LicensedRental

Etowah County, Alabama

Southside, AL vacation rental requirements

Southside makes it unlawful to rent or advertise a home in its R-1, R-2, R-3, RG, RT, or AG zones for less than 90 consecutive days (Ordinance 0-008-2016). Each day of a violation is a separate offense.

Checked against official sources November 5, 2026

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Residential zones
No rentals under 90 days
R-1, R-2, R-3, RG, RT, and AG; advertising them is also banned.Source
Lodgings tax
12% + $1.50 a night
5% city (collected by Avenu) + 5% state + 2% county.Source

The 2016 ordinance calls itself an overlay district but applies to all the listed residential and agricultural zones. Violations are misdemeanors and a public nuisance.

Your licensing checklist

In order: the state, the county, then the town.

State of Alabama

  1. Register for the lodgings tax

    Create an account at My Alabama Taxes (MAT) and register for state lodgings tax, plus any local lodgings taxes the state administers for your county and city. Cities that collect their own tax need a separate account with the city.Source

    My Alabama Taxes →

  2. File by the 20th

    Returns are due by the 20th of the following month. Small filers can ask (before February 20) to file quarterly, twice a year, or yearly. Paying on time earns a small discount (5% of the first $100 of tax, 2% after).Source

  3. Know what the platform collects

    Under Act 2024-334, Airbnb, VRBO, and other booking platforms collect the state and local lodgings taxes on their bookings unless your contract says you remit. You still owe tax on direct bookings, and the law adds a yearly report of every unit rented more than 14 days.Source

  4. Keep filing once you register

    If every booking goes through a platform that collects all your state and local lodgings taxes, you may not need your own account. But if you take direct bookings, or the platform doesn’t collect one of your local taxes (often the ones filed with a city, a county, or Avenu), register and file it yourself. Once registered, file every period, even a $0 return, and report platform-collected sales as a deduction. Some county offices ask owners to keep their own account and file monthly even when the platform pays, so ask yours.Source

  5. Then your county and city

    Local business licenses, rental permits, and zoning rules are where Alabama towns differ most. Pick your area.

Etowah County, Alabama

  1. Register for the county lodging tax

    File the county’s 2% and $1.50 nightly room fee with the state through My Alabama Taxes, along with the 5% state tax.Source

  2. Then your city

    City rules differ a lot here. Pick your area.

City of Southside

  1. Check your zoning first

    In the R-1, R-2, R-3, RG, RT, and AG districts, rent for 90 days or longer. Ask the city whether any other district allows shorter stays.Source

  2. Register for lodgings tax

    Total lodgings tax here is 12% plus $1.50 a night (5% city, 5% state, 2% county). The city’s 5% is filed with Avenu Insights; the state and county taxes go through My Alabama Taxes. Airbnb collects the state tax and the local taxes the state administers on its bookings; for taxes filed with a city, county, or Avenu, ask your platform whether it collects them. For direct bookings, file everything yourself by the 20th of each month.Source

Sources

A plain-language summary to help you prepare, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the office before you apply. Spot something out of date? Email hello@licensedrental.com.