Chatham County Short-Term Rental Rules and News.
Chatham County’s commissioners approved new short-term vacation rental rules for the unincorporated county, outside Savannah and the other cities, on September 25, 2026. Rentals that are not owner-occupied are capped at 5% within designated districts, the freeze on new applications has ended, and each license needs two points of contact.
Compiled by Fluffy · Updated October 26, 2026
Where things stand
As of October 26, 2026A summary of council decisions and local reporting, not legal advice. Rules change at council meetings, so confirm with the city before acting on a property.
What it means for hosts in Chatham County
Timeline
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Commissioners approve 5% district caps
The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved changes to the short-term vacation rental ordinance. As reported, they cap rentals that are not owner-occupied at 5% within designated districts, end the moratorium on new applications, tighten occupancy and parking rules, require two points of contact and allow licenses to be suspended or revoked for repeated violations. Chairman Chester Ellis called it “a work in progress”.
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Draft: one parking space per bedroom
The draft commissioners reviewed set districts from county police response areas, each capped at 5% except homestead properties, dropped a 500-foot spacing rule, required a yearly parking plan with one space per bedroom, and limited homes on septic to two people per bedroom. The zoning portion was due for a vote on October 3; its outcome has not been reported.
Source: WSAV -
120-day freeze on new applications
Commissioners approved a 120-day moratorium on new short-term vacation rental applications while they rewrote the rules. Existing permits and renewals were not affected.
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Earlier draft tabled
Commissioners postponed the second reading of an earlier draft, which had a 500-foot spacing rule and limits on extra occupants overnight.
Source: WSAV
Platform changes that also apply in Chatham County
Airbnb and Vrbo change their rules for every listing at once. These are the recent ones that touch the turnover and the cleaning fee.
Fluffy runs turnover cleaning in Savannah and Chatham County to the same 75-point standard it uses in every market, at a flat per-turn rate set after a walkthrough, with a free re-clean if a turn misses the standard.
Rules Change. The Turnover Still Has to Happen.
Turnover cleaning in Savannah and Chatham County at a flat per-turn rate, set after a walkthrough. Tell us about the property and we reply within one business day.
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