LicensedRental

North Carolina county rules

Onslow County, NC vacation rental rules and taxes

Onslow County’s rental market centers on North Topsail Beach, Jacksonville near Camp Lejeune, Sneads Ferry, and Swansboro. We found no short-term rental permits in these codes. Stays pay 7% sales tax plus the county’s 3% occupancy tax, and some towns add 3%.

Checked against official sources November 6, 2026
Market
About 1,500 Airbnb listings
North Topsail Beach 909, Jacksonville 214, Sneads Ferry 108, Swansboro 69, Holly Ridge 64 (AirROI).Source
Sales tax
7%
Occupancy tax
3% county + 3% in some towns
North Topsail Beach, Jacksonville, and Swansboro each add 3%.Source

Rentals on federal land at Camp Lejeune follow base housing rules, not county zoning.

We could not find Holly Ridge’s code online. Ask the town about zoning.

What to do

  1. File the county’s 3% tax

    If guests pay you directly, report and pay Onslow County’s 3% occupancy tax online through GovOS or on the paper form by the 15th of the next month, even in months with no rentals.Source

    Onslow County occupancy tax →

  2. Then your town or area

    Zoning rules and some occupancy taxes are set by each town, and by the county outside town limits. Pick your area.

Towns

Full guide

Jacksonville

We found no short-term rental zoning rules in Jacksonville’s code. Stays owe 7% sales tax + 6% occupancy tax (3% county + 3% city); Airbnb collects these on its bookings.

Full guide

North Topsail Beach

We found no short-term rental zoning rules in North Topsail Beach’s code. Stays owe 7% sales tax + 6% occupancy tax (3% county + 3% town); Airbnb collects these on its bookings.

Full guide

Swansboro

We found no short-term rental zoning rules in Swansboro’s code. Stays owe 7% sales tax + 6% occupancy tax (3% county + 3% town); Airbnb collects these on its bookings.

Full guide

Unincorporated Onslow County

We found no short-term rental zoning rules in Unincorporated Onslow County’s code. Stays owe 7% sales tax + 3% occupancy tax; Airbnb collects these on its bookings.

Sources

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 Spot something out of date?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.