City of Tuscaloosa Suspends New Short-Term Rentals Through January 2023

The Tuscaloosa City Council voted Tuesday evening to suspend the issuances of short-term rental licenses within the city limits until January 2023.

According to a resolution from the city, an ordinance to legalize and regulate short-term rentals was passed in 2017 which was limited to tourist overlay districts that were established around Lake Tuscaloosa and in areas near downtown Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama.

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In May 2018 after a year of monitoring the rentals, the city council passed an amendments to the city's short-term rental regulations to allow an increase in the number of properties that were eligible for short-term rentals in the designated areas.

Several citizens expressed concerns of the rentals being a threat to traditional neighborhoods and placed an increase demand on the zoning board of adjustment following an additional year of monitoring in 2019.

The decision was made to "strengthen protections on neighborhoods and reduce the burden on the zoning board of adjustment."

Councilman Lee Busby recused himself from voting due to a perceived conflict regarding the issue.

The decision does not affect those who already possess short-term rentals.