What should Beaufort hosts know about north carolina law (wilmington ruling)?

North Carolina law (Wilmington ruling) prevents the town from requiring an STR permit or registration number.

What are the key requirements for Beaufort hosts?

The 6% County Occupancy Tax must be remitted monthly by the owner, as most platforms only handle the 6.75% Sales Tax.

What should Beaufort hosts know about written rental agreements are legally?

Written rental agreements are legally mandatory for all stays under 90 days in North Carolina.

Are there rental limits in Beaufort?

Town commissioners have expressed interest in restricting ADUs for STR use, though state law limits their ability to do so.

Beaufort

Permissive

STRs Allowed

North CarolinaLast updated: February 10, 2026

Baseline Verification

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Verified: Feb 7, 2026

Summary

Short-term rentals in Beaufort, NC do not require a specific municipal permit due to North Carolina state preemption, but they must comply with zoning standards and county tax obligations.

Restriction Level

✅

Permissive

Score: 0 (restrictive)

Why this classification:

•No STR-specific permit required
•No night cap
•No primary residence requirement
•No STR-specific fee

In Plain English

You do not need a specific short-term rental permit from the Town of Beaufort to host, but you must register with Carteret County to collect and pay the 6% occupancy tax. You are also required by North Carolina state law to provide a written rental agreement to all guests. Ensure your property meets local zoning and fire safety codes, as the town still enforces these standards even without a formal registration system.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Night Limit

None

Primary Residence

Not Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

1.North Carolina law (Wilmington ruling) prevents the town from requiring an STR permit or registration number.
2.The 6% County Occupancy Tax must be remitted monthly by the owner, as most platforms only handle the 6.75% Sales Tax.
3.Written rental agreements are legally mandatory for all stays under 90 days in North Carolina.
4.Town commissioners have expressed interest in restricting ADUs for STR use, though state law limits their ability to do so.

Regulation Details

Eligibility(4)

•Beaufort: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
•Beaufort does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
•Beaufort: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
•Beaufort allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, Duplex.

Requirements(9)

•Beaufort STR warning: North Carolina law (Wilmington ruling) prevents the town from requiring an STR permit or registration number.
•Beaufort STR warning: Written rental agreements are legally mandatory for all stays under 90 days in North Carolina.
•Beaufort: North Carolina law (Wilmington ruling) prevents the town from requiring an STR permit or registration number.

Application Process(6)

•Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Beaufort: Step 1: Verify Zoning Compliance - Confirm your property's zoning district through the Beaufort Planning Department to ensure transient use is permitted. Documents needed: Property Address/PIN. Estimated time: 1-3 days. More info: https://www.beaufortnc.org/planning Step 2: Register for Occupancy Tax - Register with the Carteret County Tax Administration to receive an account for monthly occupancy tax remittance. Documents needed: Owner Contact Info, Property Details. Estimated time: 1 week. More info: https://www.carteretcountync.gov/155/Tax-Administration Step 3: Obtain NC Sales Tax ID - If your marketplace facilitator does not handle all sales taxes, register for a Sales and Use Tax account with the NC Department of Revenue. Documents needed: SSN or EIN. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks. More info: https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/sales-and-use-tax Step 4: Draft Written Rental Agreement - Create a compliant written rental agreement as required by the North Carolina Vacation Rental Act. Estimated time: 1-2 days. More info: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByChapter/Chapter_42A.html

Taxes(3)

•North Carolina has a state sales tax of 0.0675% that applies to STR rentals.
•Beaufort charges a Carteret County Occupancy Tax of 0.06%. This applies to stays under 90 days. Hosts are responsible for collecting and remitting this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO collect NC Sales Tax but typically do not collect Carteret County Occupancy Tax; owners must remit this manually.

Limits & Restrictions(4)

•Beaufort occupancy calculation: Limited by septic capacity or building code egress standards. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
•Beaufort enforces quiet hours: 11pm-7am.
•Beaufort limits stays to a maximum of 89 nights.
•Beaufort: Town commissioners have expressed interest in restricting ADUs for STR use, though state law limits their ability to do so.

Safety Requirements(1)

•Beaufort requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted emergency contact, Egress requirements for bedrooms, Functional street address signage.

Penalties(1)

•Beaufort enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Varies by zoning violation.

Exemptions(2)

•Beaufort: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
•Beaufort exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

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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

Beaufort

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(4)

Requirements(9)

Application Process(6)

Taxes(3)

Limits & Restrictions(4)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(1)

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

Beaufort

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 Beaufort?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Beaufort?

3Are there rental night limits in Beaufort?

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

Related Content

Other North Carolina Markets

Cary

Hyde County

Wilmington

Cullowhee