Dothan, AL Short-Term Rentals: Host Presence Rule (2026)

Section 114-188 opens by drawing a hard line between two short-term rental formats based on whether the owner lives in the home. A short-term residential rental (STRR) is defined as an owner-occupied home where the owner lets a portion of their residence, while a short-term commercial rental (STCR) is a non-owner-occupied home let in its entirety to guests. That distinction drives very different licensing paths. For an STRR, § 114-188(a)(2) requires the property to be recorded as a homestead with the county, and only the person or persons shown on the property records may apply for the business license, tying the license to a genuine owner-occupant rather than an investor.

Section 114-188(a)(5) reinforces the same owner-presence idea by requiring utilities to remain in the owner's name, with no transferring of utilities to a non-owner or an LLC. Because an STCR involves no resident owner, it is treated as the higher-risk format: an STCR proposed in a single-family zoning district needs a special exception from the board of zoning adjustment, cannot sit within 250 feet of another STCR, and both formats require a host or contact person reachable 24/7 who must respond within one hour of an emergency, giving guests someone accountable even when the owner is not living on-site.