The Short-Term Rental Application, printed as the Short Term Rental Certificate Application, is the form the Cobb County Business License Division uses to issue a short-term rental certificate for a home in unincorporated Cobb County. It is one of the Cobb County business license applications, and the same packet serves a New Application and a Change of Agent. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the notarized affidavits, attachments and fee still go to the county through the channels described below.
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What is Short-Term Rental Application – Cobb County, GA?
The Short Term Rental Certificate Application is the Cobb County Business License Division packet used to apply for the certificate that allows a property owner to rent a home for overnight stays in unincorporated Cobb County. It is also used to report a change of agent.
The packet is longer than a single form. It contains a checkoff list, the two-page application (applicant, agent, parking and ownership details, plus an affirmation signed by the applicant), and several attachments printed in the same file: a Verification of Notice Affidavit (page 5), a Short Term Rental Agent Acknowledgment Affidavit (page 6), a Statement of Facts Affidavit (page 7), a Private Employer Affidavit (page 8), a Citizenship Affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 50-36-1(e)(2) (page 9), a Zoning Verification form (page 10) and a Short Term Rental Notice to Interested Parties letter (page 11).
The county's short-term rental page states the rules behind it: the property must be zoned Residential (R), a separate certificate is required for each short-term rental property, and the certificate cannot be transferred, assigned or used for any other location. The application refers to Chapter 78-407 of the Cobb County Code of Ordinances. The printed revision is 06/2024.
Who needs to file Short-Term Rental Application – Cobb County, GA?
Owners of a property in unincorporated Cobb County who want to rent all or part of it for overnight stays for compensation use this application. The county page says no person may rent, lease or otherwise exchange a property as a short-term rental without first obtaining the certificate.
- Each rental location needs its own application and fee.
- The same packet is used when the short-term rental agent changes; the box Change of Agent is marked instead of New Application.
- A new owner cannot use the previous owner's certificate: the county page says new owners or a new agent notify the Business License Division and apply for a new certificate.
- Entities (partnership, limited liability partnership, corporation or limited liability company) complete the ownership section of the form.
Do not apply with this form if the rental is not in unincorporated Cobb County; the checkoff list tells you to verify this first. The Zoning Verification page also states that short-term rentals are permitted only in the main house with proper Certificates of Occupancy, not in accessory structures, campers and the like.
When to file Short-Term Rental Application – Cobb County, GA
Apply before you rent the property for overnight stays: the county page states that no one may rent a property as a short-term rental without first obtaining the certificate, and the checkoff list says operating without it carries a penalty, with each day of overnight rental counting as a separate violation.
The certificate must be renewed annually. If the agent changes, the checkoff list requires pages 3 and 4 of the packet, a new Agent Acknowledgment Affidavit and proof that the new agent's contact information is posted at the property to be submitted within five business days, together with the owner's written notification requesting the change. The Statement of Facts Affidavit also commits the applicant to notify the Business License Division of a change of agent or property ownership within five business days. The form sets no processing time.
Documents you need
- Document proving the owner's current ownership of the property; a deed or bill of sale is acceptable.
- Nonrefundable administration fee, submitted with the application; each location requires a separate application and fee.
- Notarized Short Term Rental Agent Acknowledgment Affidavit (page 6), signed by the short-term rental agent.
- Notarized Verification of Notice Affidavit (page 5), signed by the applicant.
- Proof of the written notices sent by certified mail to any applicable homeowners association, property owners association and adjoining property owners, plus the Short-Term Rental Notice to Interested Parties (page 11).
- Certificate of Incorporation if the business is a corporation, or Certificate of Organization if it is an LLC; organizational papers are required for LLCs and Limited Liability Partnerships.
- Notarized Statement of Facts Affidavit (page 7), signed by the applicant.
- Zoning Verification form (page 10), completed and signed by a member of Zoning.
- Proof of adequate parking, such as a photo of the house showing the parking spaces.
- Notarized private employer affidavit (page 8), signed by the applicant; an E-verify number is needed if you employ more than 10 full-time W2 employees.
- Notarized citizenship affidavit (page 9), signed by the applicant; a signer who is not a U.S. citizen provides a copy of an immigration document such as a permanent resident card, employment authorization card or visa.
- A secure and verifiable document, such as a driver's license or passport, from the person signing the application.
- For a change of agent: the owner's written notification requesting the change and proof that the new agent's contact information is posted at the rental.
How to fill out Short-Term Rental Application – Cobb County, GA
Verify location and zoning limits
Before you start, confirm the rental is in unincorporated Cobb County and call the Zoning Division at 770-528-2035 for the maximum number of adults and vehicles allowed.
Mark the application type
Enter the Application Date and, if you have one, the Certificate Number, then mark New Application or Change of Agent.
Enter the rental address and agent
Write the Short Term Rental Address, city, state and ZIP, then the agent's full name, home address, 24-hour phone number, alternate phone and email. Only one agent is allowed at a time.
Describe parking and the owner
Enter the number of parking spaces and where they are in relation to the premises, the owner's name as listed on the property deed and the square feet of the property. For a sole proprietor, add full name, phone, email, home and mailing addresses.
Complete the ownership entity section
If the owner is a partnership, limited liability partnership, corporation or limited liability company, select one and list each individual or board member, including limited and silent partners, with name, position, date of birth, social security number, address, phone, ownership percentage and email.
Answer the other-rentals question
Check Yes or No on whether the owner or entity has any other interest in short-term rentals in unincorporated Cobb. If yes, give complete names, addresses and phone numbers.
Sign the applicant affirmation
Complete the date, print your name, sign and mark Owner or Other with your title. The signer must also complete the citizenship and private employer affidavits.
Prepare the notices and Verification of Notice
Fill in the Notice to Interested Parties (page 11) for each neighbor and association, send it by certified mail, then complete the Verification of Notice Affidavit (page 5) before a notary.
Have the agent sign the acknowledgment
The short-term rental agent completes the Agent Acknowledgment Affidavit (page 6) with the rental address and signs it before a notary.
Complete the remaining affidavits
Complete the Statement of Facts (page 7), Private Employer Affidavit (page 8, checking only one of 1(A) or 1(B)) and Citizenship Affidavit (page 9, checking only one option), each notarized.
Fill in the Zoning Verification
On page 10, complete Section 1: the exact proposed use, property address (A) and parcel identification number (B). Zoning staff complete Section 2 and sign.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that every question is answered or marked N/A, then download or print the PDF from FillingPDF, sign and notarize where required, gather the attachments and book your review appointment.
How to submit Short-Term Rental Application – Cobb County, GA
The packet goes to the Cobb County Business License Division, and applications are reviewed by appointment only.
- Appointment: once the application and all attachments are complete, call 770-528-8691 or email [email protected] to schedule the review. Questions can also go to the office at the numbers printed on the form.
- Mail: Cobb County Business License Division, PO Box 649, Marietta, Georgia 30061-0649.
- Hand delivery, UPS or FedEx: 1150 Powder Springs Street, Suite 400, Marietta, Georgia 30064.
Submit the nonrefundable administration fee with the application; the form does not say how it is paid, so confirm accepted payment methods and the current amount with the Division at 770-528-8410. Include every notarized affidavit, proof of ownership, proof of certified-mail notices and the other attachments listed below. Complete the application in blue or black ink, with every question answered or marked N/A. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the county's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying for a property outside unincorporated Cobb County without first verifying its location, as the checkoff list requires.
- Leaving a question blank instead of writing N/A; the form says no question should be left blank.
- Submitting affidavits that are not notarized, such as the agent, Verification of Notice, Statement of Facts, private employer or citizenship affidavits.
- Sending the application without proof of certified-mail notices to the homeowners or property owners association and adjoining owners.
- Naming more than one agent; the checkoff list allows only one agent at any given time.
- Using one application for several rental locations; each location needs its own application and fee.
- Not contacting the Zoning Division at 770-528-2035 for the maximum number of adults and vehicles before applying.
- Proposing a rental in an accessory structure or camper; the Zoning Verification page allows short-term rentals only in the main house.
- Not notifying the Business License Division within five business days of a change of agent or property ownership.
- Renting before the certificate is issued, or posting an illegible copy; a legible copy including noise provisions must be posted in the unit.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Cobb County business license for a short-term rental?
You need a short-term rental certificate from the Cobb County Business License Division. The county says no one may rent a property as a short-term rental without first obtaining it, and each rental property needs its own certificate.
Is there a fee for the Cobb County short-term rental application?
Yes. The form lists a nonrefundable administration fee per application, submitted with it, and each location needs a separate application and fee. Ask the Business License Division at 770-528-8410 for the current amount and payment methods.
How do I submit the Cobb County short-term rental application?
Complete the packet with all attachments, then call 770-528-8691 or email [email protected] to schedule a review; applications are reviewed by appointment only. The form lists PO Box 649, Marietta, Georgia 30061-0649 for mail and 1150 Powder Springs Street, Suite 400 for hand delivery, UPS or FedEx.
Which documents must be notarized?
The agent acknowledgment, Verification of Notice, Statement of Facts, private employer and citizenship affidavits are each notarized. The applicant signs all but the agent affidavit, which the short-term rental agent signs.
Does the certificate need to be renewed?
Yes. The checkoff list says the certificate must be renewed annually and cannot be transferred between new owners. A change of ownership requires the new owners to notify the Division and apply for a new certificate.
How do I change the short-term rental agent?
Use the same packet and mark Change of Agent. Within five business days submit pages 3 and 4, a new notarized Agent Acknowledgment Affidavit, proof that the new agent's contact information is posted at the rental and the owner's written request for the change.
Who must I notify before applying?
Send written notice by certified mail to any applicable homeowners association, property owners association and adjoining property owners shown in the current tax records. Submit proof with the application, along with the notarized Verification of Notice Affidavit.
Can I fill out the Cobb County short-term rental application online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download it. FillingPDF does not submit it to the county; you still sign, have the affidavits notarized and deliver the packet to the Business License Division.
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