What are the key requirements for Jacksonville hosts?

Dual Occupancy Taxes: You must pay 3% to the City AND 3% to the County.

Are there rental limits in Jacksonville?

Property Cap: Onslow County limits owners to 1 whole-home and 1 partial-home permit.

What should Jacksonville hosts know about stays 90 days or longer?

Stays 90 days or longer are exempt from the occupancy tax.

What should Jacksonville hosts know about renting for less than 15?

Renting for less than 15 days a year is exempt from city tax if no agent is used.

Jacksonville, NC Short-Term Rental Regulation Guide

Summary

Jacksonville, NC requires short-term rental operators to obtain an Onslow County permit and register for both city and county occupancy taxes, totaling 6%.

Restriction Level

⚠️

Moderate

Score: 18 (restrictive)

Why this classification:

•Limited to 1 property per owner
•Reporting required
•No STR-specific permit required
•No night cap
•No primary residence requirement
•No STR-specific fee

In Plain English

To host a short-term rental in Jacksonville, you must get a permit from Onslow County via their online portal (GovOS). You also need to collect and pay a total of 13% in taxes (7% sales tax and 6% occupancy tax). Each owner is generally limited to one whole-home rental and one partial-home rental in the county.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

None

Primary Residence

Not Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

Processing Time

1-2 weeks

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

Regulation Details

Eligibility(6)

•Jacksonville prohibits STRs in the following property types: RV, Camper, Trailer, Boat, Bus, Manufactured Home (as accessory structure).
•Jacksonville: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
•Jacksonville allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, Apartment.

Requirements(9)

•Onslow requires STR registration. The permit is called "Short-Term Rental Permit". Apply through Onslow County Planning & Development.
•Jacksonville STR warning: Stays 90 days or longer are exempt from the occupancy tax.
•Jacksonville STR warning: Dual Occupancy Taxes: You must pay 3% to the City AND 3% to the County.

Application Process(6)

•Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Jacksonville: Step 1: Register with NCDOR - Obtain a North Carolina Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Registration from the Department of Revenue. Documents needed: SSN or EIN. Estimated time: 1 week. More info: https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/sales-and-use-tax Step 2: Apply for Onslow County STR Permit - Register your property via the Onslow County GovOS/MuniRevs portal to obtain your mandatory Short-Term Rental Permit. Documents needed: Property Deed/Proof of Ownership, Emergency Contact Info. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks. More info: https://on-onslow-nc.munirevs.com/ Step 3: Register for Jacksonville City Occupancy Tax - File the Occupancy Tax registration form with the City of Jacksonville Finance Department. Documents needed: Sales Tax ID, Property Address. Estimated time: 1 week. More info: https://jacksonvillenc.gov/861/Occupancy-Tax

Taxes(4)

•Onslow charges a County Occupancy Tax of 0.03%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.
•Jacksonville: Dual Occupancy Taxes: You must pay 3% to the City AND 3% to the County.
•North Carolina has a state sales tax of 0.07% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & Restrictions(5)

•Jacksonville enforces quiet hours: 11pm-7am (General Noise Ordinance).
•Jacksonville limits stays to a maximum of 89 nights.
•Jacksonville: Property Cap: Onslow County limits owners to 1 whole-home and 1 partial-home permit.
•Jacksonville: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.

Safety Requirements(2)

•Jacksonville requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted emergency contact, Must comply with Jacksonville Housing Code, Maintain guest register with names and addresses.
•Onslow requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.

Penalties(3)

•Jacksonville enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Warning / Citation. Second offense: $100 fine. Third offense: $500 fine. Daily fine: $50 - $100. Permit may be revoked for violations.
•Jacksonville: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
•Onslow enforces penalties: First offense: Violation notice.

Exemptions(4)

•Jacksonville: Renting for less than 15 days a year is exempt from city tax if no agent is used.
•Jacksonville: Stays 90 days or longer are exempt from the occupancy tax.
•Jacksonville: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

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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.

Jacksonville

Baseline Verification

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(9)

Application Process(6)

Taxes(4)

Limits & Restrictions(5)

Safety Requirements(2)

Penalties(3)

Exemptions(4)

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Step-by-Step Application Guide

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Jacksonville

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 Jacksonville?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Jacksonville?

3Are there rental night limits in Jacksonville?

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

Related Content

Other North Carolina Markets

Cary

Hyde County

Wilmington

Cullowhee