13 verified short-term rentals rules for Raleigh, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Short-term rentals (30 days or less) require a zoning permit from the City of Raleigh, renewed annually. Permitted as a Limited Use in R-1, R-2, R-4, R-6, R-10, RX, OX, NX, CX, and DX zoning districts. The zoning permit number must be posted on all advertisements and on the property.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-1207
§ 160D-1207. Periodic inspections. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the inspection department may make periodic inspections only when there is reasonable cause to believe that unsafe, unsanitary, or otherwise hazardous or unlawful conditions may exist in a residential building or structure. [...] (c) In no event may a local government do any of the following: (i) adopt ...
Raleigh STRs must comply with the general noise ordinance. NC cities commonly impose additional noise conditions on STR permits.
Raleigh short-term rentals (rentals under 30 days) must collect and remit North Carolina state sales tax of 4.75 percent, Wake County sales tax of 2.5 percent, and Wake County Room Occupancy Tax of 6 percent, for a combined tax of about 13.25 percent. Raleigh also charges a one-time STR zoning permit fee through Development Services. Airbnb and Vrbo collect most of these taxes automatically through voluntary collection agreements with NC DOR and Wake County, but hosts on direct-booking platforms are responsible for registering, collecting, and remitting taxes themselves on a monthly basis.
Raleigh's short-term rental zoning permit requires adequate off-street parking for all guests. Most residential zones require at least one off-street space per bedroom or sleeping room, with overflow not permitted to block sidewalks or create congestion in residential streets. On-street parking in Inside-the-Beltline neighborhoods such as Oakwood, Mordecai, Boylan Heights, and parts of Five Points is often restricted to permit-holders under the Raleigh Residential Parking Permit program, and those permits cannot be used by STR guests. HOAs and downtown condo associations frequently impose additional parking restrictions.
Raleigh sets short-term rental occupancy through the Unified Development Ordinance together with the North Carolina State Building Code. The common standard is two adult guests per qualifying bedroom plus two additional, not to exceed roughly 10 to 12 total overnight occupants in typical single-family homes. Bedrooms must meet NC Building Code requirements including minimum floor area, emergency egress window, and ceiling height. Infants in cribs are generally excluded from the count. HOAs and condo associations frequently impose stricter occupancy limits than the city.
Raleigh does not require short-term rental hosts to carry a specific insurance policy, but the STR zoning permit application reminds hosts that standard homeowner policies typically exclude commercial rental activity and may be non-renewed if the insurer later discovers undisclosed hosting. Most Raleigh hosts rely on a short-term rental endorsement added to their homeowner policy, a dedicated commercial STR policy with around 1 million dollars of liability coverage, or platform protection such as Airbnb AirCover for Hosts and Vrbo Liability Insurance. HOAs and condo associations in downtown Raleigh frequently require additional insured certificates naming the association, often with minimum liability limits of 1 to 2 million dollars.
Raleigh does not impose a hard cap on the number of nights per year a short-term rental can be rented. Whole-home rentals are treated as a regulated use under the Unified Development Ordinance but can operate year-round with a valid zoning permit. Raleigh distinguishes between hosted (owner-present) and unhosted (owner-absent) STRs, with somewhat stricter buffer rules for unhosted. Many HOA communities and downtown condo buildings impose minimum-stay requirements of 30, 90, or 180 days under NC General Statute Chapter 47F, which effectively bans nightly rentals.
Short-term rentals in Raleigh (rentals under 30 days) require a zoning permit from the City of Raleigh Development Services under the Unified Development Ordinance. Hosts submit a site plan, parking details, bedroom count, and owner and 24/7 responsible-party contact information, and pay a one-time permit fee. The permit runs with the property and does not require annual renewal, but can be revoked for repeated ordinance violations. Airbnb and Vrbo typically display the Raleigh permit number in the listing. Operating without a permit can result in civil penalties and ultimately a cease-and-desist order.
Raleigh does not require the host to live on-site or be present during a short-term rental stay. Whole-house rentals are permitted, subject to the city's STR overlay rules and zoning district where the dwelling sits.
Raleigh does not restrict short-term rentals to a host's primary residence. Investors may operate STRs in dwellings where they do not live, provided the zoning district permits the use and the operator holds a valid zoning permit issued by the planning department.
Raleigh enforces STR rules through escalating civil penalties under City Code Ch. 12, with daily fines accruing for continuing violations. Repeat noncompliance can lead to permit revocation and referral to the city attorney for injunctive relief.
North Carolina law and the Schroeder ruling sharply limit Raleigh's ability to impose direct liability on Airbnb, VRBO, or similar platforms. Enforcement obligations rest on the host, not the booking platform, though Wake County collects occupancy tax through some platform agreements.
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Raleigh city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Wake County →