Tuscaloosa, Alabama Short-Term Rental Market
Tuscaloosa's STR market runs on football: ADR triples on fall gamedays even as monthly occupancy runs low.
Quick Answer: Tuscaloosa, Alabama is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Tuscaloosa market area is 45%. average monthly revenue in the Tuscaloosa market area is $3,167. average daily rate in the Tuscaloosa market area is $264. the top operator in the Tuscaloosa market area is Bama B&B Rentals with 104 listings. market score is 92/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the wider Tuscaloosa market, which covers 2 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Tuscaloosa.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Tuscaloosa is the University of Alabama’s home and ‘the South’s premier college town,’ with STR demand driven overwhelmingly by Crimson Tide football at 100,000-seat Bryant-Denny Stadium. Visit Tuscaloosa reported a record $1 billion in county visitor spending in 2025, including 750,000+ overnight visitors and 1.1 million paid accommodation room nights, with hotel and STR revenue totaling $136.2 million.
The market’s seasonal pattern is unusual: summer months post the highest monthly occupancy (June-August run 45-49%), but fall football months (September-November) post far higher revenue and ADR despite lower monthly occupancy (32-40%), because a handful of home-game weekends command extreme premium pricing that a full-month average partly masks. October, the peak football month, averages a $433 ADR and $3,757 in monthly revenue, versus a $220-227 ADR in the January-February off-season.
In June 2026, Tuscaloosa’s STR market averaged 45.4% occupancy and a $264 ADR, producing $3,167 in average monthly revenue per listing. Note that June sits outside football season, so this single-month figure understates what the fall months typically generate.
Tuscaloosa’s market has about 1,221 active STR listings (1,167 entire-place, 54 private-room), with a bedroom mix weighted toward three-bedroom units (477 of the total). Tuscaloosa regulates STRs strictly through Tourist Overlay Districts with hard annual license caps: 150 in the Downtown-Campus District and 100 elsewhere, plus a 45-day-per-year limit on residential-zoned dwellings within the Downtown-Campus District.
Top property managers include Bama B&B Rentals (104 listings, a 4.92 rating), Gameday Vacay (63 listings), and TapAway (54 listings, a 4.97 rating), names that reflect the market’s football-centric identity.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 27% |
| Feb | 45% |
| Mar | 41% |
| Apr | 43% |
| May | 29% |
| Jun | 47% |
| Jul | 49% |
| Aug | 45% |
| Sep | 40% |
| Oct | 32% |
| Nov | 31% |
| Dec | 28% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Tuscaloosa are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Tuscaloosa market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Tuscaloosa market as a whole, which includes Tuscaloosa, so these counts are not Tuscaloosa-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bama B&B Rentals | 104 | 1,773 | ★ 4.92 |
| 2 | Gameday Vacay | 63 | 340 | ★ 4.91 |
| 3 | TapAway | 54 | 1,269 | ★ 4.97 |
| 4 | Evolve | 16 | 273 | ★ 4.91 |
| 5 | Sure Home Stays US | 7 | 695 | ★ 4.83 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Tuscaloosa?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Tuscaloosa are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 44.1% |
| vrbo | 9.2% |
| both | 46.8% |
Home Value Trends (Tuscaloosa)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Tuscaloosa are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Tuscaloosa — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Tuscaloosa actively regulates short-term rentals through a defined city ordinance (Code of Ordinances Ch. 7 Art. XII and Ch. 24 Zoning Art. XXII). Operators must obtain both a Short-Term Rental License and a general Business License, each renewed annually starting January 1.
The city uses Tourist Overlay (TO) Districts with hard caps on active multi-family licenses: 150 per year in the Downtown-Campus District and 100 per year elsewhere within city limits, meaning availability is limited and competitive. Residential-zoned dwellings inside the Downtown-Campus District may operate as an STR for no more than 45 days per calendar year, a significant limit for investors targeting that area. Historic-district STRs require a Special Exception from the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Operators must carry insurance with an STR rider or a commercial policy with $1,000,000 minimum liability, naming the City of Tuscaloosa as an additional interested party, and must provide a 24/7 emergency contact. Properties must meet building and fire codes; single-family dwellings under three stories require inspection by a licensed home inspector, plus a biennial home inspection.
The city’s 11% Lodging Tax applies to stays under 180 days and is paid monthly, due by the 20th; Airbnb typically collects and remits the city portion.
Given the license caps, mandatory inspections, insurance requirements, and a dedicated STR enforcement channel (Tuscaloosa 311 and [email protected]), the regulatory environment is strict. Investors should check current license availability before assuming a purchase can be licensed.
Market Comparison
National benchmarks put the median U.S. short-term rental market at roughly 55% occupancy and a $220 ADR. Tuscaloosa runs below the occupancy benchmark but above the ADR benchmark, at 45.4% occupancy and a $264 ADR in June 2026, though that blended comparison undersells the market’s real dynamic: October alone averages a $433 ADR, nearly double the national benchmark, driven by football-weekend demand.
Bama B&B Rentals leads local property managers with 104 listings and a 4.92 rating, followed by Gameday Vacay (63 listings) and TapAway (54 listings, a 4.97 rating); together the top three hold about 18% of the market’s roughly 1,221 active listings, a moderately consolidated operator landscape for a market this specialized.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tuscaloosa, Alabama
What is the average occupancy for short-term rentals in Tuscaloosa?
When do Tuscaloosa short-term rentals earn the most?
How many short-term rental licenses does Tuscaloosa allow?
What is the gross rental yield for a typical Tuscaloosa STR?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Tuscaloosa?
Do Tuscaloosa short-term rentals require insurance?
Who are the top short-term rental managers in Tuscaloosa?
Analyze Tuscaloosa Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Tuscaloosa.
Free Tuscaloosa STR Calculator →
