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Winston-Salem, NC Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Short-term rental permit rules in Winston-Salem, NC, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.

Key Facts

State Preemption
NCGS 160D-1207
Registration
Cannot be required by city
Zoning
Restricted by district
Fire Code
Smoke and CO detectors required
Platforms
Airbnb, Vrbo active

Summary

Winston-Salem regulates short-term rentals through its Unified Development Ordinances. NCGS 160D-1207 restricts cities from requiring rental registration as a condition of operating, but Winston-Salem still applies zoning review, fire code, and building code requirements to STR operators. Platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo operate in the city.

In no event may a local government do any of the following: (i) adopt or enforce any ordinance that would require any owner or manager of rental property to obtain any permit or permission under Article 11 or Article 12 of this Chapter from the local government to lease or rent residential real property or to register rental property with the local government, except for those individual properties that have more than four verified violations in a rolling 12-month period or two or more verified violations in a rolling 30-day period, or upon the property being identified within the top ten percent (10%) of properties with crime or disorder problems as set forth in a local ordinance, (ii) require that an owner or manager of residential rental property enroll or participate in any governmental program as a condition of obtaining a certificate of occupancy [...] For purposes of this section, the term "verified violation" means all of the following: (1) The aggregate of all violations of housing ordinances or codes found in an individual rental unit of residential real property during a 72-hour period. (2) Any violations that have not been corrected by the owner or manager within 21 days of receipt of written notice from the local government of the violations.

Full Breakdown

Under NCGS 160D-1207 passed in 2017, North Carolina cities cannot require general rental registration or periodic inspections as a condition of renting residential property. This effectively preempts local STR registration programs that some cities attempted to enact. Winston-Salem still regulates STRs through zoning: short-term lodging is permitted in certain zoning districts as a tourist home, bed and breakfast, or similar accessory use, and is prohibited as a primary commercial use in low-density residential districts. Operators must comply with the NC Residential Code, fire code including working smoke and CO detectors, and any applicable HOA rules. A zoning verification letter from City-County Planning is recommended before listing.

Violations & Fines

Operating in a zoning district that does not permit short-term lodging can trigger stop-use orders and civil penalties under UDO enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Winston-Salem require an STR permit?
No registration program is permitted under state law, but zoning compliance is still required.
Can my neighborhood ban STRs?
HOAs can restrict STRs through CCRs but cities face state preemption limits.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Winston-Salem

All Winston-Salem rules

How Winston-Salem compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Winston-Salem to another location·View the North Carolina short-term rentals overview

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