Fayetteville, NC Accessory Structures: ADU Rental Restrictions (2026)

Fayetteville's UDO Chapter 30 addresses short-term rental (transient lodging) as a use category. Short-term rentals (under 30 days) generally require zoning verification or special use permit depending on district, plus remittance of Cumberland County Room Occupancy Tax (6 percent) and NC State sales tax (7 percent combined in Cumberland County). The ADU owner-occupancy rule combined with STR registration effectively limits hosted STRs - non-hosted whole-home STR of an ADU conflicts with the ADU owner-occupancy mandate. Fayetteville does not operate a citywide proactive rental-registration and inspection program at the level seen in larger NC cities; NCGS 160D-1207(c) limits municipal rental inspection programs to targeted, non-discriminatory enforcement based on documented problems. Long-term tenancies are governed by NCGS Chapter 42 (Landlord and Tenant): security deposit caps under NCGS 42-51 (two months' rent for terms over one year, 1.5 months for shorter); summary ejectment in small claims under NCGS 42-26. NC law does not have rent control authorization - NCGS 42-14.2 effectively preempts municipal rent control. Pre-1978 properties (many Haymount, Downtown, and Massey Hill homes) require federal lead-safe disclosures under 40 CFR Part 745. Fort Liberty deployment cycles drive a robust long-term rental market in surrounding neighborhoods.