Montgomery City Council Begins Drafting Rules for Airbnb, PadSplit Rentals
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) — A Montgomery City Council committee met Monday to begin drafting an ordinance that would regulate Airbnb and PadSplit rental properties in the city.
Currently, short-term rental operators in Montgomery are only required to obtain a business license. The city has not restricted which zoning districts allow them, leading some residents to describe the situation as a “Wild West” environment.
For Garden District resident Jill Friedman, that has meant major changes to her once-quiet street.
“I have lived here with great neighbors for 6 1/2 years, and six months ago I found out I live across the street from a hotel,” Friedman said. “A house was bought and turned into an Airbnb listed for up to 14 guests, which has meant 14 or more cars parking on the street. Those people often invite others.”
Friedman said she has come home to find a huge bus parked on her street, while another neighbor, Jonathan Guyette, said the owner of the Airbnb installed a mini-golf course in the backyard.
“The renters play golf in the backyard. We regularly find golf balls in the driveway and near our windows.”
“Having young children, it’s concerning because there are these large groups of people that are in and out every couple of nights and we don’t know who they are,” Guyette said. “We like to let the kids play in the yard, but we’re more hesitant to do that now.”
Websites like bnbcalc.com encourage short-term rental investors to purchase property in Montgomery, citing the lack of red tape and regulations. Business Insider in January ranked Montgomery No. 11 on its list of best places to invest in an Airbnb in 2025.
The committee meeting drew a crowd of residents and property owners. District 7 Councilman Andrew Szymanski said the discussion focused on gathering recommendations from city departments.
“Today was really about getting recommendations from the different city department and we will process those recommendations. They’ll process the feedback that we have, and then we will engage in a future meeting to kind of narrow down and actually get an ordinance put together that really provides the common sense regulation that this industry needs.”
Airbnb said in a statement that the company is committed to working with Montgomery officials.
“Airbnb looks forward to working with city leaders in Montgomery to develop fair and balanced rules for short-term rentals. As Councilman Szymanski noted, the city should focus on addressing concerns while preserving the benefits that short-term rentals provide to residents, visitors and the community. We’re committed to being good partners and supporting reasonable regulations that strike this balance.”
The committee will meet again in three weeks. A final draft of the ordinance could be ready for a City Council vote within the next couple of months.
Residents can provide input by contacting their City Council member or visiting montgomeryal.gov.
