Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Winston-Salem, NC

Airbnb listings are allowed in Winston-Salem, NC, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals are not separately defined in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County UDO; however, 'Bed and Breakfast' uses are restricted to owner- or manager-occupied buildings for no more than eight transient patrons, with mandatory owner-occupancy in RS zoning districts. All short-term lodging is subject to a 6% Forsyth County occupancy/tourism tax. 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 not separately defined in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County UDO; however, 'Bed and Breakfast' uses are restricted to owner- or manager-occupied buildings for no more than eight transient patrons, with mandatory owner-occupancy in RS zoning districts. All short-term lodging is subject to a 6% Forsyth County occupancy/tourism tax.

No permit is currently required to operate a short-term rental in Winston-Salem.

Vrbo is permitted in Winston-Salem, NC under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.