Tybee Island Vacation Rental Owners Demand Refunds After Years of Improper Fees

1/14/2025

Vacation rental owners on Tybee Island, Georgia, for years have been paying hundreds of dollars annually for business licenses tied to their properties. It has recently come to light, however, that these fees were not legally required under Georgia state law. According to Georgia law, cities are limited in how they can regulate and tax residential rental properties. The Georgia Municipal Association's guidelines specifically prohibit occupational taxes on residential rental properties. A city spokesperson admitted the oversight, stating, "State law exempts properties from having to receive an [Occupation Tax Certificate] if no 'business' was conducted at the location." To address the issue, Tybee Island has introduced a new policy waiving business license fees for short-term rentals starting this year.

WJCL (01/09/25) Tia Maggio