🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Brookhaven, GA
Brookhaven Tightens the Rules: STR Hosts Face New Requirements
New Year, New Rules: Brookhaven Sharpens Its Short-Term Rental Ordinance
Brookhaven is kicking off December with a fresh round of updates aimed squarely at bringing more consistency—and compliance—to the city’s short-term rental landscape. During a brief meeting on Dec. 2, the Brookhaven City Council unanimously approved a set of amendments fine-tuning how short-term rental hosts are defined and regulated within city limits. While the changes don’t overhaul the city’s rental structure, they do add new layers of clarity and accountability that every current and future host should have on their radar.
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At the heart of the update is a cleaner definition of who counts as a short-term rental host. The city now officially defines a host as any person or entity legally in possession of a short-term rental unit and renting that property to guests, whether directly or through a third-party platform. This looks simple on the surface, but it’s a meaningful tweak designed to eliminate loopholes and make sure everyone participating in the STR market is clearly identified and held to the same expectations.
But the real centerpiece of the change lies in the new record-keeping requirements. Under the amended language, STR hosts must hold onto detailed records for two full years following each calendar year. That means tracking the dates of every guest stay, the number of guests, what they were charged, all related taxes, and documentation proving valid registration with the city. Put simply, Brookhaven wants hosts to keep a clean paper trail.
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City Attorney Jeremy Berry emphasized that these adjustments aren’t meant to overhaul the system but to bring hosts into tighter alignment with the ordinance already in place. “I think we have had some issues before,” he told the council. “This will make sure those people who are serving as hosts comply.” His comments hint at past challenges, perhaps inconsistent registrations or incomplete records that the city now hopes to get ahead of.
Another standout change: STR property owners must now secure a permit before offering their homes for short-term rentals. This is a direct step toward increased oversight, ensuring officials have a clear handle on which properties are operating as STRs and whether they’re following city rules.
Interestingly, despite the significance of the updates, not a single resident offered comments for or against the changes during the public hearing. The council approved the amendments unanimously, moving swiftly through the vote.
While the rest of the meeting covered various routine city matters, from capital projects to police operations, the short-term rental amendments were the clear headliner for those in the STR community. With these new rules in place as of December, Brookhaven hosts now enter the new year with a clearer rulebook—and a firmer expectation to stay compliant.
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