Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed?

Short-term rentals (rentals of fewer than 30 days) are not explicitly defined or prohibited in the Town of Elizabethtown’s Zoning Ordinance. Unless contrary evidence is identified by the Zoning Administrator for a specific property, a STR operated as a single-family home is presumptively allowed in residential districts, provided the use complies with the zoning district’s permitted principal use standards and with the North Carolina State Building Code and state Fire Code. If an STR function is closer to a tourist home, boarding house, lodging, or similar visitor accommodation, it may be treated as a special use in certain districts and require a Special Use Permit (SUP). The Zoning Administrator (see “Contact Information” below) is the authoritative source to confirm use classification for a given parcel.

Bottom line: STRs are likely permitted as principal residential uses in residentially zoned areas, with possible special-use treatment for lodging-like STR formats. Start with a zoning confirmation before investing or listing.

How to Start a STR in This Market

• Confirm zoning and permitted use
  • Verify the zoning district of your target property (R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1, B-2, I-1, I-2, etc.) and whether the intended STR model (residential STR vs tourist home/boarding house) is allowed “by right” or requires a Special Use Permit. Contact the Zoning Administrator to obtain a formal interpretation for your specific use model and parcel.
• Secure required approvals
  • If the STR is treated as a special use (e.g., tourist home), prepare and submit a Special Use Permit application with a site plan meeting Section 5.7 requirements. The Town Council holds a quasi-judicial hearing and may impose conditions.
  • If zoning confirms a permitted principal use, obtain a Zoning Permit (and any site-plan approvals per Section 5.7 if required for your development scenario).
• Code compliance and safety
  • Design and build to the North Carolina State Building Code and state Fire Code, including life-safety, egress, and occupancy limitations. Do not exceed occupancy or lot coverage without approvals.
  • Ensure ingress/egress, parking, and access meet ordinance standards and do not create sight triangle obstructions.
• After approvals
  • Secure a Certificate of Occupancy before hosting any guests. Note that CO issuance can be conditioned on compliance with SUP conditions.
  • Maintain compliance with all imposed conditions and with ongoing ordinance standards. Violations can lead to civil penalties and permit revocation.

Practical tip: Do not rely on neighborhood norms or ad hoc approvals. Get a zoning use letter in writing before you buy, develop, or list a property.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

General approvals and documents likely required for an STR:

• Zoning Permit
  • Issued by the Zoning Administrator after verifying conformity with zoning district standards and any site-plan requirements.
  • Application timing: file early; processing timelines depend on completeness and the need for additional information.
• Special Use Permit (if the STR is classified as a tourist home/boarding house/lodging)
  • Application deadline: submit at least 30 calendar days prior to the hearing.
  • Requires a site plan (scaled and detailed per Section 5.7). The Town Council acts after a public hearing and may attach reasonable conditions and safeguards.
• Certificate of Occupancy (CO)
  • Must be obtained before any guest occupancy. For special uses, CO is conditioned on full compliance with the approved SUP and zoning requirements.
• North Carolina State Building Code compliance
  • Building, fire, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and life-safety codes apply. Ensure compliant egress, fire separations/sprinklers as applicable, and follow code provisions for occupancy classification.
• Zoning interpretation letter
  • A written determination from the Zoning Administrator clarifying the STR use classification (residential STR vs tourist home/boarding house) for the parcel in question.
• Vested Rights (optional, if seeking development certainty)
  • If you seek protection against future zoning changes, a site-specific development plan approval by the Town Council can establish a two-year vested right (extendable to five years under certain conditions). This follows the Special Use Permit process for plan approval.

Optional but commonly recommended:

• Parking and access plan demonstrating code-compliant parking and no sight triangle obstruction (Section 2.17).
• Life-safety documentation showing code-conforming occupancy egress and fire-protection measures.

Notes on STR-specific permits/licenses:

• The provided documents do not indicate any local STR registration, licensing, or taxation regime specific to short-term rentals. Confirm with the Zoning Administrator if any business license, local tax registration, or STR registration has been adopted locally.
• State-level lodging taxes: The documents do not provide details. Check separately with the North Carolina Department of Revenue or the local tax collector for any applicable occupancy taxes on transient lodging.

Specific Regulations: City, County, and State

City-level (Elizabethtown)

• Zoning Ordinance framework governs all land uses:
  • Districts and principal uses: STRs are treated per the zoning district’s principal uses. Without a specific STR definition, single-family STRs are typically considered principal residential uses and are likely permitted in residential districts. Lodging-like STRs (e.g., tourist home) may require a Special Use Permit.
  • Special Uses: Town Council approval after quasi-judicial hearing; conditions may be imposed. SUPs must demonstrate harmony with surrounding development, adequate utilities/access/parking, and alignment with the comprehensive plan.
  • Variances and Appeals: If strict compliance creates unnecessary hardship, the Board of Adjustment may grant variances. Appeals of administrative decisions go to the Board of Adjustment. Quasi-judicial hearings require sworn evidence and adherence to NC procedural standards.
  • Permits: Zoning permits and special use permits expire if not utilized within specific timeframes; extensions are limited.
  • Compliance and Enforcement: Violations can incur civil penalties, injunctive relief, and permit revocation. Each day a violation continues can constitute a separate offense.
  • Performance standards:
    • Parking and off-street loading: comply with performance standards (Article 10, Part I).
    • Facade design, landscaping, and sign regulations: comply with Articles 10-II and 10-III.
    • Sight distance triangles: maintain clear visibility at intersections per Section 2.17.
    • Sidewalks: new development must construct five-foot sidewalks per Town standards and NCDOT requirements (Section 2.20).
    • Utilities/mechanical screening: equipment must be screened to protect adjacent residential properties and public rights-of-way (Section 2.21).
  • Nonconforming uses and split zoning:
    • Nonconforming situations are addressed in Article 9. Split zoning is prohibited, and parcels split before adoption are nonconforming.

County-level

• The documents reviewed do not include Bladen County-specific STR regulations. Confirm with the County if any short-term rental provisions apply within the town’s ETJ (extraterritorial jurisdiction).

State-level (North Carolina)

• Building and Fire Codes: STR conversions and operations must comply with the North Carolina State Building Code (including life-safety and egress). New STR developments, additions, or structural changes require code-compliant construction and inspection.
• Vested Rights: Under NCGS 160A-385.1, a site-specific development plan approved by the Town Council can establish a vested right (generally two years, extendable). This applies when seeking zoning development certainty.
• General Statutory Authority: The zoning ordinance is enacted under NCGS 160A-381 to 160A-392. Statutory amendments, moratoria procedures, and quasi-judicial standards govern local actions and appeals.

Contact Information (Local Authority for STRs)

Use and zoning interpretation, permits, and SUP inquiries:

• Zoning Administrator — Town of Elizabethtown
  • Role: Enforces zoning, interprets use classifications, reviews zoning permits and site plans, issues violations, and coordinates Board of Adjustment matters.
  • Note: The ordinance references designation by the Town Manager. Confirm the current contact details (phone, email, office) and physical address with Town Hall or the Planning/Zoning Department.

Boards (for appeals and special use permits):

• Planning and Zoning Commission
  • Reviews and recommends zoning text/map amendments; provides plan consistency analysis.
• Board of Adjustment
  • Hears appeals of administrative decisions and variance requests; conducts quasi-judicial hearings; four-fifths vote required for variances.
• Town Council
  • Legislative and quasi-judicial authority for zoning map/text amendments and special use permits.

For current contact information (phone, email, website, address), please confirm with the Elizabethtown Town Clerk or the Zoning Administrator. The documents reviewed do not provide direct phone/email/web links.

Source Pages (Links)

• Elizabethtown Zoning Ordinance (December 2020 PDF)
  • elizabethtownnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Zoning-Ordinance.pdf
  • Contains the full zoning framework, procedures (Articles 3–4), performance standards (Article 10), and general regulations.

Investor Checklist (Practical Steps)

• Confirm zoning and use classification for your target property (residential vs tourist home/boarding house).
• If a Special Use Permit is required, prepare a high-quality site plan (per Section 5.7), public notice materials, and evidence demonstrating compatibility with surrounding uses.
• Design to the North Carolina State Building Code; coordinate early with inspections for egress and fire protection.
• If seeking development certainty, consider a vested rights site-specific development plan approval.
• Obtain the Certificate of Occupancy before listing.
• Maintain compliance with ordinance performance standards (parking, sight triangles, utilities screening, signs, sidewalks) to avoid enforcement and civil penalties.
• Confirm current contact details for the Zoning Administrator and Town Clerk for application timelines and fee schedules.