Short-Term Rentals in Mobile, AL (2026)
4 verified short-term rentals rules for Mobile, Alabama, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Mobile requires short-term rentals to win a conditional use permit under Unified Development Code Section 64-5-6 before an owner can list a property. Site standards cap guest rooms at eight, bar on-site employees and served meals, and require a city business license for each rental location plus a locally reachable contact available around the clock. Planning commission review, a city council hearing, and circuit court appeal rights all attach to the approval.
Mobile Short-Term Rental Conditional Use Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsMobile City Code § 64-5-6.E.11(g)
(g)Short-term rentals. It is the intent of this chapter that short-term rental uses in an area where they are, or may be permitted, will create no greater impact than that of any private residence with temporary houseguests. In line with these general considerations, the following site and design criteria are established:(1)There shall be no on-site employees.(2)No more than eight (8) guest roo...
Taxes & Fees
Short-term rentals in Mobile are explicitly taxed the same as hotels: 10 percent of the rental charge inside city limits under Sec. 34-101, or 5 percent in the police jurisdiction under Sec. 34-102.
Mobile Short-Term Rental Lodging Tax
Some RestrictionsMobile City Code §§ 34-101, 34-102
...to transients in any hotel, motel, inn, short-term rental, bed & breakfast, tourist camp, tourist cabin, or any other place in which rooms, lodgings, or accommodations are regularly furnished to transients for a consideration. The tax shall be in an amount equal to ten (10) percent of the charge for such room...within the city" (Sec. 34-101) — "...an amount equal to five (5) percent of the c...
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
A Mobile short-term rental must provide two off-street parking spaces for the principal occupants plus one more space for every guest room, and none of the extra spaces can sit in a required front or side yard setback. The additional spaces also have to be screened from neighboring properties.
Mobile Short-Term Rental Parking Requirements
Some RestrictionsMobile City Code § 64-5-6.E.11(g)(7)-(9)
(g)Short-term rentals...(7)The refuse area shall be screened from view, and shall be no closer than twenty (20) feet from any property line and one hundred (100) feet from any dwelling on an adjacent lot.(8)There shall be a minimum of two (2) off-street parking spaces for the principal occupants of the residence (if any), and a minimum of one (1) additional parking space per guest room. The add...
Occupancy Limits
Mobile treats short-term rentals as a conditional use capped at eight guest rooms per establishment, with no on-site employees, no meal service, and no cooking facilities in guest rooms. Sec. 64-5-6.E.11(g)(13) requires the whole property to be rented to just one group or person at a time, so splitting rooms among separate bookings is not allowed.
Mobile Short-Term Rental Occupancy Limits
Significant RestrictionsMobile City Code § 64-5-6.E.11(g)(1)-(4),(12)-(13)
(g)Short-term rentals. It is the intent of this chapter that short-term rental uses in an area where they are, or may be permitted, will create no greater impact than that of any private residence with temporary houseguests...(1)There shall be no on-site employees.(2)No more than eight (8) guest rooms shall be included in any one (1) establishment.(3)The establishment shall not serve meals.(4)G...
Looking for Mobile County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Mobile city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Mobile County →