Charleston, WV Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Charleston, WV, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- License required
- Yes, no fee charged
- Covers short-term stays
- Rentals "by day" included
- Fine for noncompliance
- $500+ per unit, per month
- Issued by
- City Collector's office
Summary
Charleston requires a free residential rental license for any rental unit leased "by day, week, month, year, or any other term": a definition that pulls Airbnb-style short-term rentals into the same rule as long-term leases.
On July 1, 2010 and thereafter, it shall be unlawful for any owner to lease or rent, or hold out for rent or lease by advertisement or otherwise, a rental unit located within the city without possession of a valid residential rental license for that rental unit, authorized by the city and complying with all provisions of this article. The residential rental license requirement provided for in this article shall be in addition to any general business license required in this article but no fee shall be charged for a residential rental license.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).
Full Breakdown
Charleston's residential rental ordinance (Sec. 18-1170 et seq.) requires anyone leasing out a unit to hold a residential rental license from the city collector before advertising or renting it. The Sec. 18-1172 definition of "rental unit" explicitly covers units rented "by day, week, month, year, or any other term," so day-to-day Airbnb-style stays fall under the requirement. The only carve-out is "transient occupancy in a hotel, motel, inn, bed and breakfast, or other similar lodging facility" (Sec. 18-1171): a licensed lodging business, not a private homeowner renting out a house or room. The license is free but the application discloses the unit address, owner and local-agent contact info, and maximum tenant count.
Violations & Fines
Renting without the license draws a fine of at least $500 per rental unit, with each month of continued noncompliance counted as a separate violation; cases are heard in Charleston Municipal Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Charleston require a license for Airbnb rentals?
What happens if I rent short-term without registering?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston
How Charleston compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Charleston to another location·View the West Virginia short-term rentals overview
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