Proposed Birmingham short-term rental rules sent back after residents express deep concerns

The Birmingham Zoning Advisory Committee (ZAC) has asked the city’s planning staff to go back to the drawing board and incorporate the comments Magic City residents made about a proposed short-term rental ordinance governing places like Airbnb, Vrbo and other platforms.

On Tuesday, July 16th, the committee held a public hearing on the rules. Between 50 to 60 Birmingham residents and interested parties made comments lasting over two hours.

Some of the local concerns people expressed at the hearing included:

• As many as three short-term rentals on a block
• Blocking driveways and preventing local residents ability to park near their home
• Noise and parties

Abbott: short-term rentals are a major problem

Councilor Valerie Abbott told Bham Now short-term rentals are a major problem in her district which covers most of Southside.

“It was just heartbreaking to listen to people who feel that their lives have been ruined by the city allowing these things (short-term rentals) in their neighborhood. 

In my opinion, we need to focus on the rights and needs of our residents who have purchased homes in residential neighborhoods. They should expect their street to remain residential and not have a little mini hotel next door.” 

Valerie Abbott, Birmingham City Councilor

O’Quinn: Ordinance needed

Council President Darrell O’Quinn, who also attended the public hearing with Councilor Abbott, said there is a need for an ordinance to address the short-term rental issue.

“ I told people last night that if you were using state code and local municipal code as your database, and you Googled short-term rentals, you would get no responses. There would be no hits because short-term rentals don’t appear anywhere in the state or local code. 

We are late to the game. One of the most basic things that we’re trying to accomplish is to get a permitting process in place so that  we know how many of them there are and have some

Basic rules for how they operate, some requirements that create accountability.”

Darrell O’Quinn, President, Birmingham City Council

Revised proposed rules coming in August

In addition to being sent back to the planning department, the entire city council is meeting on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the ordinance with the Council’s Planning and Zoning Committee.

Abbott has made it clear, the new ordinance must consider and address the issues brought up by the residents. She also noted short-term rentals have been banned in some residential communities in Homewood.

“They need to address every single one of the issues that have been brought up by residents who are now suffering from having these things (short-term rentals) near their homes. We need to address every one of those issues. And if there isn’t a dedicated enforcement team to deal with them (short-term rental rules), we shouldn’t pass it. We shouldn’t pass this ordinance.

Valerie Abbott, Birmingham City Councilor

Here is the proposed ordinance which has been sent back to the planning. A revised version is expected to be considered in August.  

Stay tuned for more info on this developing story.

Do you have a short-term rental near you in Birmingham? Tell us what you think about this emerging issue and new ordinance on social media by tagging us at @bhamnow!