This guide covers the key tips for buying a short term rental in Savannah, GA — from licensing to location to the right exit strategy. Buying a short term rental in the Savannah area is complicated. But, buyers who have a full understanding of the licensure requirements. They know how to plan their strategy (short-term, medium-term, long-term) will be successful. as this little known market appreciates on the back of the fast growing Port of Savannah.
1. There’s licensing requirement for Savannah’s Historic District and also Tybee Island.
You have to buy a property with a certificate in place (STVR) to be able to legally run a short term rental here.
2. The MLS doesn’t have a way to select STVR Certificate (Short Term Vacation Rental).
Buyers have to read every listing description when searching in Savannah’s . This is also applicable on Tybee Island.
3. Buyers can get a new STVR Certificate in the Savannah and Tybee
if the property is zoned Commercial.
4. Buyers who plan to live in the Historic District of Savannah.
Those will be making the home their primary residence on their tax returns. They can also get a new STVR Certificate IF the home is multifamily and IF the owner occupies the main unit.
5. Areas of Chatham County that are NOT in the city limits CAN get a Chatham County STVR certificate.
It’s fairly easily by applying with the county.
6. Some web sites say that some areas of the Historic District haven’t met their STVR quota yet.
This is categorically untrue. There is a 3 year waiting list for a new STVR certificate.
7. For investors who are patient and really want a short term rental in Savannah.
They can buy a property in the 31401 zip code and rent it long term. Once the property has been acquired, they can put the property on the waiting list for a STVR certificate. If the investor is lucky enough to make it to the top of the list, the property will become 20-30% more valuable. And with the STVR certificate in place.
8. Both Savannah and Tybee Island take these certificates as sources of tax revenue.
Be aware that if you purchase a property with the certificate in place and you do not rent the property enough. The city with the expected tax revenue, the property will be on probation for a year. The STVR certificate will be removed and handed to someone on the waiting list if the tax revenue isn’t levied.
9. Savannah has an 11 month market for short term and medium term rentals.
The slowest time of year is typically between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
10. Tybee has an 8-9 month market for short term rentals.
When the temperatures drop below 70 degrees, the beaches tend to sit fairly empty
Are you interested to learn more about short and medium-term rentals in Savannah, GA?
Reach out anytime for more info on the great investment strategies in Savannah and the surrounding areas.
For a quick way to see if a property is outside city limits, please watch this video:
Video Transcript
This is the best way to get around Chatham County and see where the city boundaries are. Many of you have asked me how to figure out where you can put in a short-term rental so that it’s not within city limits — so this is a great tip and trick for you.
Go to SAGIS.org and click on Map Viewer. This is put on by the county, and you can literally click anywhere and it will give you that parcel. So here I have the address, the property record card, and I can see the flood zone — there’s really great information here on SAGIS when you’re doing research on a property. But specifically for knowing where the city limits are, that’s what this video is about.
From the map, go to the Layer List, then Map Layers, and scroll down to Municipal Boundary. This is really useful because purple is City of Savannah, red is Thunderbolt, yellow is Garden City, and blue is Pooler/Bloomingdale — so you can visually see very quickly which jurisdiction a property falls in.
For someone wanting to put a short-term rental on the outskirts, the real question is: can I actually do it? I had an address I looked at — a fully furnished home for sale — and based on the ZIP code, I assumed it was in the county. The address was 5458 Speer; it’s on the market right now (I have no affiliation with it).
Once the map loaded, I could see my location and the boundary line. Even though the property is in the 31406 ZIP code, it turned out to actually be inside city limits — which means it would not work as a short-term rental. I’d need to find something outside that boundary.
For reference: Thunderbolt allows short-term rentals, but you need licensing there. Tybee Island has its own city limits and requires a short-term rental certificate. But for properties outside city limits, you can still get a county certificate.
So this is a quick way to answer the question, “I found a property — could I use it as a short-term rental?” In this case, the answer was no.
The Bottom Line: Is a Savannah STR Still a Good Investment?
Despite the licensing complexity, short-term rentals in Savannah continue to be among the strongest cash-flowing investment strategies in the Southeast. Here’s the quick investor scorecard:
- Historic District STR — High nightly rates ($150–$300+/night), but certificate availability is extremely limited. Best strategy: buy a certified property at a premium, or buy and wait-list for 3 years. The appreciation potential during the wait can still make it worthwhile.
- Tybee Island STR — Strong summer demand, 8–9 month season, and a loyal repeat guest base. Certificate transfers are required. Expect to pay a premium for a certified property, but cash flow during peak season can be exceptional.
- Chatham County (outside city limits) — The easiest path. New certificates are obtainable, entry prices are lower, and demand from SCAD, military, and medical sector tenants creates year-round demand even in a standard rental format.
- Medium-term rental — Consider this as your fallback strategy. If your property isn’t STR-certified, furnished medium-term rentals (30–90 days) in Savannah frequently generate $2,500–$4,000/month and are fully legal across the market without a special certificate.
Want personalized guidance on the best STR strategy for a specific Savannah property? Reach out to Team 912—we help investors navigate the licensing landscape and run the numbers on the right exit strategy before you buy.
Related Reading
- best neighborhoods for short-term rentals in Savannah
- short-term rental tax loophole strategy for high earners
- financing options including DSCR loans for Savannah investors
- why investors keep buying STRs near Savannah City Market
