Birmingham, Alabama Short-Term Rental Market
Birmingham STRs averaged $181/night at 60% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue up 11.4% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Birmingham, Alabama is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 60%. average monthly revenue is $2,912. average daily rate is $181. the top operator is Evercassa Management with 190 listings. market score is 99/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Birmingham has emerged as one of the highest-scoring STR markets in the Southeast, carrying a 98.5 overall market score anchored by exceptional revenue growth (94.8 out of 100) and seasonality stability (93.0 out of 100). As of April 2026, the average daily rate is $181, occupancy is 60.1%, and RevPAR is $109. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 2.1 percentage points, ADR grew 1.8%, and revenue increased a substantial 11.4% compared to April 2025.
The market holds approximately 2,797 tracked listings: 2,515 entire-place units, 274 private rooms, and 8 shared rooms. By bedroom count, 1-bedroom units lead at 1,129 listings, followed by 2-bedroom (743), 3-bedroom (503), 4-bedroom (232), and 5-bedroom (159). Channel distribution is balanced between cross-platform and Airbnb-primary listings: 1,400 appear on both platforms, 1,147 on Airbnb only, and 250 on VRBO only.
Birmingham’s STR market operates in a regulatory gray zone as of May 2026: no STR-specific ordinance is in effect, making this one of the most accessible urban markets in the Southeast for operators.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54% | $112 | $1,687 |
| Feb | 59% | $121 | $1,820 |
| Mar | 63% | $130 | $2,257 |
| Apr | 62% | $137 | $2,247 |
| May | 61% | $133 | $2,207 |
| Jun | 68% | $135 | $2,386 |
| Jul | 68% | $131 | $2,417 |
| Aug | 60% | $123 | $2,090 |
| Sep | 60% | $127 | $1,943 |
| Oct | 60% | $139 | $2,348 |
| Nov | 56% | $129 | $2,007 |
| Dec | 54% | $123 | $1,855 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Birmingham
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evercassa Management | 190 | 1,163 | ★ 4.31 |
| 2 | Porchlit Properties | 138 | 3,320 | ★ 4.66 |
| 3 | Landing, Inc. | 115 | 252 | ★ 4.23 |
| 4 | Ledbetter Stays | 76 | 3,080 | ★ 4.84 |
| 5 | Landing | 62 | 114 | ★ 3.43 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Birmingham?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,129 |
| 2 bed | 743 |
| 3 bed | 503 |
| 4 bed | 232 |
| 5 bed | 159 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $193 |
| Luxury | $294 |
| Professionally Managed | $196 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,650 |
| Entire Place | $3,077 |
| House | $3,258 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 41% |
| vrbo | 8.9% |
| both | 50.1% |
Investment Analysis
Birmingham’s STR investment case is built on low acquisition costs and strong cash-flow yields. At a typical home value of $137,201 and April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,912, annualized gross revenue is approximately $34,942, implying a gross revenue yield of roughly 25.5%. This is among the highest yield figures in the national STR dataset, reflecting Alabama’s lower real estate values relative to rental income potential.
The median sale price of $174,300 aligns closely with the Zillow typical value, confirming that acquisition costs remain low. The median sale-to-list ratio is 0.998, and the median days to pending is just 23, signaling competitive buyer demand that nonetheless keeps prices grounded.
ADR tiers show a clear quality premium: entire-home listings average $193 versus $181 overall, professionally managed properties average $196 (an 8% premium), and luxury-tier listings reach $294. Revenue growth scores 94.8 out of 100, the strongest dimension in an already top-scoring market. The 11.4% year-over-year revenue gain at the April 2026 data point is the largest single-month YoY improvement among this batch.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Birmingham bookings average just 34 days lead time, the shortest in this batch. This reflects Birmingham’s urban short-stay profile: corporate travelers, event attendees, and weekend visitors booking on relatively short notice rather than planning vacations months in advance.
Average length of stay is 3.5 nights, consistent with a business and leisure urban market that mixes midweek corporate stays with weekend getaways. The short lead time creates dynamic pricing opportunities: operators who hold rates firm and adjust only within the 7 to 14 day window can capture last-minute demand at above-average rates during events at Regions Field, the BJCC, UAB home games, and SEC football weekends. With 2,797 active listings and strong year-round demand, competition for last-minute bookings is meaningful, making pricing strategy more important than in supply-constrained markets.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
As of May 2026, Birmingham has no enacted STR ordinance. Operators are required only to hold a standard city business license (approximately $150 application fee, $100 annual renewal due January 1). There are no STR-specific zoning restrictions, no owner-occupancy requirements, and no citywide permit cap currently in force. Enforcement is complaint-driven, focused on business license compliance and tax remittance.
A comprehensive proposed ordinance has been under development since 2023 and was tabled by City Council in March 2026 for additional revisions around enforcement and revocation standards. The draft would ban STRs in single-family residential zones, cap non-hosted permits citywide at approximately 1,067 units with a 1,000-foot spacing requirement, and require a responsible party within 10 miles. A committee vote was anticipated in May 2026, with a full council vote possible by mid-2026.
Occupancy tax is 13.5% combined. No maximum nights-per-year cap applies under current rules. Investors should monitor Birmingham City Council activity, as an adopted ordinance would significantly change the operating environment, particularly for non-owner-occupied properties in residential zones.
Market Comparison
Birmingham’s April 2026 ADR of $181 runs below the US STR median of approximately $220, but occupancy at 60.1% is approximately 5 percentage points above the national median of approximately 55%. The market compensates for lower per-night rates with consistently strong occupancy, supporting the 11.4% revenue growth rate.
Evercassa Management leads the market with 190 listings and 1,163 reviews (4.31 average rating). Porchlit Properties follows with 138 listings and 3,320 reviews (4.66 rating). Landing, Inc. holds 115 listings (4.23 rating). Ledbetter Stays manages 76 listings with 3,080 reviews and a 4.84 rating, the highest among the top five. Landing rounds out the group with 62 listings.
The market’s overall score of 98.5 out of 100 places Birmingham among the top-ranked STR markets nationally when combining revenue growth, seasonality stability, and investability. The primary risk factor is regulatory: the pending ordinance could significantly restrict supply and reshape the competitive landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions About Birmingham, Alabama
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