STVR - Short-Term Vacation Rentals

The new STVR (Short-term Vacation Rental) Registration Portal is now available. For specific Questions & Answers related to the new portal, please see Q&A. 


The new and annual renewal STVR application fees are non-refundable:

  1. Non-refundable new STVR application fee $400.00
  2. Non-refundable annual renewal application fee $250.00

The City of Savannah defines a short-term vacation rental (STVR) as an accommodation for transient guests where, in exchange for compensation, a residential dwelling unit is provided for lodging for a period of time not to exceed 30 consecutive days.   The short-term rental of a room within a dwelling unit is regulated separately as a “bed and breakfast homestay.” To operate legally within the city, STVR managers must complete an application process and secure a STVR certificate.

STVRs are permitted within the short-term vacation rental overlay district, which includes the Downtown, Victorian and Streetcar local historic districts. For zoning eligibility questions and/or off-street parking requirements regarding STVR operations since the implementation of NEWZO, September 1, 2019, please submit request for a Zoning Confirmation Letter (Request Fee $50.00). Keep in mind that historical zoning takes precedence after NEWZO, as reflected in Sec. 7.5 Short-term Vacation Rental Overlay District, was implemented for STVR operations, see the residential overlay map STVR_NewData (arcgis.com).

Within the Downtown and Victorian districts, new STVRs in residential areas (see figures 7.5-1 and 7.5-2) are subject to a cap of 20% of residential parcels within each ward, which is a historic division of the city roughly corresponding to a square with its surrounding blocks. Owner-occupied parcels are exempt from this cap. Applications filed before September 28, 2017 are “grandfathered” and can be renewed.

STVR Application Process - STVR Registration Portal. Per the recent announcement,     the STVR application is only available through the STVR Registration Portal.

Rental Agent Change Form – STVR Registration Portal. Per the recent announcement, the Rental Agent Change Form is only available through the STVR Registration Portal. 

Quick Links: 

STVR complaints button