Blue Ridge, Georgia Short Term Rental Regulations
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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave
Last updated August 23, 2023
Blue Ridge Short-Term Rental Regulations
Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.
City Code of Ordinances
Blue Ridge regulates short-term rentals. Short-term rentals are defined as "accommodation for transient guests where, in exchange for compensation, a residential dwelling unit is provided for lodging for a period of time not to exceed 30 consecutive days. Short-term vacation rental shall not include any dwelling unit not regularly offered for rental, defined as any residence offered for rental less than fourteen (14) days in any given calendar year. For the purpose of this definition, a residential dwelling shall include all housing types and shall exclude group living or other lodging uses. Short-term rentals may be offered to the public for rental only in properties zoned for commercial, which currently are Central Business District (“CBD”), Limited Commercial (“C-1”), and General Commercial (“C-2”). See Blue Ridge Zoning Map. For more information, see Blue Ridge Short-Term Rental Ordinance.Business License Requirements
A Short Term Vacation Rental Certificate, receipt of an occupation tax certificate, and payment of all applicable State and City taxes are required before anyone in the City of Blue Ridge, Georgia, can offer short-term vacation rentals to the general public.Building and Housing Standards
Blue Ridge has rules and regulations that specify minimum building, design, maintenance standards, habitability, health, and safety requirements. Some rules and regulations that apply to residential and non-residential properties may apply to your listing. Please consult the Blue Ridge Zoning Ordinance and contact the Zoning & Building Department for more information.Tourist and Local Taxes
House Bill 317 added Airbnb and other marketplace-based innkeepers to the state's definition of "innkeeper" (used to calculate lodging excise taxes). In addition to the sales tax and the lodging taxes already imposed by Fannin County and the City of Blue Ridge sets a $5 weekly tax on short-term rentals. The county tax rate is now 6%, while rentals inside city limits are taxed at 8%. Lodging taxes for all local rentals:- 7% Sales Tax (Fannin County sales tax 3% and Georgia state sales tax 4%)
- 6% Fannin County Lodging Tax
- 2% City of Blue Ridge Lodging Tax (if applicable)
- $5-per-night Hotel Tax
Other Rules
It is also essential to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as leases, condo boards, co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. Please read your lease agreement and check with your landlord if applicable. Visit the City of Blue Ridge for more information.Is something not quite right? Registered users can suggest changes to this guide.
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Short Term City Rating4.8
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Competition
3.0 -
Real Estate Cost
N/A -
STR Regulations
4.0 -
Seasonality
6.7 -
Rental Rates
5.4
Blue Ridge, Georgia Quick Stats
Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.
- Population
- 1,253
- STR License Required
- Yes
- Tourist Season
- March to July
- County
- Fannin
- Airports
- Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA)
- McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
Want to learn more about Blue Ridge?
Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.
Check out our Blue Ridge rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Blue Ridge rental market.
Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Blue Ridge.
The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.
Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.
What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Blue Ridge guests.
Interested in other Georgia cities?
Check out the Georgia Airbnb rules directory
What makes Blue Ridge a great place to invest?
Blue Ridge Attractions
Looking for something to do in Blue Ridge, Georgia? There are plenty of things to see and do in this beautiful and surreal city. Here are some of our favorite Blue Ridge attractions:
- Take a scenic drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This world-famous road offers stunning views of the Appalachian Mountains. You can also stop along the way to hike, camp, or picnic.
- Visit Brasstown Bald, Georgia's highest point. From the top of Brasstown Bald, you can see four states! On a clear day, you can even see Atlanta.
- Take a ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. This historic train takes visitors on a scenic journey through the beautiful mountains and valleys of North Georgia. With multiple routes to choose from, visitors can experience the area's natural beauty and history from the comfort of a vintage rail car.
- Visit Anna Ruby Falls. These twin waterfalls are simply stunning, and they're just a short hike from the parking area.
- Explore the Chattahoochee National Forest has over 750,000 acres of protected land offers visitors the chance to hike, bike, fish, and camp in some of the most beautiful natural settings in the United States.
Blue Ridge Amenities
The city is blessed with natural scenic beauty and has a lot to offer in terms of amenities. There are a number of parks, playgrounds, lakes, and other recreational facilities available for the residents.
Surrounding Cities - The Blue Ridge Mountains are surrounded by the cities of Canton, Ellijay, and Cleveland. These cities have a number of interesting restaurants and shops that draw visitors from all over the region. Additionally, they are located close to the mountains and offer some breathtaking views of the famous peaks. Places such as Lake Lanier, Brasstown Bald Peak, and the Chattahoochee National Forest offer scenic views for residents of nearby towns. There's no reason to go far when you can visit one of these spectacular locations any day of the week!
Blue Ridge Nearby Cities
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14 miles away
- Rating: 6.4
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36 miles away
- Rating: 5.6
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Local Short-Term Rental News for Blue Ridge
The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Blue Ridge, Georgia
Common terms for Blue Ridge short term rental listings.
When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.
Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:
- Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
- Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
- Informative: The average listing in Blue Ridge has a description approximately 2,662 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.
After reviewing more than 2,608 listings in Blue Ridge, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Cabin, Blue Ridge, Hot tub, Deck, Game, Outdoor, Main level, Fire pit, Downtown Blue, and Family.
What are the most popular tourist activities in Blue Ridge?
Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in Blue Ridge involve Hiking, Horseback Riding, Winery Tours, Antiquing, and Mountain Biking. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.
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Hiking
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Horseback Riding
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Winery Tours
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Antiquing
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Mountain Biking
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Wildlife Viewing
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Boating
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Rafting
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Kayaking
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Health Spa
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Water Tubing
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Marina
Local Attractions
What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?
There are quite a few popular attractions in Blue Ridge, including Amicalola Falls State Park, Chattahoochee National Forest, Brasstown Bald Mountain, Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, and Montaluce Winery & Restaurant. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.
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Regional Landmark
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Chattahoochee National Forest
Included on nearly all listings
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Regional Landmark
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Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
Included on nearly all listings
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Local Landmark
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Blue Ridge Lake
Included on nearly all listings
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Local Landmark
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Mercier Orchards
Included on nearly all listings
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Regional Landmark
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Ellijay Marketplace
Included on 27% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Amicalola Falls State Park
Included on 24% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Vogel State Park
Included on 24% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Amicalola Falls
Included on 24% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Fort Mountain State Park
Included on 23% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Montaluce Winery & Restaurant
Included on 21% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Brasstown Bald Mountain
Included on 18% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Chatuge Lake
Included on 18% of listings
What’s the weather like in Blue Ridge, Georgia?
The weather is about the same as the national average, with an average high temperature of around 68°, while the average low is about 49°. The rainfall is much heavier, averaging about 47 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall is relatively rare, averaging less than 6 inches per year. The humidity levels in Blue Ridge are generally muggier than the national average, and the city has a mix of clouds and sunshine for most of the year.
Winter
December through February
34° Low 51° High
Spring
March through May
48° Low 69° High
Summer
June through August
65° Low 84° High
Fall
September through November
49° Low 69° High
Cities Near Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge, Georgia, is located in Fannin County. Some cities that are located nearby include:
