What is the Alabama state lodging tax rate?

4% statewide. Alabama applies a 4% state lodging tax statewide, with a higher 5% rate in the Mountain Lakes and Gulf Coast areas designated as the 'Mountain Lakes' region. Beach-front cities like Gulf Shores and Orange Beach stack city lodging taxes that push the all-in rate near 13–15%. Hosts must register with the Alabama Department of Revenue and file monthly even when Airbnb collects the state portion, because most municipal lodging taxes are not on the marketplace facilitator schedule. Pass the tax through to the guest as a separate line so your reported revenue stays clean for income-tax purposes.

Do Airbnb and Vrbo collect Alabama lodging tax for me?

Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit lodging tax in most cases. Local taxes may still be your responsibility — verify with the state DOR.

What's the local add-on range in Alabama?

Cities and counties may add 0% to 7% on top of the state rate.

Where can I see the official source?

The authoritative source is the Alabama Department of Revenue at https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/. Always verify before filing.

When was this last verified?

Last verified 2026-05-05. Lodging-tax rates are reviewed annually; entries older than 12 months are flagged for re-verification.

Alabama Lodging Tax Calculator

How Alabama lodging tax works

Alabama stacks two or three components on short-term rental stays under 180 consecutive days:

4% state lodging tax — Alabama charges a dedicated lodging tax instead of applying sales tax to rooms. Rate is 5% in 16 “mountain lakes region” counties.
County lodging tax — most counties layer on 1–6% more.
City lodging tax — major tourist cities add their own 4–7% on top.

Effective rates in Alabama’s top STR markets:

Gulf Shores (Baldwin County): 4% state + 2% Baldwin County + 7% Gulf Shores city = ~13%
Orange Beach (Baldwin County): 4% + 2% county + 7% Orange Beach = ~13%
Fort Morgan (Baldwin County): 4% + 2% Baldwin = ~6% (no city tax in unincorporated areas)
Birmingham (Jefferson County): 4% + 3% Jefferson + 6.5% Birmingham = ~13.5%
Mobile (Mobile County): 4% + 2% Mobile County + 8% Mobile city = ~14%
Huntsville / Madison: 4% + 2% Madison + 9% Huntsville lodging = ~15%

Baldwin County (Gulf Coast) is the volume center for STR in Alabama. Combined ~13% there is roughly average for US beach markets.

Platform collection

Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit the 4% state lodging tax in most cases. County and city lodging taxes are uneven — Baldwin County and the cities of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Birmingham, and Mobile typically have platform-collection agreements, but smaller counties and inland cities frequently require the host to register and remit directly.

The Alabama Department of Revenue tracks current coverage. Many cities also self-administer through MAT (My Alabama Taxes) or a local third-party administrator.

What this means in practice

For state lodging tax — handled by Airbnb and Vrbo.
For county and city lodging tax — register with the city revenue department (Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Mobile, Birmingham all run their own) or through MAT for county-administered taxes. File monthly returns, remit yourself if the platform doesn’t cover.
For direct bookings — handle every layer yourself.
180+ continuous-day stays are exempt from Alabama state lodging tax. Most local lodging taxes follow the same threshold — verify locally.
Alabama is unusual in that lodging tax replaces sales tax for rooms — guests are not also charged general sales tax on top, unlike states like Tennessee or Florida.

How to use the calculator above

Enter your booking subtotal (nightly rate × nights + cleaning fee, before tax).
Set the local add-on rate. Gulf Shores or Orange Beach = 9% (2% county + 7% city). Unincorporated Baldwin County = 2%. Birmingham = 9.5%. Mobile = 10%. Huntsville = 11%.
Read the effective rate. The state’s 4% base + your local layer = the rate the guest sees.

Source: Alabama Department of Revenue. Verified 2026-05-11. Not tax advice — confirm with a CPA or your city revenue department before filing.