Short-Term Rental Regulations
in McDowell County, WV

Airbnbs are effectively legal in McDowell County, WV because there are no specific short-term rental regulations on the books. No municipal or county short-term rental (STR) ordinance or permitting program was found; however, the City of Welch requires a general business license. At the state level, rentals of less than 30 consecutive days are treated as taxable activity requiring state business registration and the collection of sales and hotel occupancy taxes. Operators should still verify HOA rules, state-level requirements, and any tax-collection obligations. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

No municipal or county short-term rental (STR) ordinance or permitting program was found; however, the City of Welch requires a general business license. At the state level, rentals of less than 30 consecutive days are treated as taxable activity requiring state business registration and the collection of sales and hotel occupancy taxes.

No permit is currently required to operate a short-term rental in McDowell County.

Vrbo is effectively legal in McDowell County, WV for the same reason Airbnb is: there are no short-term-rental-specific regulations on the books. Operators should still check HOA, state, and tax obligations before listing. 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.