Birmingham vs Smith Lake Desks: Use This Hall, Not the Neighbor

Call PEP at 205-254-2211. Confirm the driveway before you advertise. Smith Lake is another hall. Typical Birmingham listings earned about $19,569 last year from 1,080 active rentals, AirROI trailing twelve months from August 2025 through July 2026. The average night was $210. Occupancy was 36.0 percent. Revenue per available night was $76. Year over year is minus 8.3 percent. Active supply moved plus 41.2 percent.

Call Birmingham Planning, Engineering and Permits at 205-254-2211. 710 North 20th Street, Room 207. A dedicated 2026 STR permit dollar amount was not confirmed as a passed fee. A draft ordinance, including a proposed citywide cap near 1,000 listings, was still moving through committee as of 2026.

The three strongest city months are October, April, and March. October is the busiest. January is the slowest. Most guests arrive from Birmingham, then Atlanta. Stay is 4.6 nights, booked about 37 days ahead. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole.

PEP Sits at 710 North 20th Street

Call Birmingham Planning, Engineering and Permits at 205-254-2211. 710 North 20th Street, Room 207. A dedicated 2026 STR permit dollar amount was not confirmed as a passed fee. A draft ordinance, including a proposed citywide cap near 1,000 listings, was still moving through committee as of 2026. Smith Lake is another hall. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Market a Birmingham Stay is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed.

Hall Phone Is 205-254-2211

Call Birmingham Planning, Engineering and Permits at 205-254-2211. 710 North 20th Street, Room 207. A dedicated 2026 STR permit dollar amount was not confirmed as a passed fee. A draft ordinance, including a proposed citywide cap near 1,000 listings, was still moving through committee as of 2026. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. Birmingham STR Rules is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line.

A Draft Ordinance Is Not a Passed Fee

October, April, and March are the strong city months. January is the slowest. Occupancy is weakest in July. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Who Books Birmingham is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee.

Smith Lake Hall Is Another Desk

Stay is 4.6 nights. Lead is 37 days. Origin is Birmingham, then Atlanta. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Buying a Birmingham Rental is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside.

Call the Neighbor Desk Only If the Map Names It

Professionally managed share is 30.6 percent. Kathleen holds 84. Superhost share is 56.3 percent. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Birmingham Tourism Data is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside.

A Listing Scrape Is Not a Permit Shop

344 listings, 31.9 percent, set a 30-night minimum. That setting is not occupancy. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. Smith Lake is not Southside. Complete Visitor's Guide to Birmingham on Railro is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside.

Confirm You Are Inside Birmingham

Keep Smith Lake, Wedowee, Guntersville, and Mentone on their own lines. Do not invent a lake AirROI year. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. We market. We do not take the lock. What It Costs to Start a Legal Birmingham STR St is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay.

What to Bring to the Desk

We market. We do not take the lock. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. A listing scrape is not the town file. Financing a Birmingham Rental Without a Smith La is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside. We market. We do not take the lock. A listing scrape is not the town file. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee. Smith Lake is not Southside.

Hosts who underwrite Greater Birmingham should keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings, call 205-254-2211, and leave each lake on its own line. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the lake the guest typed. Keep $19,569 on 1,080 city listings on its own line. October is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 205-254-2211 before you advertise a Birmingham stay. Do not invent a passed STR permit fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Smith Lake the same permitting desk as Birmingham?

No, they're entirely separate halls. Birmingham short-term rentals go through Planning, Engineering and Permits at 205-254-2211, 710 North 20th Street, Room 207, while a Smith Lake property falls under its own county or municipal permitting process. Confirm which desk actually covers your parcel before you advertise — don't assume city rules apply to a lake driveway or vice versa.

What did a typical Birmingham listing earn last year, and does that apply to Smith Lake?

Birmingham's trailing-twelve-month figure (August 2025–July 2026) is about $19,569 across 1,080 active rentals, with a $210 average nightly rate and 36.0 percent occupancy. That number is specific to the city; this research pass didn't produce a matching AirROI year for Smith Lake, so there's no lake figure to blend it with. Keep the two on separate lines in any pricing conversation.

Is Birmingham's proposed STR cap already in effect?

Not as of this research pass. A draft ordinance including a proposed citywide cap near 1,000 listings was still moving through committee, and no dedicated permit fee had been confirmed as passed. Call 205-254-2211 to get the current status before you advertise, rather than assuming a draft becomes policy.

How do Birmingham and Smith Lake seasons differ?

Birmingham's strongest months are October, April, and March, with January the slowest and July the weakest for occupancy — a pattern tied to the city's cultural calendar and UAB. Smith Lake runs on its own calendar, driven by lake recreation rather than downtown attractions, so a host shouldn't apply Birmingham's seasonal curve to a lake listing.

Who books a Birmingham stay versus a lake stay?

Birmingham guests mostly come from within the city itself, then Atlanta, staying an average of 4.6 nights booked about 37 days out, drawn by UAB and the Civil Rights Institute. A Memorial Day lake weekend is a different product entirely, aimed at a dock-and-boat-access guest rather than a downtown visitor. Write your listing copy for the guest you're actually trying to reach.

Does a 30-night minimum on some Birmingham listings mean the market runs full?

No. About 344 of Birmingham's 1,080 active listings — 31.9 percent — have set a 30-night minimum stay, which is a host setting, not an occupancy figure. Citywide occupancy is still 36.0 percent and average stay is 4.6 nights. Don't mistake a minimum-stay policy for proof of strong booking pace, in Birmingham or on the lake.

Should I hire the same property manager for a Birmingham unit and a lake unit?

Probably not the same pitch. Professionally managed listings make up 30.6 percent of the Birmingham market, with Superhost share at 56.3 percent, while the lake ring in this research still runs heavily independent. Evaluate management proposals against the actual mix in each specific market rather than a single blended regional pitch.

Are Wedowee, Guntersville, and Mentone interchangeable with Smith Lake for pricing purposes?

No — each of those lake markets, including Smith Lake, should be kept on its own line, and this research pass didn't mint a shared AirROI figure across them. A listing scrape that groups them together isn't the same as confirming each town's or county's actual permitting file. Verify the specific desk for your parcel rather than relying on a grouped estimate.

What should I confirm before advertising a Birmingham driveway versus a lake driveway?

For Birmingham, call Planning, Engineering and Permits at 205-254-2211 and confirm whether any proposed fee has actually passed. For a lake property, identify and call the specific county or municipal desk that covers that parcel — it will not be the same office. Confirming the correct hall before you list protects you from advertising under the wrong jurisdiction's rules.

What numbers go in a comparison packet for Birmingham versus Smith Lake?

Cite Birmingham's $19,569 revenue on 1,080 listings, 41.2 percent supply growth, and 8.3 percent revenue decline year-over-year, sourced to the current AirROI extract. For Smith Lake, note that no matching AirROI year exists in this research pass rather than inventing one. A packet that's honest about what data does and doesn't exist for each market holds up better than one that blends two halls into a single number.

Related Reading

More PLACE, STATE reading already live on Crest & Cove.

• Birmingham STR Rules: Confirm Town Hall Before You List

• Market a Birmingham Stay: Photograph UAB and Railroad Park

• Who Books Birmingham: UAB Weeks, Heritage Walks, Not Docks

Work with Crest & Cove Creative

Send the address if the tile says Smith Lake and the parcel is Birmingham.

Call the desk the driveway actually has — a town listing is not a lake permit.

Reach out at crestcove.co or (256) 998-7502.