In 2021, the City of Anniston adopted two ordinances to regulate new enterprises that are on the rise throughout the country. Ordinance No. 21-O-11 created regulations for Short-Term Rentals (such as Airbnb’s, Vbro units, and similar short-term rental dwellings), and Ordinance No. 21-O-13 created regulations for Mobile Food Units (commonly referred to as food trucks), operating within the corporate city limits of Anniston.
To read the full Short-Term Rental (STR) Ordinance, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/39PvqXs.
To read the full Mobile Food Unit (food trucks) Ordinance, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/38GBaTn
SHORT-TERM RENTALS (STR)
A Short-Term Rental or "STR" means a dwelling unit, or a part thereof, rented or offered for rent for at least one overnight stay but less than thirty (30) days per rental; such as a Vbro unit, an Airbnb, or similar short-term rental dwelling.
City Ordinance on Short-Term Rentals (STR):
No person or entity shall offer, advertise, or rent a STR without first obtaining a valid and current business license for operating their STR from the city. The STR business license shall be obtained for each STR owned or operated by any person or entity.
To obtain a STR business license, the owner or operator of a STR shall submit an application for a business license, found here: https://bit.ly/3PChQqX
Any person or entity granted a STR business license must obtain and maintain vacation rental insurance, short-term rental insurance, or an equivalent form of insurance coverage. Proof of insurance must be resubmitted each year for renewal of the STR business license.
Within one (1) calendar week of receiving a STR business license from the city, the owner or operator must deliver written notice to the owners of any properties adjoining the STR, and provide a copy of the notice to the city clerk, stating the following information:
The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the owner and operator of the STR and the emergency contact; The telephone number for the public to report violations to the city’s code enforcement; The maximum number of renters permitted to stay in each STR unit; and the maximum number of vehicles that a renter of each STR unit is permitted to park at the property.
The person or entity granted a STR business license shall charge, collect, report, and remit to the city a privilege or license tax in the amount and manner specified and required for taxes levied under chapter 30, article II, division 2, section 30.22.
Prior to operating the STR, the unit must pass a rental inspection by the city. To apply for a rental inspection, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/3sTlVNK.
For questions on our Short-Term Rental Ordinance, please contact the City of Anniston’s Building & Safety Department at: 256-231-7720.
MOBILE FOOD UNITS (FOOD TRUCKS)
City Ordinance on Mobile Food Units & Food Trucks:
There are two (2) main requirements to begin operations of a food truck (mobile food unit) in the City limits of Anniston:
(1) Business License:
Any person operating a mobile food unit shall annually obtain and maintain a business license issued by the City Finance Department prior to commencing any sales in the city. A business license application may be found here: https://bit.ly/3PChQqX
(2) Mobile food unit permit:
After obtaining a business license, any person operating a mobile food unit shall obtain an annual mobile food unit permit to be issued by the city’s fire/building code official and/or his/her designee. A separate permit shall be required for each mobile food unit. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a mobile food unit within the city without a valid and unexpired mobile food unit permit issued by the city pursuant to this article. A mobile food unit permit may be found here: https://bit.ly/3PI33L8
For questions on our Mobile Food Unit Ordinance, please contact the City of Anniston’s Fire Marshal at: 256-231-7650.
For more details on these ordinances, as well as other city ordinances, please visit: www.annistonal.gov/city-council/city-ordinance
