What is the TOT tax rate in Wrightsville Beach?

**6% combined tax** is required for short-term rentals in Wrightsville Beach, administered by New Hanover County. While major platforms like Airbnb collect this tax, you still need to register your account with New Hanover County for reporting purposes. Ensure compliance with all local and state tax regulations to avoid penalties.

How much does an STR permit cost in Wrightsville Beach?

**$150** is the one-time fee to obtain a Zoning Compliance Permit for short-term rentals in Wrightsville Beach. This fee is payable to the Town Planning Department during the registration process. Be sure to include all required documentation, such as floor plans and parking plans, with your application to avoid delays.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Wrightsville Beach?

**No**, renters are not allowed to operate short-term rentals in Wrightsville Beach. Only property owners are eligible to apply for a Zoning Compliance Permit. Renters considering hosting should review their lease agreement and local regulations to avoid violating property and town ordinances, which could result in penalties.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Wrightsville Beach?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are permitted in Wrightsville Beach, but they are subject to specific regulations. You need to obtain a Zoning Compliance Permit, undergo a fire safety inspection, and collect the 6% Room Occupancy Tax. Ensure you are fully compliant with all requirements to avoid fines or other penalties.

Wrightsville Beach

Moderate

North CarolinaUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 5 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 5

Summary

Plain-english overview

The City of Wrightsville Beach requires all short-term rental operators to register for a Zoning Compliance Permit and undergo a fire safety inspection. Rentals are subject to a combined 6% Room Occupancy Tax administered by New Hanover County.

Restriction level

Severity 21

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Standard permit fee: $150
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Wrightsville Beach, you must first register your property with the Town Planning Department and pay a one-time fee of $150. You'll need to provide a floor plan and a parking plan to show you aren't overcrowding the neighborhood. Once approved, you must have a fire inspection. While major platforms like Airbnb collect the 6% occupancy tax for you, you are still required to register your account with New Hanover County for reporting purposes.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$150

Processing time10-14 business days

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1You must provide a local contact person available 24/7 to respond to complaints within 1 hour.
2Parking is strictly regulated; you must have one off-street space per bedroom.
3Stays of 90 days or more are exempt from occupancy tax, but stays under 90 days are not.
4Trash must be managed according to specific town schedules to avoid fines.
5The 3% Town tax is separate from the 3% County tax (total 6% Room Occupancy Tax).
6Failure to display your permit number in your listing can lead to immediate fines.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility3 rules

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

Requirements13 rules

Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Wrightsville Beach: 1. No City Permit Required: Unlike many beach towns, Wrightsville Beach does not currently require a specific STR permit or registration. 2. 90-Day Tax Rule: In North Carolina, rentals are considered 'short-term' if they are less than 90 days for tax purposes. 3. HOA Power: Many condo complexes and neighborhoods on Wrightsville Beach have strict HOA bans on rentals under 30 days. 4. Parking Restrictions: Parking is extremely limited and strictly enforced; guests must use designated spots or paid public parking. 5. Noise Ordinances: The town has a very strict noise ordinance, and neighbors frequently report loud vacationers to the police. 6. Trash Collection: Vacation rentals must follow specific trash and recycling schedules to avoid heavy fines for loose litter. 7. County Tax Registration: Even if you use a platform that collects tax, you are technically required to register with New Hanover County Finance.

Application process4 rules

Wrightsville Beach STR permit - Step 2: Obtain NC Sales Tax Certificate. Register with the North Carolina Department of Revenue to collect and remit the 7% state sales tax. Required documents: SSN or EIN. Time: Immediate (online).

Taxes4 rules

Wrightsville Beach: 90-Day Tax Rule: In North Carolina, rentals are considered 'short-term' if they are less than 90 days for tax purposes.
North Carolina has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.
Wrightsville Beach: County Tax Registration: Even if you use a platform that collects tax, you are technically required to register with New Hanover County Finance.

Limits & restrictions2 rules

Wrightsville Beach: Parking Restrictions: Parking is extremely limited and strictly enforced; guests must use designated spots or paid public parking.
Wrightsville Beach enforces quiet hours: 11:00 PM - 7:00 AM.

Safety requirements1 rule

Wrightsville Beach requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, Must comply with standard residential fire codes.

Penalties3 rules

Wrightsville Beach: Trash Collection: Vacation rentals must follow specific trash and recycling schedules to avoid heavy fines for loose litter.
Wrightsville Beach: Serious or repeated STR violations can result in criminal charges, not just fines.

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Wrightsville Beach

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Zoning Verification

Confirm your property is in a zone that allows vacation rentals (R-1, R-2, C-1, C-2).

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Submit Registration Application

Complete the town's Vacation Rental Registration form and pay the application fee.

10 days$150

Documents needed

Floor plan
Site plan (parking)
Owner affidavit

Official resource

Step 3

Fire Inspection

Schedule a fire safety inspection with the Wrightsville Beach Fire Marshal.

7 daysFree

Step 4

Establish Tax Account

5 daysFree

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes 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.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Wrightsville Beach

Moderate

North CarolinaUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 5 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 5

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 21

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Standard permit fee: $150
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$150

Processing time10-14 business days

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1You must provide a local contact person available 24/7 to respond to complaints within 1 hour.
2Parking is strictly regulated; you must have one off-street space per bedroom.
3Stays of 90 days or more are exempt from occupancy tax, but stays under 90 days are not.
4Trash must be managed according to specific town schedules to avoid fines.
5The 3% Town tax is separate from the 3% County tax (total 6% Room Occupancy Tax).
6Failure to display your permit number in your listing can lead to immediate fines.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility3 rules

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

Requirements13 rules

Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Wrightsville Beach: 1. No City Permit Required: Unlike many beach towns, Wrightsville Beach does not currently require a specific STR permit or registration. 2. 90-Day Tax Rule: In North Carolina, rentals are considered 'short-term' if they are less than 90 days for tax purposes. 3. HOA Power: Many condo complexes and neighborhoods on Wrightsville Beach have strict HOA bans on rentals under 30 days. 4. Parking Restrictions: Parking is extremely limited and strictly enforced; guests must use designated spots or paid public parking. 5. Noise Ordinances: The town has a very strict noise ordinance, and neighbors frequently report loud vacationers to the police. 6. Trash Collection: Vacation rentals must follow specific trash and recycling schedules to avoid heavy fines for loose litter. 7. County Tax Registration: Even if you use a platform that collects tax, you are technically required to register with New Hanover County Finance.

Application process4 rules

Wrightsville Beach STR permit - Step 2: Obtain NC Sales Tax Certificate. Register with the North Carolina Department of Revenue to collect and remit the 7% state sales tax. Required documents: SSN or EIN. Time: Immediate (online).

Taxes4 rules

Wrightsville Beach: 90-Day Tax Rule: In North Carolina, rentals are considered 'short-term' if they are less than 90 days for tax purposes.
North Carolina has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.
Wrightsville Beach: County Tax Registration: Even if you use a platform that collects tax, you are technically required to register with New Hanover County Finance.

Limits & restrictions2 rules

Wrightsville Beach: Parking Restrictions: Parking is extremely limited and strictly enforced; guests must use designated spots or paid public parking.
Wrightsville Beach enforces quiet hours: 11:00 PM - 7:00 AM.

Safety requirements1 rule

Wrightsville Beach requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, Must comply with standard residential fire codes.

Penalties3 rules

Wrightsville Beach: Trash Collection: Vacation rentals must follow specific trash and recycling schedules to avoid heavy fines for loose litter.
Wrightsville Beach: Serious or repeated STR violations can result in criminal charges, not just fines.

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Wrightsville Beach

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Zoning Verification

Confirm your property is in a zone that allows vacation rentals (R-1, R-2, C-1, C-2).

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Submit Registration Application

Complete the town's Vacation Rental Registration form and pay the application fee.

10 days$150

Documents needed

Floor plan
Site plan (parking)
Owner affidavit

Official resource

Step 3

Fire Inspection

Schedule a fire safety inspection with the Wrightsville Beach Fire Marshal.

7 daysFree

Step 4

Establish Tax Account

5 daysFree

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Zoning Verification

Submit Registration Application

Fire Inspection

Establish Tax Account

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Wrightsville Beach?

3How much does an STR permit cost in Wrightsville Beach?

4Can renters host on Airbnb in Wrightsville Beach?

5Are short-term rentals allowed in Wrightsville Beach?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Zoning Verification

Submit Registration Application

Fire Inspection

Establish Tax Account

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Wrightsville Beach?

3How much does an STR permit cost in Wrightsville Beach?

4Can renters host on Airbnb in Wrightsville Beach?

5Are short-term rentals allowed in Wrightsville Beach?

Disclaimer