Charlotte, NC

Charlotte, NC appears to have a relatively permissive approach to short-term rentals. The city operates a voluntary (not mandatory) Residential Rental Property Registration program through the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department at no cost, which allows owners to receive alerts about calls for service at their properties. Multiple secondary sources indicate that Charlotte removed STR-specific provisions from its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) in April 2022, treating short-term rentals as standard residential uses governed by general zoning and building codes rather than a separate STR licensing framework. However, we could not independently verify these claims in the UDO text itself. Hosts must still comply with North Carolina state sales tax, Mecklenburg County room occupancy tax (approximately 8%), and general building, housing, and fire safety codes. Individual rezoning petitions may include site-specific STR restrictions (such as owner-occupancy requirements) as conditions.

Licensing and Permits

Charlotte requires hosts to obtain an STR license or permit before listing their property on platforms like Airbnb or VRBO. An inspection is required as part of the permitting process.

Enforcement

Charlotte has high enforcement of STR regulations. Operating without proper licensing or failing to comply with local regulations can result in citations, fines, and potential loss of your permit.

Compiled from 6 official government sources and continuously monitored for changes. Always verify current requirements with your local municipality before making investment or operational decisions.