Morgantown, West Virginia

Short-term rentals are permitted in Morgantown but require a permit, and the city has publicly warned that many Airbnb listings may be operating illegally or outside their lease terms, with Development Services actively investigating complaints. All rental property within city limits, STR or not, must be registered under the city’s Housing Code (adopted 1979) and is subject to periodic property-maintenance inspections roughly every three years. The separate STR permit process adds safety inspections and operational standards covering parking, noise control, waste management, and a reachable emergency contact; STRs are defined as renting a dwelling unit for fewer than 30 consecutive days.

Zoning matters significantly here: STRs are restricted in single-family residential districts such as R-1, so investors should confirm a property’s zoning district with Planning and Zoning or Development Services before buying. Applications and registration run through the city’s Cityworks PLL online portal. A local 6.0% hotel/motel occupancy tax applies to short-term lodging, on top of West Virginia’s 6% state sales tax on stays under 30 days. Exact STR permit application fees and the renewal cycle were not published at the time of research; investors should confirm current costs directly with Code Enforcement. Enforcement is rated moderate, but given the city’s public warnings about non-compliant listings, confirming permit status before purchase is a meaningful diligence step here.