Short Term Lodging

What is considered a short-term rental? 

Short-term rentals include the rental of residential property, or a portion thereof, for a period of 29 days or less. Short-term rentals include both Homestay and Whole-house lodging uses as defined below. 

Homestay lodging 

A business engaged in the rental of individual bedrooms within a dwelling unit that serves as a host's principal residence, that provides lodging for pay, for a maximum continuous period of 29 days, that does not serve food. 

Whole-house lodging 

A business engaged in the rental of an entire dwelling unit that provides lodging for pay, for a maximum continuous period of 29 days and does not include the include serving of food. 

Key Regulations

Occupancy

Homestay lodging: The property owner or principal resident must reside on site. Hosts must maintain records demonstrating that the home is their primary residence and such records must be made available upon request. 

Whole-house lodging: No occupancy requirement for property owner or principal resident. Local operator must be available 24 hours per day and located within 25 miles of the subject property. 

Guest Rooms

Homestay lodging: Maximum number of guest rooms shall be one less than the total number of bedrooms in the dwelling unit, not to exceed three guest rooms.

Parking

Homestay lodging: No more than three motor vehicles owned or operated by patrons shall be parked on-site at any time. Hosts must issue parking placards to each guest parking on site. Guest parking area must be located behind the front facade of the dwelling unit. 

Whole-house lodging: A minimum of one off-street parking space per bedroom, on an all-weather surface, must be provided. If off-street parking is not available on-site, shared parking or rented spaces in a private or public parking deck or lot may be used to satisfy the parking requirement (documentation is required). 

Events

For both Homestay and Whole-house lodging uses, parties, events, classes, weddings, receptions, or other large gatherings are not permitted on the premises.

Insurance

For both Homestay and Whole-house lodging uses, property owners must have commercial general liability insurance (total limit of not less than $500,000 each occurrence for bodily injury and property damage) and must be in full force and effect during all times the unit is used as a lodging.

Written Notice

For both Homestay and Whole-house lodging uses, a written notice must be conspicuously posted on site, maintained as current for the duration of the lodging operation, and must include the following information:

  1. The name and telephone number of the host/operator
  2. The address of the lodging
  3. The maximum number of overnight occupants
  4. The established for garbage collection days
  5. The non-emergency phone number of the city of Wilmington Police Department
  6. That parties, events, classes, weddings, receptions, and other large gatherings are not permitted.

Property owners, as well as any host/operator are responsible for ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local laws.

The complete ordinance, Section 18-157, is available for review on the City's website. If you have questions, please contact the City's Compliance Department at 910.254.0900 or zoning@wilmingtonnc.gov. 

 

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