Current permit-cap status, minimum-stay requirements, owner-occupancy rules, and jurisdiction breakdown for short-term rentals in Savannah. Every field is cited to a primary source below. Always verify the specific parcel with the operating jurisdiction before writing an offer.
Savannah requires an STVR certificate and confines whole-unit rentals to a downtown overlay district; non-owner-occupied STVRs capped at 20% per ward in the Downtown and Victorian Historic Districts.
Have a specific property in mind? Analyze it with a $99 report →STVR certificates are non-transferable; new owners must reapply within 6 months. Initial fee is $300; annual renewal is $150. Do not underwrite a Savannah purchase as a non-owner-occupied STR unless the parcel is inside the STVR Overlay District AND the applicable ward is under its 20% cap. Ward caps in the Downtown and Victorian Historic Districts have been at or near limit for years, effectively closing new NOO STVR entry in prime historic tracts.
Short-term rentals in Savannah are classified as restricted as of 2026-08-16. Savannah requires an STVR certificate and confines whole-unit rentals to a downtown overlay district; non-owner-occupied STVRs capped at 20% per ward in the Downtown and Victorian Historic Districts.
Yes. 20% per-ward cap on non-owner-occupied STVRs in the Downtown Historic District and the Victorian Historic District; STVRs are permitted only in the Short-Term Vacation Rental Overlay District (Downtown, Victorian, and Streetcar local historic districts).
The primary source does not specify a minimum stay for short-term rentals.
Savannah does not require owner-occupancy for short-term rental operators as of 2026-08-16. Verify the specific parcel with the operating jurisdiction before offering, as owner-occupancy rules interact with zoning overlays.
Contact the operating jurisdiction directly using the primary-source links published on this page. Zoning, HOA restrictions, and pending regulatory changes are parcel-specific and can override the citywide profile above. DepreciMax's $99 property report separately sizes the Year-1 §168(k) bonus depreciation deduction for a specific address, once regulatory clearance is confirmed.
Once you've verified the regulatory profile of a listing you're considering, run a $99 DepreciMax property report to size the actual Year-1 §168(k) bonus depreciation deduction. The report analyzes the listing photos to classify finishes as 5-year personal property, 15-year land improvements, or 39-year structural — producing a line-item estimate closely calibrated to a formal cost seg study.
Use the DepreciMax STR Regulations Database for the full top-50 market fleet — every market cited to a primary jurisdiction source, updated quarterly.
Not legal or tax advice. Short-term rental regulations change frequently and vary by parcel, zone, and HOA. The information on this page is a summary of publicly available primary sources as of 2026-08-16. Before acting — buying, listing, or operating a short-term rental in Savannah — verify current rules with the operating jurisdiction and consult a local attorney and CPA.