Hall County board approves raising lodging excise tax in unincorporated areas from 5% to 8%

The Hall County Board of Commissioners on May 28 voted to amend the county’s ordinance to raise the excise tax on rooms, lodging and accommodations in unincorporated Hall County from 5% to 8%, a change county staff said will take effect July 1, 2026.

Elizabeth White of the county’s Financial Services office presented the resolution and described the final step needed after the General Assembly approved a local act. “This proposed resolution, if approved by the Board of Commissioners, will amend the Hall County’s ordinance up to, to update the excise tax rate for rooms, lodging, and accommodations in unincorporated Hall County from the current 5% to 8%. This ordinance amendment, if approved, would be effective 07/01/2026,” White said.

White told commissioners that county staff worked with the local legislative delegation to attach the request to a local act in the state legislature and that the governor signed that act into law on May 12, 2026 as part of the 2026 session via House Bill 896. Commissioners noted that other nearby counties have adopted similar excise tax rates; White listed several North Metro counties with comparable levies.

Supporters on the board framed the change as aligning Hall County with regional practice and as a local revenue action that required a state-local act before the county could formalize the ordinance change. No public opposition to the specific tax amendment was recorded during the meeting.

A motion to approve the resolution passed with the usual voice vote and the board directed staff to finalize the executing documents. The county indicated the change will be implemented administratively and reflected in lodging transactions beginning July 1, 2026.