Macon County, North Carolina
Franklin, NC vacation rental requirements
Inside Franklin town limits, rentals pay a 3% town occupancy tax on top of Macon County’s 3%, filed separately with each. We found no short-term rental rules in the town’s zoning chapter.
Checked against official sources November 6, 2026Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.
Most “Franklin” cabins are outside town limits and pay only the county’s 3%. Check your tax bill.
Your licensing checklist
In order: the state, the county, then the town.
State of North Carolina
Know who owes the tax
Whoever collects the rent reports the sales and occupancy tax: the platform, your rental agency, or you. Airbnb collects state and county sales tax and all local occupancy taxes on its bookings. If guests pay you directly, register with the Department of Revenue for sales tax and with your county or town for occupancy tax.Source
Use a written vacation rental agreement
The Vacation Rental Act covers owners and agents renting for vacation stays under 90 days. Have the guest accept a written agreement with the required notices, hold advance payments in a trust account, and keep the home fit and habitable with working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.Source
Check your zoning
Towns can’t require you to register a rental, but they can limit short-term rentals to certain zoning districts, require a zoning permit, and set parking, trash, and safety standards. Pick your area for the local rules.Source
Macon County, North Carolina
Register with Macon County
Every rental registers for the county room occupancy tax and reports monthly by the 20th. Rentals inside Franklin also register and report to the town.Source
Then your town or area
Zoning rules for short-term rentals are set by each town, and by the county outside town limits. Pick your area.
Town of Franklin
Taxes on each stay
Stays under 90 days owe 6.75% sales tax plus the local occupancy tax. Airbnb collects both on its bookings. If guests pay you directly, file sales tax with the Department of Revenue. Register with the Town of Franklin for its 3% tax and file by the 15th, and register and file with Macon County for its 3% tax by the 20th.Source
Ask about zoning
We found no short-term rental rules in Franklin’s zoning chapter. Ask the town planning department how zoning treats a whole-home rental at your address, and check your HOA rules too.Source
Sources
- Occupancy taxes and Airbnb · UNC School of Government
- Vacation Rental Act (G.S. Chapter 42A) · North Carolina General Assembly
- Short-term rental regulations after Schroeder · UNC School of Government
- Room Occupancy Tax · Town of Franklin
- Code of ordinances, ch. 152 zoning · Town of Franklin (American Legal Publishing)
- Macon County Room Occupancy Tax Registration and monthly report · Macon County
A plain-language summary to help you prepare, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the office before you apply. Spot something out of date? Email hello@licensedrental.com.