Auburn, AL Short-Term Rentals: Registration Rules (2026)

To register a short-term rental in Auburn, an operator completes the zoning approval that matches the use. For a homestay, the owner fills out a Home Occupation application; for a short-term non-primary rental, the owner fills out a Zoning Certificate application. In both cases the application, along with the property deed or a notarized letter, is submitted to the Planning Services Department, and the applicant creates an account on the Auburn Permit Portal. Once the permit or certificate is issued, the operator submits a short-term rental business license application to the City Revenue Office. Under Section 408.02.D.6, each zoning certificate for a short-term non-primary rental is valid from January 1 (or the issue date) through December 31 of the calendar year in which it is issued, so the approval is renewed annually. The Planning Services Department can be reached at webplanning@auburnalabama.org or (334) 501-3040, and the Revenue Office at (334) 501-7239 or revenue@auburnal.gov. Because Alabama does not maintain a statewide STR registry, this municipal registration plus a state lodgings-tax account with the Alabama Department of Revenue is what an Auburn host must complete.