Birmingham zoning committee votes to prohibit short-term rentals in residential areas

The Zoning Advisory Committee (ZAC) of the Birmingham Planning Commission voted last night to prohibit short-term rental properties in residential neighborhoods.

The vote was taken after the committee heard passionate comments from both local residents and owners of short-term rental properties for over two hours.

Colloquially called Airbnb (there are 800+ Airbnb in the Birmingham area alone), the number of short-term rentals has increased dramatically in Birmingham over the past few years, according to city officials, residents, and neighborhood associations.

Short-term rentals are unregulated in Birmingham 

Presently, the city does not regulate short-term rentals. 

The ZAC voted to remedy that issue by recommending the city adopt the proposed ordinance amending the city code to regulate short-term rentals.

What does that mean? The new rules do the following: 

• Define short-term rentals
• Comply with new safety regulations
• Require a permit and business  

During the public comment period, no one disagreed with those elements of the proposal. The main issue is whether short-term rentals should operate in residential neighborhoods. 

In a surprising move, the ZAC added an amendment to prohibit all short-term rentals from  Birmingham residential zone districts to address the proliferation of short-term rentals.

“The Zoning Advisory Committee’s unanimous vote tonight to remove short-term rentals from all Birmingham residential zone districts was a big and very welcome surprise. After the residents of Birmingham have spoken overwhelmingly in opposition to STRs in residential areas at the last 3 public hearings, I was beginning to think no one was listening. The ZAC has truly put our people first!”

Valerie Abbott, Birmingham City Councilor 

In addition to the residential amendment, the ZAC amended the new rules to require short-term rental owners or managers to reside within a 10-mile radius of the property.

What’s next

The ZAC vote is only a recommendation to the Birmingham City Council. Expect additional public hearings, possible changes to the proposal and a recommendation by the Council’s Planning and Zoning Committee. Then, the full city council will vote.

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