Rental Certificate - Required for each property
  2. Annual Application - Must be resubmitted every year
  3. $55 Application Fee - Non-refundable annual fee
  4. Zoning Verification - Property must be in residential zoning

Application Documentation

The application must include:

  • Property owner name, address, telephone, and email address
  • Complete property address for the STR
  • Local agent name, address, telephone, and email
  • Local agent's sworn acknowledgment of understanding requirements
  • Number and location of parking spaces allotted to the property

Compliance Guidelines

  • Property must comply with all single-family zoning regulations
  • Must meet all building, health, and fire safety codes
  • Cannot transfer, assign, or use certificates for different locations
  • Must notify business license division of ownership or agent changes

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

County-Level Regulations (Cobb County)

  • Zoning Restriction: Only permitted in Residential (R) zones, prohibited in Commercial (C) zones
  • Maximum Stay: 30 consecutive days maximum
  • Occupancy Limit: One person per 390 square feet
  • Parking Requirements: One space per bedroom plus one additional space
  • Certificate Validity: Annual renewal required, expires December 31
  • Local Agent Requirement: Designated agent must be available for issues
  • One Certificate Per Dwelling: Only one active certificate allowed per dwelling unit

Enforcement and Penalties

  • First Violation: $500 penalty
  • Second Violation: $750 penalty
  • Third Violation: Certificate revocation and 12-month ban on new applications
  • Continuing Violations: Each day of operation without a certificate constitutes a separate violation

Tax Obligations

  • Hotel/motel taxes must be collected and remitted
  • Tourism fees and other state/local taxes apply
  • Platforms like Airbnb/VRBO typically handle state sales tax collection automatically
  • Property owners remain responsible for ensuring all taxes are paid

State-Level Regulations (Georgia)

  • State law requires short-term rental marketplaces to collect and remit state sales tax
  • No statewide licensing requirements exist beyond local regulations
  • Standard property tax obligations apply

Contact Information for Local Authorities

Primary Contacts

Code Enforcement Division

Community Development Department

  • Director: Jessica Guinn
  • Email: comdev@cobbcounty.gov
  • Address: 1150 Powder Springs St, Ste 400, Marietta, GA 30064
  • Mailing Address: P.O. Box 649, Marietta, GA 30061
  • Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Online Resources

  • Cobb County My Neighborhood GIS Map for zoning verification
  • Online code enforcement system for complaints
  • Short-term rental application and code documents available for download

Source Links

Official Cobb County Resources:

Additional Resources:

This guide is based on current Cobb County regulations as of the most recent updates. Always verify current requirements with local authorities before investing or operating a short-term rental property.

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Marietta

Market Saturation Score

036912
Moderate Saturation
5/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
5–7 declining months: moderate saturation risk - market may be nearing capacity.
View Full Marietta Market Analysis

Photos of Marietta

Overview of Marietta

Marietta is a city of roughly 60,000 residents in Cobb County, Georgia, situated in the northwestern corner of the Atlanta metropolitan area about twenty miles northwest of downtown Atlanta. It serves as the county seat and is often described as a small-town-feeling suburb with a deep historic character, leafy streets, and a walkable center that contrasts with the larger city just down Interstate 75. Marietta is best known for its antebellum and Victorian-era architecture, its role during the Atlanta Campaign of the Civil War, and its position as a gateway to the North Georgia mountains, the Chattahoochee River corridor, and a string of family-oriented attractions scattered across the western suburbs.

The heart of the city is the Marietta Square, a four-block historic district anchored by Glover Park, a Victorian bandstand that hosts free concerts and a weekly farmers market. Surrounding the square are locally owned restaurants, antique stores, and art galleries housed in 19th-century brick buildings, along with the Marietta Museum of History, which covers the area from Native American settlement through the Civil War and the modern era. From most parts of the city, the square is only a few minutes' drive and is generally considered the social and cultural center of Marietta.

Just under ten miles north of the square lies Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, the site of a major 1864 Civil War battle where Union forces fought to break through Confederate defenses protecting Atlanta. The park offers roughly twenty miles of hiking trails that wind past earthworks, cannon emplacements, and the summit of Big Kennesaw, with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. It is approximately a fifteen-minute drive from downtown Marietta and is one of the most visited historical sites in the metro region.

A few miles south of Marietta, in the neighboring community of Austell, sits Six Flags Over Georgia, a long-running amusement park known for its collection of roller coasters and its themed lands representing six different periods of Southern history. It is roughly a fifteen- to twenty-minute drive from Marietta and tends to draw families and thrill-seekers throughout the warmer months.

For travelers in a lighter mood, the Big Chicken is a beloved Marietta landmark: a 56-foot-tall rotating metal chicken perched atop a KFC restaurant along Cobb Parkway. Originally built in 1963, it has become an unofficial city symbol and a frequently photographed stop for road-trippers.

With its blend of historic charm, family attractions, easy access to Atlanta, and proximity to the mountains, Marietta offers short-term rental owners a versatile audience: Civil War history enthusiasts, families heading to nearby theme parks, business travelers visiting the many corporate campuses in Cobb County, and Atlanta visitors who prefer a quieter, more walkable base than the capital itself.

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