Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Wake County, NC

Airbnb listings are allowed in Wake County, NC, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals are an allowable use in unincorporated Wake County but are restricted by an on-site/operator (owner-occupancy) requirement under current UDO language; county staff proposed amending the UDO to remove the owner-occupancy requirement and adjust stay limits. Other applicable standards are regulated in the Wake County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and may include use- and zoning-related constraints. 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.

Short-term rentals are an allowable use in unincorporated Wake County but are restricted by an on-site/operator (owner-occupancy) requirement under current UDO language; county staff proposed amending the UDO to remove the owner-occupancy requirement and adjust stay limits. Other applicable standards are regulated in the Wake County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and may include use- and zoning-related constraints.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Wake County. 1) Confirm applicability under the Wake County Unified Development Ordinance (review UDO text for Bed & Breakfast / Homestay / Short-Term Rental standards). 2) File the required zoning/permit application through the Wake County Permit Portal and provide documentation required by the UDO. 3) Pay applicable permit fees as required by the Permit Portal; if a special-use or public hearing is required, follow the UDO’s public notice/hearing process.

1) Confirm applicability under the Wake County Unified Development Ordinance (review UDO text for Bed & Breakfast / Homestay / Short-Term Rental standards). 2) File the required zoning/permit application through the Wake County Permit Portal and provide documentation required by the UDO. 3) Pay applicable permit fees as required by the Permit Portal; if a special-use or public hearing is required, follow the UDO’s public notice/hearing process.

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