Short-term rental permit rules in Madison, AL — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Madison's proposed STR ordinance (No. 2026-201) requires every operator to obtain a Short-Term Rental Operational Permit plus a business license for each unit before renting. Until adopted, the city grants no STR permits and business-license applications for STRs are being denied.
Under proposed Ordinance 2026-201, no one may operate an STR without an STR Operational Permit and a business license. A permit is required for each individual unit, a separate Certificate of Occupancy per location, and applications are reviewed by the Building, Planning, Fire Marshal, and Revenue departments. Existing operators must apply within 90 days of the ordinance's effective date. As of the city's current STR page, Madison has no specific STR regulations in force yet, and STR business-license applications are being denied pending the ordinance. Verify status with the Building Department before advertising.
Operating without the required permit is unlawful; each day is a separate offense subject to notice of violation, municipal-court citation, fine and/or imprisonment, plus permit revocation.
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