What should Hatteras hosts know about north carolina defines short-term rentals?

North Carolina defines short-term rentals as stays under 90 days, which is much longer than the standard 30-day definition.

What should Hatteras hosts know about a written rental agreement is?

A written rental agreement is legally mandatory for all bookings under state law.

What violations should Hatteras hosts avoid?

Property occupancy is strictly capped by septic system capacity; exceeding this is a health violation.

What are the key requirements for Hatteras hosts?

You must file monthly occupancy tax reports to Dare County even if you have zero bookings for that month.

Hatteras

Permissive

STRs Allowed

North CarolinaLast updated: February 10, 2026

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Verified: Feb 9, 2026

Summary

Short-term rentals in Hatteras are governed by the North Carolina Vacation Rental Act and Dare County tax regulations, with no specific local permit required.

Restriction Level

✅

Permissive

Score: 3 (restrictive)

Why this classification:

•Reporting required
•No STR-specific permit required
•No night cap
•No primary residence requirement
•No STR-specific fee
•Tenants can host

In Plain English

You do not need a special short-term rental permit to host in Hatteras, but you must register for state and county taxes. All rentals for fewer than 90 days must have a written rental agreement as required by state law. You should also ensure your property's occupancy does not exceed its septic system capacity.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Night Limit

None

Primary Residence

Not Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

Processing Time

1-2 weeks

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

1.North Carolina defines short-term rentals as stays under 90 days, which is much longer than the standard 30-day definition.
2.A written rental agreement is legally mandatory for all bookings under state law.
3.Property occupancy is strictly capped by septic system capacity; exceeding this is a health violation.
4.You must file monthly occupancy tax reports to Dare County even if you have zero bookings for that month.

Regulation Details

Eligibility(6)

•Hatteras allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, Cottage, Duplex.
•Hatteras prohibits STRs in the following property types: Cluster Housing (long-term only).
•Hatteras: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements(10)

•Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Hatteras: 1. North Carolina defines short-term rentals as stays under 90 days, which is much longer than the standard 30-day definition. 2. A written rental agreement is legally mandatory for all bookings under state law. 3. Property occupancy is strictly capped by septic system capacity; exceeding this is a health violation. 4. You must file monthly occupancy tax reports to Dare County even if you have zero bookings for that month.

Application Process(6)

•Hatteras STR permit - Step 1: Register with NC Department of Revenue. Obtain a Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Registration for the collection of the 4.75% state and 2% local sales tax. Required documents: SSN or FEIN, Business Name. Time: 1 week.

Taxes(3)

•Hatteras charges a Dare County Occupancy Tax of 0.06%. This applies to stays under 90 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and Vrbo generally collect and remit the 6% occupancy tax; however, owners must still file monthly reports even if zero tax is due.
•North Carolina has a state sales tax of 0.0675% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & Restrictions(5)

•Hatteras limits STRs to a maximum of 12 guests. Formula: Limited by septic capacity; typically 2 persons per bedroom.
•Hatteras limits stays to a maximum of 89 nights.
•Hatteras occupancy calculation: Limited by septic capacity; typically 2 persons per bedroom.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety Requirements(1)

•Hatteras requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Written rental agreement required for every stay, Functional locks on all doors, Safe and habitable premises.

Penalties(2)

•Hatteras: North Carolina defines short-term rentals as stays under 90 days, which is much longer than the standard 30-day definition.
•Hatteras enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Interest and penalties for late tax filing. Second offense: 10% of tax due per month of delinquency. Third offense: Lien against property.

Exemptions(2)

•Hatteras: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
•Hatteras exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Properties rented for fewer than 15 days in a calendar year.

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Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Other North Carolina Markets

Cary

North Carolina

Permissive

Cary does not have a dedicated short-term rental ordinance and does not require a specific STR permit or city-level registration. Hosts must comply with general town ordinances regarding noise, parking, and minimum housing standards. A 6% Room Occupancy Tax is collected by Wake County, which is typically handled automatically by major platforms like Airbnb.

0.1% total tax

Hyde County

North Carolina

Permissive

Hyde County does not currently have a dedicated short-term rental ordinance or registration requirement for unincorporated areas, including Ocracoke Island. However, all hosts are required to remit a 5% Occupancy Tax to the county finance department on a monthly basis.

0.1% total tax

Wilmington

North Carolina

Permissive

Following a 2022 North Carolina Court of Appeals ruling, Wilmington no longer requires short-term rental registration or limits the number/density of rentals. Hosts must still comply with zoning standards, parking requirements, and collect a total of 13% in taxes (6% Room Occupancy Tax + 7% State Sales Tax).

0.1% total tax

Cullowhee

North Carolina

Moderate

Short-term rentals in Cullowhee are permitted and regulated by Jackson County, primarily requiring registration for occupancy tax collection.

Permit required

0.1% total tax

Hatteras

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Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

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Regulation Details

Eligibility(6)

Requirements(10)

Application Process(6)

Taxes(3)

Limits & Restrictions(5)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(2)

Exemptions(2)

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Step-by-Step Application Guide

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Frequently Asked Questions

Related Content

Other North Carolina Markets

Cary

Hyde County

Wilmington

Cullowhee

Hatteras

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Frequently Asked Questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Hatteras?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Hatteras?

3Are there rental night limits in Hatteras?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Hatteras?

Related Content

Other North Carolina Markets

Cary

Hyde County

Wilmington

Cullowhee