Occupancy Limits: Apex vs Raleigh

How many guests can stay at my Apex Airbnb?

Apex does not codify a short-term-rental-specific occupancy cap such as a 'two persons per bedroom plus two' formula. Maximum guests are governed by the underlying Apex Housing Code in Code of Ordinances Chapter 5, Article VII and the North Carolina State Building Code as applied to the dwelling: each rentable bedroom must have code-conforming egress (door or egress window meeting NC State Building Code), smoke alarms in each bedroom and on each floor, and CO detectors near sleeping areas where required. Industry-norm house rules typically cap guests at two per bedroom; this is reasonable practice even though it is not codified. Confirm any HOA covenant occupancy rules separately.

Does Apex inspect short-term rentals before guests stay?

Not as a routine matter, because Apex does not have an STR-specific permit program that would require pre-listing inspection. North Carolina G.S. 160D-1207(c) preempts Apex from requiring rental permits or registration except for chronic-violator properties (4+ verified Article 11/12 violations in 12 months or 2+ in 30 days). The Apex Inspections Department can respond to complaints under the Apex Housing Code (Code Chapter 5, Article VII) and the NC State Building Code, and can require corrective action; repeated verified violations pull the property into the 160D-1207(c) chronic-violator registration pathway with a $500/year fee cap.

What life-safety equipment does an Apex STR need?

Even without an STR-specific permit program, the North Carolina State Building Code applies: smoke alarms must be installed in each bedroom and on each floor; carbon monoxide detectors must be placed near sleeping areas in dwellings with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages; each bedroom must have a code-conforming egress (a door to the exterior or an egress window meeting size and sill-height standards); fire extinguishers are strongly recommended even where not strictly required for the dwelling type. The Apex Inspections Department enforces these standards by complaint and inspection. Operators should test and document the equipment before each guest stay.

Can I list a finished basement room as a bedroom on Airbnb?

Only if it has a code-compliant emergency egress window and meets the other minimum dimensions of 70 square feet and adequate ceiling height. Otherwise it does not count as a bedroom for occupancy purposes, even if you put a bed in it.

Are daytime-only guests counted?

Daytime visitors are not counted toward the overnight cap but are controlled indirectly through the parking rules and the city's special-event permitting. Many hosts simply prohibit parties in their house rules to avoid complaint-driven enforcement.

Can a 5-bedroom Brier Creek home host 15 guests?

Under the typical 2-plus-2 formula, 12 guests is the default limit (5 bedrooms x 2 = 10, plus 2 for the living area). Fifteen guests would usually require an explicit higher cap in the zoning permit and demonstration of adequate parking and sewer capacity.