Auburn, AL Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

The City of Auburn's short-term rental standards in Section 408.02.D.6 do not state a specific headcount cap for a short-term non-primary rental. The ordinance instead controls how the unit may be used: short-term non-primary rentals may only be used for lodging (eating and sleeping), and only the registered or contracted short-term non-primary rental guests may utilize the rental. Private and commercial events and activities are prohibited, which prevents an operator from stacking party-sized crowds into a rental beyond the booked guests. For homestays, the use is an accessory home occupation within the owner's permanent residence, so it is bound by the residential character of the dwelling. Because no number is fixed in the STR section itself, the effective occupancy of any Auburn rental is governed by the applicable building and fire codes and the dwelling's design (bedrooms, egress, septic or sewer capacity) rather than a flat STR-specific limit. By contrast, Auburn's separate Bed and Breakfast Inn standard (Section 408.02.D.3) does cap guest rooms at eight, illustrating that the city sets explicit limits where it intends to, but it did not adopt a numeric guest cap for short-term rentals. Operators should confirm any occupancy figure with Planning Services for their specific property.