Dougherty County amends short-term rental rules, sets $50 application fee and broadens notice

The Dougherty County Board of Commissioners on a unanimous vote approved amendments to the county code regulating short-term vacation rentals, adopting a $50 application fee and several language changes aimed at clarifying notice and capacity rules.

County counsel walked commissioners through edits made after a recent work session, saying she had "included, as the application fee for the short term rental certificate, $50" and that language limiting allowable stay per bedroom to two adults had been removed. The ordinance as amended limits occupancy by the amount of on-site parking for personal vehicles and removes an explicit per-bedroom adults cap.

One change adopted at the meeting expanded who must be notified when an owner applies for a short-term rental certificate. Staff revised the notice requirement so property owners on the same block — not only immediately adjacent owners — receive a copy of the application and the opportunity to register concerns. The staff attorney also clarified that the notice should be sent to owners and occupants, including renters, to ensure people who live in proximity are alerted.

Commissioners debated whether broad notice without an enforcement mechanism would "open a can of worms." Commissioner Edwards warned that notifying neighbors without clear remedies could generate complaints the code could not resolve. County counsel said the provision was primarily a notice mechanism that might prompt residents to contact administration and that the board could later alter the process if it wished.

The board approved the amendment "with changes" to the draft language and clarified a typographical date in the revocations section. The ordinance will be codified following the edits approved at the meeting; staff will return the finalized language as directed by the commission.