Applications & Forms
If you are applying to operate a short-term rental for the first time, please reference the below table. If you are renewing a previously approved short-term rental application, please continue toward the bottom of this page.
The subsequent table identifies which Applications and Forms are required to be completed based on which area of the City your home resides:
| Tourist Overlay: Single-Family | Tourist Overlay: Historic District | Multi-family or Condominium | Outside Tourist Overlay: Inside City Limits | Outside City Limits (PJ) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planning Division: | |||||
| ZBA Petition | (1) | YES | (1) | YES | NO |
| Designation of Agent Form | (2) | (2) | (2) | (2) | NO |
| Letter of permission from HOA or Property Manager | NO | NO | YES | NO | NO |
| Revenue Division: | |||||
| Business License - Application | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Home Inspection - Affidavit | YES | YES | NO | YES | YES |
| Proof of Insurance | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Designation of Agent Form | (3) | (3) | (3) | (3) | (3) |
(1) Required if applicant is intending to operate for more than 45 days in a calendar year.
(2) Required if the petitioner, who will appear before the public hearing, is not the property owner.
(3) Required if the applicant is not the property owner.
License Renewals
NOTE: Licenses can be renewed beginning on January 1st of each year and must be renewed before the final date listed on the business license to avoid penalty. Properties that were licensed prior to 5/21/2019 are grandfathered under the previous ordinance. For licenses that are grandfathered, if the license is not renewed by the expiration date you will lose the grandfathering status and be subject to the current Short-Term Rental ordinance.
In order to renew your existing short-term rental license, simply submit proper documentation and payment to the Revenue Department before your business license expires. The revenue division will mail or otherwise transmit a renewal reminder notice to each taxpayer that purchased a business license during the preceding license year, via regular U.S. mail addressed to the taxpayer's last known address, on or before December 31 of the current license year. See this page for more information on business license renewals.
You are required to submit the appropriate records with your renewal, such as an annual audit report, home inspection report, and dock inspection, when applicable. A home inspection report is required every 2 years (Sec. 7-205).
I've completed all the application requirements. Where do I submit the documents?
To submit electronically, please email all the documents, excluding Planning Division documents, in PDF format to:
ZBA Petitions and Designation of Agent Forms should be submitted to zba@tuscaloosa.com
Digital copies are preferred. However, to submit paper copies, please bring all the documents to:
2201 University Blvd
Annex III, 3rd fl
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401