What zoning rules apply to STRs in Florence?

Unhosted rentals are strictly prohibited in R-1 (Single-Family) zones.

What should Florence hosts know about a minimum of $1,000,000 in?

A minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance is required.

What are the key requirements for Florence hosts?

You must provide one off-street parking space for every bedroom used for the rental.

Florence

Moderate

AlabamaUpdated Apr 2, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 9, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Florence requires a city business license, $1M liability insurance, and prohibits unhosted short-term rentals in R-1 residential zones.

Restriction level

Severity 21

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Standard permit fee: $150
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To operate a short-term rental in Florence, you must obtain a business license and maintain $1 million in liability insurance. You can only host unhosted rentals in specific zones like R-2 or commercial areas; if your property is in an R-1 zone, it must be your primary residence and you must live on-site.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$150

Processing time2-3 weeks

Max fine$500

3 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Unhosted rentals are strictly prohibited in R-1 (Single-Family) zones.
2A minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance is required.
3You must provide one off-street parking space for every bedroom used for the rental.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

Florence: Unhosted rentals are strictly prohibited in R-1 (Single-Family) zones.
Florence: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Florence does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Florence: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements10 rules

Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Florence: 1. Unhosted rentals are strictly prohibited in R-1 (Single-Family) zones. 2. A minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance is required. 3. You must provide one off-street parking space for every bedroom used for the rental.
Florence: You must display your permit/registration number on your Airbnb listing.

Application process8 rules

Florence: To apply for an STR permit, you'll need: Proof of Liability Insurance, Emergency Contact Information, Parking Plan, Property Ownership Verification.

Fees & costs2 rules

Florence: A minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance is required.
Florence charges a registration fee of $150 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Florence charges a City Lodging Tax of 0.07%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO generally collect and remit the state and local lodging taxes.
Alabama has a state sales tax of 0.04% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions3 rules

Florence enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Florence limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Florence occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional persons. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Florence requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, One off-street parking space per bedroom, Compliance with life safety codes.

Penalties2 rules

Florence: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Florence enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Varies by code enforcement. Second offense: Increased fines. Third offense: License revocation. Maximum fine: 500. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

Florence: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Florence exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Florence

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Confirm your property is in a permitted zone. If in R-1, ensure it is your primary residence and you will be present during stays.

1-2 daysFree

Official resource

Step 2

Obtain Insurance

Secure a liability insurance policy with a minimum coverage of $1,000,000 specifically for short-term rental use.

1 weekFree

Step 3

Apply for Business License

Submit a business license application to the Florence Finance Department including required safety and insurance documents.

2 weeks$150

Documents needed

Proof of Insurance
Parking Plan
Emergency Contact Info

Official resource

Step 4

Pass Fire Inspection

Schedule and pass a safety inspection by the Florence Fire Department to ensure compliance with life safety codes.

1 weekFree

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Florence

Moderate

AlabamaUpdated Apr 2, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 9, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Florence requires a city business license, $1M liability insurance, and prohibits unhosted short-term rentals in R-1 residential zones.

Restriction level

Severity 21

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Standard permit fee: $150
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$150

Processing time2-3 weeks

Max fine$500

3 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Unhosted rentals are strictly prohibited in R-1 (Single-Family) zones.
2A minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance is required.
3You must provide one off-street parking space for every bedroom used for the rental.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

Florence: Unhosted rentals are strictly prohibited in R-1 (Single-Family) zones.
Florence: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Florence does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Florence: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements10 rules

Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Florence: 1. Unhosted rentals are strictly prohibited in R-1 (Single-Family) zones. 2. A minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance is required. 3. You must provide one off-street parking space for every bedroom used for the rental.
Florence: You must display your permit/registration number on your Airbnb listing.

Application process8 rules

Florence: To apply for an STR permit, you'll need: Proof of Liability Insurance, Emergency Contact Information, Parking Plan, Property Ownership Verification.

Fees & costs2 rules

Florence: A minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance is required.
Florence charges a registration fee of $150 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Florence charges a City Lodging Tax of 0.07%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO generally collect and remit the state and local lodging taxes.
Alabama has a state sales tax of 0.04% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions3 rules

Florence enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Florence limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Florence occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional persons. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Florence requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, One off-street parking space per bedroom, Compliance with life safety codes.

Penalties2 rules

Florence: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Florence enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Varies by code enforcement. Second offense: Increased fines. Third offense: License revocation. Maximum fine: 500. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

Florence: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Florence exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Florence

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Confirm your property is in a permitted zone. If in R-1, ensure it is your primary residence and you will be present during stays.

1-2 daysFree

Official resource

Step 2

Obtain Insurance

Secure a liability insurance policy with a minimum coverage of $1,000,000 specifically for short-term rental use.

1 weekFree

Step 3

Apply for Business License

Submit a business license application to the Florence Finance Department including required safety and insurance documents.

2 weeks$150

Documents needed

Proof of Insurance
Parking Plan
Emergency Contact Info

Official resource

Step 4

Pass Fire Inspection

Schedule and pass a safety inspection by the Florence Fire Department to ensure compliance with life safety codes.

1 weekFree

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

3 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Obtain Insurance

Apply for Business License

Pass Fire Inspection

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Florence?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Florence?

3Are there zoning restrictions for unhosted rentals in Florence?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Florence?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

3 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Obtain Insurance

Apply for Business License

Pass Fire Inspection

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Florence?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Florence?

3Are there zoning restrictions for unhosted rentals in Florence?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Florence?

Disclaimer