Short-Term Rentals in Buncombe County, NC (2026)

Permit Requirements

Short-term rental rules in Buncombe County depend on whether the property sits inside Asheville city limits or in unincorporated Buncombe County, and the two regimes differ sharply. Asheville prohibits whole-house overnight rentals (rentals of an entire dwelling unit for less than 30 days) in all residential zoning districts under the Unified Development Ordinance; STRs of an entire dwelling unit are only allowed in resort and certain commercial districts and require a change-of-use permit. Whole-dwelling STRs that were lawfully operating before the city's 2018 ban may continue under nonconforming-use status but must hold an annual city permit. Asheville does allow Homestays (rental of one to two bedrooms in an owner-occupied dwelling, with the full-time resident present during guest stays) in residentially zoned areas, subject to a Homestay Permit and an annual renewal. The application requires proof of full-time residency, a floor-plan sketch, a fire-safety inspection, and the published Homestay permit fee. In unincorporated Buncombe County, STRs are currently allowed in most areas (with a heated-area cap reported at 9,000 square feet and a small no-STR zone near Asheville Regional Airport). A Planning Board text amendment to tighten unincorporated rules - limiting new STRs to certain districts, adding parking, GFA, and management standards, and grandfathering existing STRs through a zoning permit - was advanced in 2024 but has not been formally adopted; the Short-Term Rental Ad Hoc Committee's work is on hold as of late 2025 while the county prioritizes Hurricane Helene recovery. Operators must collect and remit the Buncombe County 6% Occupancy Tax, plus the North Carolina state and local sales tax, on all rentals under 90 continuous days.