Tybee IslandShort-term rental rules

Additional vacation and regional market / Georgia

Tybee Island Ordinance 2026-09 expressly makes the STR certificate nontransferable.

Research reviewed Oct 31, 2026. Primary sources linked.

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Does the operating permit transfer?: New application
The certificate cannot be assigned to another person or entity. Notify the city in writing within 15 days of a property transfer and confirm the new-certificate process.
Can the land-use approval continue?: Verify the property approval
The operating-permit rule does not establish whether this parcel’s zoning approval, variance or older-use protection continues. Obtain the actual approval and its conditions.
Can this buyer obtain approval?: Location-specific restrictions and sector caps must be checked before applying. An existing rental history is not enough to establish buyer eligibility.
License or registration: The ordinance requires an STR certificate and annual occupational tax certificate, subject to applicable exemptions.
Application availability: Confirm current availability
Check the official program before applying. The absence of a reported waitlist is not evidence that this property or buyer can receive approval.
Timing to verify: Notify the city in writing within 15 days of transfer of an STR property.
Changes and uncertainty: Use the 2026 text amendment when checking older FAQs. Any claimed continuing residential or nonconforming right requires separate verification.

What this means for the appraisal

Obtain the buyer application requirements and confirm the earliest approved operating date before assuming continuity of rental income.
Verify the property’s land-use approval and continuation conditions. Research finding: Verify the property approval.
Check the proposed buyer against the recorded requirements: Location-specific restrictions and sector caps must be checked before applying. An existing rental history is not enough to establish buyer eligibility.
In the assignment analysis, identify the evidence supporting the proposed rental use, any operating interruption and any unresolved assumptions.

Use these prompts to plan the property review. The appraiser must evaluate the evidence and reach the assignment-specific conclusions.

Record the property evidence in a worksheet

Request documents from the owner or agent

Copy this market-specific request, add the property address and edit it for the assignment.

Read or select the document request

Document request for Tybee Island

Subject: STR property document request | Tybee Island, GA

Please provide the following documents for the property under review. Identify any item that is unavailable or does not apply.

1. Property address, parcel ID and confirmation of the governing jurisdiction.
2. Current operating permit or registration, named holder, expiration date and renewal history, if applicable.
3. Written ownership-change instructions from the issuing office. Guide finding: The certificate cannot be assigned to another person or entity. Notify the city in writing within 15 days of a property transfer and confirm the new-certificate process.
4. Zoning approval, conditional-use permit, variance or grandfathering record, including conditions and evidence of continued use. Guide finding: The operating-permit rule does not establish whether this parcel’s zoning approval, variance or older-use protection continues. Obtain the actual approval and its conditions.
5. Documents addressing the proposed buyer and property requirements: Location-specific restrictions and sector caps must be checked before applying. An existing rental history is not enough to establish buyer eligibility.
6. Current confirmation of application availability, including any cap, waitlist, lottery or separation rule. Guide finding: Check the official program before applying. The absence of a reported waitlist is not evidence that this property or buyer can receive approval.
7. Recorded covenants, HOA or condominium rental restrictions and applicable lease restrictions.
8. Rental operating statements and booking records, with the periods covered and any anticipated interruption at closing.
9. Confirmation of the applicable deadline and filing evidence: Notify the city in writing within 15 days of transfer of an STR property.

Market research reviewed: 2026-10-31. These requests need property-specific verification.
Official research sources:
Tybee Island Ordinance 2026-09, STR text amendment: https://cityoftybee.org/DocumentCenter/View/5441
Tybee Island adopted ordinances index: https://cityoftybee.org/523/Resolutions-Ordinances

Subject: STR property document request | Tybee Island, GA

Please provide the following documents for the property under review. Identify any item that is unavailable or does not apply.

1. Property address, parcel ID and confirmation of the governing jurisdiction.
2. Current operating permit or registration, named holder, expiration date and renewal history, if applicable.
3. Written ownership-change instructions from the issuing office. Guide finding: The certificate cannot be assigned to another person or entity. Notify the city in writing within 15 days of a property transfer and confirm the new-certificate process.
4. Zoning approval, conditional-use permit, variance or grandfathering record, including conditions and evidence of continued use. Guide finding: The operating-permit rule does not establish whether this parcel’s zoning approval, variance or older-use protection continues. Obtain the actual approval and its conditions.
5. Documents addressing the proposed buyer and property requirements: Location-specific restrictions and sector caps must be checked before applying. An existing rental history is not enough to establish buyer eligibility.
6. Current confirmation of application availability, including any cap, waitlist, lottery or separation rule. Guide finding: Check the official program before applying. The absence of a reported waitlist is not evidence that this property or buyer can receive approval.
7. Recorded covenants, HOA or condominium rental restrictions and applicable lease restrictions.
8. Rental operating statements and booking records, with the periods covered and any anticipated interruption at closing.
9. Confirmation of the applicable deadline and filing evidence: Notify the city in writing within 15 days of transfer of an STR property.

Market research reviewed: 2026-10-31. These requests need property-specific verification.
Official research sources:
Tybee Island Ordinance 2026-09, STR text amendment: https://cityoftybee.org/DocumentCenter/View/5441
Tybee Island adopted ordinances index: https://cityoftybee.org/523/Resolutions-Ordinances

Research and guide updates

Oct 31, 2026 Research record: Research recorded for this market. Primary sources linked. See the findings, open questions and official sources below.
Nov 1, 2026 Guide tools: Added assignment prompts, a document request and consistent research questions. This tool update does not change the market research date.

Changes and uncertainty to verify

Use the 2026 text amendment when checking older FAQs. Any claimed continuing residential or nonconforming right requires separate verification.

Sources and research limits

The sale summary cites official code, program guidance or a court record. Read its scope and any remaining questions; it is not a parcel determination.

Use this summary to identify the documents and questions for a property review. A seller's rental history alone does not establish a buyer's permission to operate.

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