Q: Do I need a license to run a short-term rental on St. Simons Island?
A: Yes. Glynn County requires a Short-Term Rental Certificate for any property rented for periods under 30 consecutive days, under Chapter 2-31 of its code, along with registration for the county accommodation excise tax and Georgia state sales tax. These are Georgia rules, which differ from Florida’s — Casago handles the registration and filings for you.
Q: What taxes do I owe on a St. Simons Island vacation rental?
A: Short-term rentals in unincorporated Glynn County owe a 7% accommodation excise tax, filed monthly, in addition to Georgia state sales tax. For 2026, Glynn County moved excise tax and certificate management to a new OpenGov online portal. Casago’s team registers your accounts and files these monthly returns so you stay compliant across state lines.
Q: How is St. Simons different from the Florida First Coast markets?
A: St. Simons operates under Georgia and Glynn County rules — a county STR certificate and a 7% accommodation excise tax — rather than Florida’s DBPR license and tourist development tax system. If you own homes in both states, the licensing bodies, tax rates, and filing portals are entirely separate. A manager operating across the whole First Coast handles both frameworks so you don’t have to learn either one.
Q: Can a property manager handle St. Simons compliance for me?
A: Yes. Casago First Coast registers your Glynn County certificate and tax accounts, files the monthly 7% accommodation excise tax, and manages the Georgia state sales tax — the same full-service, owner-centric compliance we provide in our Florida markets, adapted to Georgia’s rules.
