What Mountain Brook's Short-Term Rental Ordinance Means For Renters

MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL — The Mountain Brook City Council passed an ordinance during Monday's meeting to restrict short-term rentals, ending any rental by non-residents that is less than 30 days. Short-term renting is a trend that may have latched onto as a source for extra income with the success of rental platforms like AirBnB and VRBO.

Previously, homeowners could operate through short-term rental companies or even file for a business license themselves, but with the new ordinance, a moratorium has been placed on issuing business licenses or building permits for short-term lodging, and the City Code has been updated to reflect the moratorium as well. Any rental agreement in the city of Mountain Brook now has to meet a 30-day minimum requirement.

The City Council cited multiple concerns from residents in its passing of the ordinance, including high traffic volume, safety, and protection of property values.

With the increased use of AirBnB and VRBO, many cities have been weighing their options when it comes to short-term rentals. In 2016, nearby Homewood extended its minimum stay to 90 days.

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