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Short-Term Rentals in Huntsville, AL (2026)

2 verified short-term rentals rules for Huntsville, Alabama, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Short-Term Rental Permits

Huntsville requires anyone renting out a room or property for stays under 180 days to hold a business license, taxed under the Hotel/Motel/Lodging schedule rather than the standard rental exemption for long-term landlords.

Huntsville Short-Term Rental Business License

Some Restrictions

Sec. 15-36(a)

There is hereby levied on each of the following persons who are within the city's business license jurisdiction, or who engage in activity subject to the city's business license jurisdiction, a business license to be paid in the amount as provided elsewhere in this article: (1) Each person engaging in any activity listed or described in the business license schedule of section 15-85; or (2) Eac...

Taxes & Fees

Huntsville STRs must collect Alabama state lodging tax (5% mountain lakes region rate), Huntsville local lodging tax of 7%, plus state and local sales taxes. Total tax burden approximately 16 to 17 percent.

Short Term Rentals: Taxes Fees

Some Restrictions

Alabama Code Section 40-26-1 (Lodgings Tax)

Lodgings tax is a privilege tax on persons, firms, and corporations engaged in the renting or furnishing of rooms, lodgings, or other accommodations to transients for periods of less than 180 days of continuous occupation and applies to all charges for personal property used or furnished in such rooms or lodgings. For transactions entered into on or after October 1, 2019, the tax shall not appl...

Looking for Madison County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Huntsville city rules.

Short-Term Rentals in Madison County