North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee 5 R cosponsors

SB 291 — Regulation of Short-Term Rentals.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 13, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 24% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    2 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (5 R).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

14 added · 15 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Senate Bill 291 adds emphasis on the importance of short-term rentals for tourism and as a housing option for temporary workers. These additions highlight the value of such rentals to the state economy and workforce. By stressing these points, the change aims to ensure that regulations surrounding short-term rentals consider their economic impact, which could influence how local governments manage these properties. Understanding this context is important as it may affect decisions that balance local housing needs with tourism interests.

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FILED SENATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA Mar 13, 2025 S.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 S 1 SENATE BILL 291 Short Title:
291 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS45159-LM-11 Short Title:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO LIMIT THE REGULATION OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS BY CITIES TO PROTECT PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR REGULATING SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
Rules and Operations of the Senate March 17, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO LIMIT THE REGULATION OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS BY CITIES TO PROTECT PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR REGULATING SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
and Whereas, short-term rentals are vital to the tourism and marketability of the State;
and Whereas, short-term rentals are vital to the tourism and marketabilityof the State;
and Whereas, short-term rentals provide housing options for transitory workers, including nurses, tradespeople, and executives;
and Whereas, short-term rentals provide housingoptions for transitory workers, including nurses, tradespeople, and executives;
*DRS45159-LM-11* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (4) Requires the owner of the short-term rental to occupy the property for any period of time during a rental to an occupant.
*S291-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (4) Requires the owner of the short-term rental to occupy the property for any period of time during a rental to an occupant.
provided, however, the city shall, prior to revoking the permit, give the lodging operator an opportunity to contest the alleged violations and, if found to exist, an opportunity to remedy the violations.
provided, however, the city shall, prior to revoking the permit, give the lodging operator an opportunity to contest the alleged violations and, if found to exist, an opportunityto remedythe violations.
The city may charge a one-time fee of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each permit issued and may charge an additional fee of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) to reinstate a permit that has expired or been revoked.
The citymaycharge a one-time fee of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each permit issued and may charge an additional fee of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) to reinstate a permit that has expired or been revoked.
(4) Restricting the location of short-term rentals to areas of the city that have been zoned for residential use, and requiring that the property remains in compliance with all applicable residential zoning requirements.
(4) Restricting the location of short-term rentals to areas of the citythat have been zoned for residential use, and requiring that the property remains in compliance with all applicable residential zoning requirements.
(i) an individually or collectively owned single-family house or dwelling unit, (ii) a unit in a condominium, timeshare, townhome, or accessory dwelling unit, and (iii) an owner-occupied residential home.
(i) an individually or collectively owned single-family house or dwelling unit, (ii) a unit in a condominium, timeshare, townhome, or accessorydwelling unit, and (iii) an owner-occupied residential home.
A collective group of units in a complex of condominiums owned by a single owner, corporation, or related owner that is non-owner occupied and is used in a similar manner as a hotel, motel, or an Page 2 DRS45159-LM-11 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 extended stay inn if the complex of condominiums is not required to adhere to the same building standards and regulations as hotels, motels, and extended stay inns.
A collective group of units in a complex of condominiums owned by a single owner, corporation, or related owner that is non-owner occupied and is used in a similar manner as a hotel, motel, or an Page 2 Senate Bill 291-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 extended stay inn if the complex of condominiums is not required to adhere to the same building standards and regulations as hotels, motels, and extended stay inns.
DRS45159-LM-11 Page 3
Senate Bill 291-First Edition Page 3
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Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 174 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (174)

174 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 174 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety housing
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 291?
SB 291 is sponsored by Vickie Sawyer (Republican), Danny Earl Britt, Jr. (Republican), Bobby Hanig (Republican), Tom McInnis (Republican), and Timothy D. Moffitt (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 291?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 13, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 291?
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