LicensedRental

Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

Northport, AL vacation rental requirements

Northport’s zoning code (December 2024) limits short-term rentals in residential districts to one guest party, two guests per bedroom plus two, and four per parking space, with no events and the license and contact posted inside. A city business license and the 11% city lodging tax apply (15% total). A stricter licensing ordinance was up for a vote on November 16, 2026.

Checked against official sources November 5, 2026

Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.

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Occupancy
2 per bedroom + 2
And no more than 4 per parking space; one party at a time.Source
Business license
Required
Short-term rentals must meet all city licensing and tax rules.Source
Lodging tax
15%
11% city + 4% state; the city rate is 5.5% in the police jurisdiction.Source
Pending rules
Vote set for November 16, 2026
License number in listings, safety-code certification, no events.Source

The zoning standards apply to short-term rentals in residential districts. We couldn’t open Northport’s own revenue pages; ask the city for its business license fee for a short-term rental.

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.

Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

  1. Find out if you’re in a city or police jurisdiction

    Tuscaloosa and Northport tax (and Tuscaloosa licenses) short-term rentals in their police jurisdictions too, not only inside city limits. Ask the city which applies at your address.Source

  2. Then your city

    Pick your area.

City of Northport

  1. Get a city business license

    The city sets maximum occupancy with your business license, from your bedrooms and parking spaces, and may inspect to check them.Source

  2. Register for lodging tax

    Total lodging tax is 15% (11% city, collected by the city, plus 4% state through My Alabama Taxes); the city’s share is 5.5% in its police jurisdiction. Ask the city whether Airbnb or VRBO remits the city tax for you.Source

  3. Follow the zoning standards

    One guest party at a time, a written rental agreement that caps overnight guests, enough off-street parking for every guest, no RVs, buses, or trailers on the street or in front of the house, and no weddings, concerts, or similar events. Post the business license, emergency contact, and house rules inside, and act promptly on any complaint.Source

  4. Watch for the new ordinance

    The proposal would require the license number in every listing and a yearly certification of smoke and CO detectors, extinguishers, egress windows, rails, and a visible address. Ask the city whether it passed.Source

House rules for guests

Occupancy
2 per bedroom + 2, max 4 per parking space
Source
Events
None
Source
Guest parties
One at a time
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.