Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Highlands, NC

Airbnb listings are allowed in Highlands, NC, but with restrictions. STRs are permitted only in R-3 and Business districts (B-1 through B-4) and are prohibited in R-1 and R-2. Occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons (capped at 12 for public wastewater), and operators must include a Town-provided addendum in all rental contracts and post local contact information inside the unit. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

STRs are permitted only in R-3 and Business districts (B-1 through B-4) and are prohibited in R-1 and R-2. Occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons (capped at 12 for public wastewater), and operators must include a Town-provided addendum in all rental contracts and post local contact information inside the unit.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Highlands. 1) Register and apply through the Town's GovOS (MuniRevs) portal. 2) Pay the $200 annual license fee and display the issued license and emergency info in the unit. 3) Remit the 10% lodging tax monthly by the 20th of the following month.

1) Register and apply through the Town's GovOS (MuniRevs) portal. 2) Pay the $200 annual license fee and display the issued license and emergency info in the unit. 3) Remit the 10% lodging tax monthly by the 20th of the following month.

Vrbo is permitted in Highlands, NC under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Highlands are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Highlands. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.