Short-Term Rentals in Asheville, NC (2026)

6 verified short-term rentals rules for Asheville, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Short-Term Rental Permits

Asheville requires a homestay permit before anyone rents a spare room or accessory unit inside a dwelling for stays under a month. The planning and development director reviews the application under Sec. 7-16-1(c)(9)c and must approve or deny it within ten working days, the permit is reviewed annually and inspected for compliance, and only one homestay is allowed per lot with one permit per person, household, or entity.

Asheville Homestay Permit Requirement

Some Restrictions

Asheville UDO Sec. 7-16-1(c)(9)c, i, j

c. A permit is required for a homestay and the homestay must be reviewed annually and inspected for compliance with this subsection. ... i. Only one homestay shall be permitted per lot/parcel. j. Homestay permits shall be limited to one per person, immediate household, LLC, corporation, trust or other legal entity. A person's immediate household shall include a spouse, children, or any ot...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Homestay and short-term vacation rental owners in Asheville must pay occupancy and sales taxes on their rental income. Sec. 7-16-1(c)(9)o requires homestay operators to pay "any applicable taxes, including occupancy and sales taxes, to the appropriate governmental entity," and Sec. 7-16-1(c)(64.1)i sets the identical obligation for short-term vacation rentals.

Asheville Short-Term Rental Tax Duty

Some Restrictions

Asheville UDO Sec. 7-16-1(c)(9)o; Sec. 7-16-1(c)(64.1)i

o. The homestay owner or operator must pay any applicable taxes, including occupancy and sales taxes, to the appropriate governmental entity. ... i. The short-term vacation rental owner or operator must pay any applicable taxes, including occupancy and sales taxes, to the appropriate governmental entity.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Short-term vacation rentals in Asheville must provide off-street parking under Sec. 7-16-1(c)(64.1)d, which applies the general parking, loading, and access standards of Sec. 7-11-2. Homestays are treated differently: Sec. 7-16-1(c)(9)h expressly says no additional off-street parking is required for a homestay, only for the unhosted rental category.

Asheville Short-Term Rental Parking Rule

Some Restrictions

Asheville UDO Sec. 7-16-1(c)(64.1)d; Sec. 7-16-1(c)(9)h

(64.1) Short-term vacation rental. ... d. Off-street parking shall be required per Sec. 7-11-2. ... (9)h. No additional off-street parking is required for a homestay.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Insurance Requirements

Every homestay and short-term vacation rental in Asheville must carry liability insurance covering the rental use itself and the guests staying there. Sec. 7-16-1(c)(9)n imposes the requirement on homestay owners and operators, and the parallel Sec. 7-16-1(c)(64.1)h applies the identical standard to unhosted short-term vacation rentals citywide.

Asheville Short-Term Rental Insurance Rule

Some Restrictions

Asheville UDO Sec. 7-16-1(c)(9)n; Sec. 7-16-1(c)(64.1)h

n. The homestay owner or operator shall maintain liability insurance on the property, which covers the homestay use and homestay guests. ... h. The short-term vacation rental owner or operator shall maintain liability insurance on the property, which covers the short-term vacation rental use and guests.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

Asheville homestays must be run in person: Sec. 7-16-1(c)(9)d requires the permitted full-time resident to be on the property overnight for the entire time paying lodgers are staying there. A resident can step out for normal errands like work, shopping, or class, but cannot rent the room and leave town on vacation or a trip while guests occupy it.

Asheville Homestay Host Presence Rule

Some Restrictions

Asheville UDO Sec. 7-16-1(c)(9)d

d. The homestay operation shall be managed and carried on by a person who is: 1) 18 years or older, 2) a full-time resident of the dwelling unit; and 3) present during the homestay term for the entire time lodgers are staying at the property. ... In order to be "present during the homestay term," the full time resident shall be at the property overnight and not away on vacation, visiting frie...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Asheville homestays can only be run from the operator's single primary home. Sec. 7-16-1(c)(9)d states a person can have only one primary, full-time residence, and the homestay must be operated from it. Applicants must affirm this under oath and back it with proof-of-residency documents, closing off using a second house or investment property as a homestay.

Asheville Homestay Primary Residence Rule

Some Restrictions

Asheville UDO Sec. 7-16-1(c)(9)d, e

d. ... To be a "full time resident," the person must reside on the property on a permanent basis, and it must be the person's primary home. For purposes of this homestay ordinance, a person can only have one primary, full time residence, and the homestay must be operated from that primary, full time residence. e. Applicants must definitively affirm that they live at the property from which ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Looking for Buncombe County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Asheville city rules.

Short-Term Rentals in Buncombe County →