Helen, Georgia Short Term Rental Regulations
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Reviewed by Karolyn Hutson
Last updated August 23, 2023
Helen 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
The Helen City Commission has introduced an amendment to the business chapter of the Helen City Code, which will require owners of short-term rentals to pay an occupational tax. Short-term rentals are defined as residential spaces located within the city limits of Helen, Georgia, and rented out for overnight accommodations for a period of 1 to 30 nights.Business License Requirements
Hosts of short-term rentals in Helen must obtain a business license and a short-term rental permit from the city. The occupational tax rate that rental owners will have to pay is $350, as well as a $15 admin fee.Tourist and Local Taxes
This includes adhering to safety and building codes, obtaining liability insurance, and collecting hotel/motel taxes. The state of Georgia also requires hosts to collect and remit state sales tax.Is something not quite right? Registered users can suggest changes to this guide.
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Short Term City Rating5.6
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Competition
2.9 -
Real Estate Cost
7.2 -
STR Regulations
N/A -
Seasonality
6.5 -
Rental Rates
5.9
Helen, 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
- 531
- STR License Required
- No
- Tourist Season
- County
- White
- Airports
- Athens Ben Epps Airport (AHN)
- McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
Want to learn more about Helen?
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 Helen rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Helen rental market.
Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Helen.
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 Helen guests.
Interested in other Georgia cities?
Check out the Georgia short term rental regulations directory
What makes Helen a great place to invest?
- Alpine Village - Helen's charming downtown area is designed to resemble a Bavarian village, complete with cobblestone streets, half-timbered buildings, and traditional German restaurants and shops. Visitors can enjoy live music, festivals, and outdoor events throughout the year.
- Chattahoochee River - The Chattahoochee River runs through Helen, offering visitors a wide range of outdoor activities such as kayaking, tubing, fishing, and hiking. The river's clear waters and scenic beauty make it a popular destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
- Anna Ruby Falls - Located just a few miles outside of Helen, Anna Ruby Falls is a breathtaking waterfall that cascades over twin 150-foot drops. Visitors can hike along the paved trail to the observation deck, where they can enjoy panoramic views of the falls and surrounding forest.
- Unicoi State Park - This 1,050-acre state park offers a wide range of outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, swimming, boating, and camping. The park also features a lodge, cottages, and conference center, making it a popular destination for weddings, corporate events, and family vacations.
- Oktoberfest - Helen's annual Oktoberfest celebration is one of the largest in the United States, attracting thousands of visitors each year. The festival features traditional German food, music, dancing, and beer, as well as games, crafts, and activities for children.
- Smithgall Woods State Park - This 5,664-acre park is a nature lover's paradise, with a variety of hiking trails, fishing streams, and wildlife habitats. Visitors can explore the park's lush forest, meadows, and rolling hills, and may even spot deer, foxes, and other native wildlife.
- Nacoochee Village - Just a short drive from Helen, Nacoochee Village is a quaint historic district that offers visitors a glimpse into the area's rich history and culture. The village features a variety of shops, restaurants, and galleries, as well as the iconic Nacoochee Indian Mound and the historic Sautee Nacoochee Center.
Helen Nearby Cities
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35 miles away
- Rating: 6.4
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36 miles away
- Rating: 4.8
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Local Real Estate
How expensive is the real estate in Helen?
The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in Helen has increased 21% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $183, which is lower than the national average.
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Median Sale Price
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$388,964
21% YoY
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Median per Square Foot
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$183
3% YoY
The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Helen, Georgia
Common terms for Helen 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 Helen has a description approximately 1,849 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 1,321 listings in Helen, 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, Helen, Hot tub, Deck, Downtown Helen, Outdoor, Fire pit, Relax, Beautiful, and Game.
What are the most popular tourist activities in Helen?
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 Helen involve Hiking, Winery Tours, Water Tubing, Water Parks, and Horseback Riding. 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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Winery Tours
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Water Tubing
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Water Parks
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Horseback Riding
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Mountain Biking
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Antiquing
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Rafting
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Swimming
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Adventure Activities
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Wildlife Viewing
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Mountain Climbing
Local Attractions
What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?
There are quite a few popular attractions in Helen, including Chattahoochee National Forest, Brasstown Bald Mountain, BabyLand General Hospital, Vogel State Park, and Unicoi State Park. 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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Unicoi State Park
Included on nearly all listings
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Regional Landmark
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Helen Tubing & Helen Water Park
Included on nearly all listings
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Regional Landmark
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Helen Festhalle
Included on nearly all listings
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Regional Landmark
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Anna Ruby Falls
Included on nearly all listings
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Local Landmark
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Yonah Mountain Vineyards
Included on nearly all listings
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Local Landmark
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Helen Waterpark
Included on nearly all listings
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Regional Landmark
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BabyLand General Hospital
Included on 53% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Vogel State Park
Included on 44% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Brasstown Bald Mountain
Included on 33% of listings
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Local Landmark
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Lake Rabun
Included on 12% of listings
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Regional Landmark
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Alpine Helen/White County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Included on 8% of listings
What’s the weather like in Helen, Georgia?
The weather is about the same as the national average, with an average high temperature of around 70°, while the average low is about 50°. The rainfall is much heavier, averaging about 49 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall is relatively rare, averaging less than 7 inches per year. The humidity levels in Helen 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
35° Low 53° High
Spring
March through May
49° Low 71° High
Summer
June through August
67° Low 85° High
Fall
September through November
51° Low 71° High
Cities Near Helen
Helen, Georgia, is located in White County. Some cities that are located nearby include:
