City of Rockmart, Georgia (Polk County)

1. OVERVIEW – Are Short‑Term Rentals (STRs) Permitted?

Explicit answer: Short‑term rentals are allowed in the City of Rockmart, GA. The municipal Code of Ordinances does not contain a prohibition, licensing‑only, or “ban‑list” for STRs. An STR may operate provided the property complies with all applicable zoning, business‑license, fire‑safety, and tax‑collection requirements.

Because the city has not adopted a dedicated STR ordinance, the activity is governed by the same general statutes that apply to any residential‑use property that is used for temporary lodging. In practice this means an investor must:

1. Confirm the zoning classification of the parcel (most residential districts permit a “home‑occupation” or an accessory‑use lodging activity, but the use must not exceed the limits in Chapter 23 – Zoning).
2. Obtain a municipal business license (Chapter 11 – Licenses and Business Regulations).
3. Collect and remit the Georgia Hotel/Motel (Transient Occupancy) tax (Chapter 19 – Taxation; also a state‑level requirement).
4. Meet fire‑safety and building‑code standards (Chapter 9 – Fire Protection; Chapter 5 – Buildings and Construction).
5. Observe the city’s noise‑and‑nuisance ordinances (Chapter 12 – Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions).

If any of the above requirements are not satisfied, the city may treat the operation as an illegal “nuisance” or “unlicensed business,” which can result in fines or an injunction.

2. How to Launch a Short‑Term Rental Business in Rockmart

| Step | Action | What You Need | Where to Go / Who to Call | |------|--------|----------------|---------------------------| | 1 | Zoning Verification | • Parcel address<br>• Current deed or tax record | Community Development / Planning Dept.<br>200 S Marble St, Rockmart, GA 30153<br>Phone (770) 684‑5404 ext. 203<br>Email planning@rockmart‑ga.gov | | 2 | Determine Permitted Use | • Zoning district (R‑1 – R‑6 residential, C‑1 commercial, etc.)<br>• Whether “home‑occupation” limits (see Chapter 23‑Supplemental Zoning Regulations, Div. 2) allow guest stays | Same as above; request a Zoning Determination Letter | | 3 | Business License Application | • Completed Business License Application (available from City Clerk)<br>• Proof of property ownership or lease<br>• Driver’s ID / passport | City Clerk’s Office<br>200 S Marble St, Rockmart, GA 30153<br>Phone (770) 684‑5404<br>Email cityclerk@rockmart‑ga.gov | | 4 | Hotel/Motel (Transient Occupancy) Tax Registration | • GA ST‑1 (Transient Occupancy Tax Registration) – can be completed online<br>• Federal EIN (if applicable) | Georgia Department of Revenue<br>Online portal: dor.georgia.gov <br>Phone (404) 417‑6000 | | 5 | Fire‑Safety & Building‑Code Inspection | • Smoke‑detector & CO‑detector compliance<br>• Proper egress (two exits for sleeping rooms)<br>• Key‑lock box (if required by Fire Dept.) | Rockmart Fire Department<br>200 S Marble St, Rockmart, GA 30153<br>Phone (770) 684‑5404 ext. 300 | | 6 | Insurance | • General Liability (minimum $1 M)<br>• Property (fire, water, theft)<br>• Business Interruption (optional) | Any licensed GA insurer; verify “short‑term rental” endorsement | | 7 | Create Guest‑Facing Materials | • House rules (quiet hours, occupancy limit, smoking, pets)<br>• Contact information for on‑call owner/manager<br>• Evacuation plan posted in each bedroom | Private preparation | | 8 | Set Up Tax‑Collection Process | • Obtain a GA‑sales‑tax‑reporting account (if not already)<br>• Determine local lodging‑tax rate (if any) – check with Polk County Tax Commissioner | Polk County Tax Commissioner<br>120 W College St, Cedartown, GA 30125<br>Phone (770) 749‑2100<br>Website: www.polkga.org | | 9 | Launch & Maintain Records | • Guest registration log (name, dates, number of occupants)<br>• Daily/weekly occupancy reports for tax filing<br>• Annual license renewal | Ongoing internal process | | 10 | Renew & Stay Compliant | • Business license renews annually (City Clerk)<br>• Transient‑occupancy‑tax returns quarterly (GA DOR)<br>• Fire‑department re‑inspection if property changes | Same contacts as above |

3. Required Documents, Permits, Licenses & Guidelines

| Category | Required Document / Permit | Reference in Code | How to Obtain | |----------|---------------------------|-------------------|---------------| | Zoning Confirmation | Zoning Determination Letter | Chapter 23 – Zoning, Art. II (Administration) | Community Development Dept