Are short-term rentals allowed in Dare County?

**No**, short-term rentals are prohibited in unincorporated Dare County, NC. Stays are primarily regulated through zoning use and health department septic capacities, which may further restrict or prohibit certain types of short-term rental operations. Always check with the Dare County planning department. *(52 words)*

What is the TOT tax rate in Dare County?

**6% TOT** is the current transient occupancy tax rate in Dare County. Hosts are responsible for registering for and remitting this tax to the county. You need to ensure you are collecting and remitting this tax to remain compliant with local regulations. *(45 words)*

Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Dare County?

**No**, there is currently no local STR-specific license required in Dare County, though state and county regulations may still apply. You need to register with the county to remit occupancy taxes. Always check with the Dare County zoning office before operating a short-term rental. *(52 words)*

What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Dare County?

**Penalties** can include fines and legal action. Operating a short-term rental in violation of zoning regulations or without remitting the required occupancy taxes can result in significant penalties. You need to ensure you are compliant with all applicable local and state laws. *(46 words)*

Can renters host on Airbnb in Dare County?

**This** depends on the lease agreement. Renters need to review their lease agreement to determine if subletting or short-term rentals are permitted. You need to obtain written permission from the property owner before listing the property on Airbnb or other platforms. *(46 words)*

Dare County

Permissive

STRs Allowed

North CarolinaLast updated: February 13, 2026

Gold Standard Verification

100%

Forensically verified with 3+ official sources

Verified: Jan 30, 2026

3 Official Sources

Summary

Unincorporated Dare County does not require a specific short-term rental permit due to North Carolina state law protections, but hosts must register for and remit a 6% occupancy tax. Stays are primarily regulated through zoning use and health department septic capacities.

Restriction Level

✅

Permissive

Score: 0 (restrictive)

Why this classification:

•No night cap
•No primary residence requirement

In Plain English

To host an Airbnb in unincorporated Dare County (like Hatteras or Colington), you don't need a special permit or license from the county. However, you must register with the Tax Collector to ensure the 6% occupancy tax is paid. Be very careful not to advertise for more guests than your septic system is rated for, as the county actively enforces occupancy limits based on health permits.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Night Limit

None

Primary Residence

Not Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

6 Things Hosts Often Miss

1.Verify your jurisdiction: If you are in Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, Duck, or Manteo, these rules do NOT apply to you.
2.Septic Limits: Occupancy is strictly limited by the bedroom count on your septic permit, not just physical beds.
3.Tax Remittance: Even if Airbnb collects tax, you must still file monthly 'zero-dollar' reports to Dare County if you have a tax account.
4.State Law: NC state law prohibits the county from requiring a permit for residential rentals, so 'permit required' ads are usually incorrect for this area.
5.Parking: Large groups must still comply with off-street parking requirements to avoid citations.
6.Trash/Noise: Unincorporated areas are still subject to county-wide noise ordinances and strictly enforced trash removal schedules.

Regulation Details

Eligibility(6)

•Dare County: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
•Dare County, NC: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
•Dare County allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings, Duplexes, Condominiums.
•Dare County: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements(12)

•Dare County STR warning: Trash/Noise: Unincorporated areas are still subject to county-wide noise ordinances and strictly enforced trash removal schedules.
•Dare County STR warning: Parking: Large groups must still comply with off-street parking requirements to avoid citations.

Application Process(7)

•Dare County STR permit - Step 1: Confirm Unincorporated Status. Verify your property is in unincorporated Dare County (e.g., Hatteras, Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, or Colington) and not within an incorporated town limit. Time: 1 day.

Taxes(5)

•Dare County charges a Occupancy Tax of 6%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Note: 3% County + 3% Tourism/Beach
•North Carolina has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.
•Dare County charges a Occupancy Tax of 6%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.

Limits & Restrictions(3)

•Dare County: Septic Limits: Occupancy is strictly limited by the bedroom count on your septic permit, not just physical beds.
•Dare County limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
•Dare County occupancy calculation: 2 per bedroom (based on septic capacity). Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety Requirements(1)

•Dare County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.

Penalties(1)

•Dare County enforces penalties: First offense: $100.

Exemptions(4)

•Dare County: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
•Dare County: Verify your jurisdiction: If you are in Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, Duck, or Manteo, these rules do NOT apply to you.

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

Dare County

Gold Standard Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

6 Things Hosts Often Miss

Create a free account

Regulation Details

Eligibility(6)

Requirements(12)

Application Process(7)

Taxes(5)

Limits & Restrictions(3)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(1)

Exemptions(4)

Create a free account

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Content

Other North Carolina Markets

Cary

Hyde County

Wilmington

Cullowhee

Dare County

Gold Standard Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

6 Things Hosts Often Miss

Frequently Asked Questions

1Are short-term rentals allowed in Dare County?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Dare County?

3Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Dare County?

4What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Dare County?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Dare County?

Related Content

Other North Carolina Markets

Cary

Hyde County

Wilmington

Cullowhee