Charlotte, NC Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

Charlotte's UDO does not prescribe a specific guest count ceiling for short-term rentals. Instead, occupancy is controlled through building code and fire code constraints. Under the NC Residential Code (based on IRC), each bedroom must have a minimum 70 sq ft of floor area for one occupant and 50 sq ft per additional occupant, plus an egress window or door.

The industry-standard formula adopted by most Charlotte STR operators and endorsed by platforms is 2+2: two guests per bedroom plus two additional guests (e.g., a 3-bedroom home sleeps 8). This aligns with fire code egress calculations and septic system loading assumptions. For properties on septic (rare within Charlotte proper but common in outer Mecklenburg County), the Mecklenburg County Environmental Health division caps daily occupancy based on the septic permit's design flow.

Transient vs. long-term distinction: NC Gen Stat §42-14.3 defines a rental of less than 90 consecutive days as a transient rental, which subjects the property to fire code commercial standards rather than residential. Most Charlotte STRs fall under the NC Vacation Rental Act (§42A) for stays under 90 days.