Short-Term Rentals in Tuscaloosa, AL (2026)
9 verified short-term rentals rules for Tuscaloosa, Alabama, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Operating a short-term rental in Tuscaloosa outside the tourist overlay requires a zoning special exception, and every short-term rental, anywhere in the city, needs a Sec. 7-200 business license with its license number posted on every listing before it can be advertised at all.
Tuscaloosa Short-Term Rental License Required
Significant RestrictionsTuscaloosa City Code Sec. 7-199
Sec. 7-199. - Short-term rentals—Generally. (a)The following sections notwithstanding, no person or company shall operate a short-term rental business within the corporate limits of the city outside of the tourist overlay boundary, as defined in section 25-31, without obtaining a special exception in accordance with subsection 25-101.c.4.vi of this Code.(b)It shall be unlawful for any person, c...
Noise Rules
Every short-term rental in Tuscaloosa must comply with the city's residential noise standards in Sec. 10.8-13, under the short-term rental general standards at Sec. 25-101(c)(4)(iv)(d)(2). The same subsection bars commercial events like weddings or concerts on a rental property and sets a twenty-four hour minimum rental period.
Tuscaloosa Short-Term Rental Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsCity of Tuscaloosa Zoning Ordinance, Sec. 25-101(c)(4)(iv)(d) (Short-Term Rental, General Standards), Article V, Division 2, Principal Uses (Ord. No. 9572, § 2, 12-17-24)
(d)General standards.(1)Short-term rentals shall comply with all building and fire codes, and comply with all provisions of this ordinance, including article VI, division 2, off-street parking, bicycle parking, and loading standards, and article VI, division 10, signs and billboards.(2)Short-term rentals shall comply with the standards in section 10.8-13, noise in residential districts, of this...
Taxes & Fees
Every Tuscaloosa short-term rental operator owes a lodging tax on top of the standard business license: 11 percent of the nightly charge inside the city limits, or 5.5 percent in the police jurisdiction. The tax applies to the full charge for the room plus any personal property or services rented with it, and the revenue director collects it monthly.
Tuscaloosa Short-Term Rental Lodging Tax
Some RestrictionsTuscaloosa City Code Sec. 7-200(a)-(c) (Ord. No. 8560, 7-11-17; Ord. No. 9590, § 3, 2-11-25)
(a)If such business is being conducted within the corporate limits of the city the short-term rental lodging tax shall be in an amount to be determined by the application of the rate of eleven (11) per cent of the charge for such room, lodging or accommodation including the charge for use or rental of personal property or services furnished in such room.(b)If such business is conducted outside ...
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Tuscaloosa ties a short-term rental's maximum occupancy directly to its parking: Sec. 25-101(c)(4)(iv)(e) allows no more than two adult occupants per off-street parking space provided for tenants' vehicles. Only spaces beyond what the ordinance already required when the building was constructed count toward that ratio.
Tuscaloosa Short-Term Rental Parking Requirements
Some RestrictionsCity of Tuscaloosa Zoning Ordinance, Sec. 25-101(c)(4)(iv)(e) (Short-Term Rental, Parking and Occupancy), Article V, Division 2, Principal Uses (Ord. No. 9572, § 2, 12-17-24)
(e)Parking and occupancy. The maximum occupancy of a short-term rental shall be calculated in accordance with the fire code, and shall not exceed two (2) adult occupants per off-street parking space that is provided for the use of a short-term rental unit tenant's vehicle. For purposes of this paragraph, the number of off-street parking spaces provided for the use of the short-term rental unit ...
Occupancy Limits
Tuscaloosa caps short-term rental occupancy at two adult guests per qualifying off-street parking space under the zoning ordinance's Sec. 25-101 use standards, on top of whatever the fire code separately allows, and by-right rentals outside historic districts are capped at 45 days of use per year.
Tuscaloosa Short-Term Rental Occupancy Cap
Some RestrictionsTuscaloosa Zoning Ordinance Sec. 25-101.c.4.iv(e)-(f)
iv.Short-term rental...(e)Parking and occupancy. The maximum occupancy of a short-term rental shall be calculated in accordance with the fire code, and shall not exceed two (2) adult occupants per off-street parking space that is provided for the use of a short-term rental unit tenant's vehicle. For purposes of this paragraph, the number of off-street parking spaces provided for the use of the ...
Insurance Requirements
Every Tuscaloosa short-term rental host must carry at least $1,000,000 in liability and personal injury coverage before the city will issue a business license. The policy can be a homeowner's rider written specifically for short-term rentals or a standalone commercial policy, and it has to name the city as an additional interested party.
Tuscaloosa Short-Term Rental Insurance Rule
Some RestrictionsTuscaloosa City Code Sec. 7-203(a)-(b) (Ord. No. 8560, 7-11-17; Ord. No. 8620, 11-14-17)
(a)Every person in the city or its police jurisdiction who wishes to obtain a license to conduct a short-term rental business pursuit to Section 7-200 must provide proof of the following insurance coverage:1.A rider on a homeowner's policy that expressly covers short-term rentals and provides a minimum of one million dollar ($1,000,000.00) liability and personal injury coverage; or2.A commercia...
Night Caps
A Tuscaloosa short-term rental allowed by right may operate no more than forty-five days in a calendar year under Sec. 25-101(c)(4)(iv)(f). An owner who wants more days must get a special exception use permit from the zoning board of adjustment, and even a board-approved rental starts at thirty days in its first year before stepping up to forty-five days in later years.
Tuscaloosa Short-Term Rental Annual Day Caps
Some RestrictionsCity of Tuscaloosa Zoning Ordinance, Sec. 25-101(c)(4)(iv)(f) (Short-Term Rental, Time Limitations), Article V, Division 2, Principal Uses (Ord. No. 9572, § 2, 12-17-24)
(f)Time limitations.(1)When the use of a dwelling as a short-term rental is permitted by right, the dwelling may be used as a short-term rental for no more than forty-five (45) days in a calendar year, provided that the owner of the dwelling unit may apply for a special exception use permit to allow the use of a short-term rental for more than forty-five (45) days in a calendar year.(2)When the...
Repeat Violator Strikes
Tuscaloosa cancels a short-term rental's special exception permit and denies annual license renewal once the city verifies complaints or violations at the property. Operators lose eligibility for a full year, and repeated problems can trigger permanent non-renewal under City Zoning Ordinance Sec. 25-101(c)(4)(iv)(h).
Tuscaloosa STR Repeat-Violation License Strikes
Significant RestrictionsCity of Tuscaloosa Zoning Ordinance, Sec. 25-101(c)(4)(iv)(h) (Short-Term Rental - Annual Renewal of Business License), Article V, Division 2
(h)Annual renewal of business license. Following initial application for and issuance of a short-term rental business license by the city, the operator of a short-term rental shall be required to renew the annual business license and submit to an annual audit by the city before renewal of the business license...(2)If the use was permitted in accordance with a special exception use permit, the c...