Birmingham, Alabama Short Term Rental Regulations
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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave
Last updated August 23, 2023
Birmingham Short-Term Rental Regulations
Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.
City Code of Ordinances
The City of Birmingham might have regulations, standards, and restrictions that might apply to your listing. Do your due diligence and consult a local lawyer or tax professional. Ordinances and Zoning are subject to changes and should always be confirmed with the City of Birmingham.Business License Requirements
Contact the Tax and License Administration Division for further clarification on when short-term rentals might need a business license.Building and Housing Standards
Birmingham has rules and regulations that specify minimum building, design, maintenance standards, habitability, health, and safety requirements. Some rules and regulations that apply to residential and non-residential properties may apply to your listing. Consult the Building Codes for more information.Tourist and Local Taxes
Short-term rentals might also be subjected to the city, state, and county sales tax and are liable for payment as established by the city, state and county law.Other Rules
It is also essential to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as leases, condo boards, co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. Please read your lease agreement and check with your landlord if applicable. Visit the City of Birmingham for more information.Is something not quite right? Registered users can suggest changes to this guide.
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Short Term City Rating6.3
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Competition
4.9 -
Real Estate Cost
8.3 -
STR Regulations
N/A -
Seasonality
7.5 -
Rental Rates
4.5
Birmingham, Alabama Quick Stats
Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.
- Population
- 200,733
- STR License Required
- No
- Tourist Season
- June through Aug.
- County
- Jefferson
- Airports
- Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
- Huntsville International Carl T Jones Field (HSV)
Want to learn more about Birmingham?
Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.
Check out our Birmingham rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Birmingham rental market.
Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Birmingham.
The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.
Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.
What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Birmingham guests.
Interested in other Alabama cities?
Check out the Alabama Airbnb rules directory
What makes Birmingham a great place to invest?
- The Civil Rights District – Birmingham was at the center of the Civil Rights Movement, and the legacy is evident throughout the city. The Civil Rights District includes landmarks such as the 16th Street Baptist Church, Kelly Ingram Park, and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Visitors can learn about the struggle for civil rights and see first-hand how far the city has come since those turbulent times.
- Downtown – Downtown Birmingham has transformed in recent years, with new shops, restaurants, and bars popping up all over. The area is also home to attractions such as Railroad Park, Regions Field, and The Pizitz Food Hall. Whether you’re looking to shop till you drop or enjoy some excellent food and drink, downtown Birmingham has something for you.
- The Outdoors – Birmingham is blessed with beautiful weather year-round, so there’s always an opportunity to get outside and enjoy nature. Oak Mountain State Park is just a short drive from downtown and offers hiking trails, biking trails, and fishing lakes.
Birmingham Nearby Cities
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54 miles away
- Rating: 7.2
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85 miles away
- Rating: 6.0
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Local Real Estate
How expensive is the real estate in Birmingham?
The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in Birmingham has increased 10% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $194, which is lower than the national average.
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Median Sale Price
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$294,179
10% YoY
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Median per Square Foot
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$194
1% YoY
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Average Monthly Rent
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$1,438
3% YoY
Local Short-Term Rental News for Birmingham
The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Birmingham, Alabama
Common terms for Birmingham short term rental listings.
When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.
Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:
- Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
- Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
- Informative: The average listing in Birmingham has a description approximately 1,539 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.
After reviewing more than 1,510 listings in Birmingham, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Birmingham, Perfect, Comfortable, Place, Quiet, Downtown, Spacious, Downtown Birmingham, Clean, and City.
What are the most popular tourist activities in Birmingham?
Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in Birmingham involve going to the City Centre, the Zoo, Outlet Shopping, Adventure Activities, and Museums. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.
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City Centre
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Zoo
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Outlet Shopping
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Adventure Activities
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Museums
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Health Spa
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Swimming
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Hiking
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Antiquing
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Cycling
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Rural
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Mountain Biking
Local Attractions
What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?
There are quite a few popular attractions in Birmingham, including University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, The Summit, Birmingham Zoo, and University of Alabama Hospital. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.
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Regional Landmark
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Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex
Included on nearly all listings
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Regional Landmark
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Alabama Theater
Included on nearly all listings
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Well Known Attraction
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University of Alabama-Birmingham
Included on nearly all listings
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Regional Landmark
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University of Alabama Hospital
Included on nearly all listings
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Regional Landmark
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Ascension St. Vincent's Birmingham
Included on nearly all listings
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Local Landmark
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Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Included on nearly all listings
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Regional Landmark
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Birmingham Zoo
Included on nearly all listings
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Regional Landmark
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Children's of Alabama
Included on nearly all listings
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Regional Landmark
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Legion Field
Included on nearly all listings
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Regional Landmark
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The Summit
Included on most listings
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Regional Landmark
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Samford University
Included on most listings
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Regional Landmark
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Riverchase Galleria
Included on 90% of listings
What’s the weather like in Birmingham, Alabama?
The weather is about the same as the national average, with an average high temperature of around 74°, while the average low is about 54°. The rainfall is much heavier, averaging about 47 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall is relatively rare, averaging less than 2 inches per year. The humidity levels in Birmingham are generally muggier than the national average, and the city has a mix of clouds and sunshine for most of the year.
Winter
December through February
38° Low 57° High
Spring
March through May
53° Low 74° High
Summer
June through August
71° Low 89° High
Fall
September through November
55° Low 75° High
Cities Near Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, is located in Jefferson County. Some cities that are located nearby include:
