Short-Term Rental Regulations
in McDowell County, NC

Airbnb listings are allowed in McDowell County, NC, but with restrictions. McDowell County’s Zoning Ordinance defines 'boarding house' to include 'tourist home' and lists 'boarding houses and tourist homes' as a conditional use (allowed only where authorized as a conditional use, e.g., 0-I Office & Institutional district). Operators must follow the county conditional-use/compliance-permit process (site/development plan, public notice/hearing); inspections and compliance with county health/watershed rules apply. 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.

McDowell County’s Zoning Ordinance defines 'boarding house' to include 'tourist home' and lists 'boarding houses and tourist homes' as a conditional use (allowed only where authorized as a conditional use, e.g., 0-I Office & Institutional district). Operators must follow the county conditional-use/compliance-permit process (site/development plan, public notice/hearing); inspections and compliance with county health/watershed rules apply.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in McDowell County. 1) Submit a written application for a conditional use permit to the Planning Administrator and attend the required pre-application conference; 2) Provide the required site/development plan and supporting documents (see Section 1304) and the county will provide public notice and schedule a Board of Adjustment hearing; 3) If approved, comply with any conditions, obtain required building permits/certificate of occupancy within 12 months (or approval may expire), and expect periodic and final inspections by the Planning Administrator.

1) Submit a written application for a conditional use permit to the Planning Administrator and attend the required pre-application conference; 2) Provide the required site/development plan and supporting documents (see Section 1304) and the county will provide public notice and schedule a Board of Adjustment hearing; 3) If approved, comply with any conditions, obtain required building permits/certificate of occupancy within 12 months (or approval may expire), and expect periodic and final inspections by the Planning Administrator.

Vrbo is permitted in McDowell County, 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 McDowell County 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 McDowell County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.