STR Rule Watch

Short-Term Rental Laws in North Conway, NH (2026)

Permit requiredAllowed with permit

North Conway is a village within the Town of Conway, NH, where short-term rentals are legal town-wide -- including in residential districts, per the NH Supreme Court's Town of Conway v. Kudrick ruling (May 2, 2023) -- but every rental property must hold a Rental Property Permit under Chapter 72 (Housing & Life Safety Standards), adopted April 8, 2025. One- and two-family homes register via a $50 self-affidavit (fire-department inspection required for new rental uses or ownership changes), and hosts owe New Hampshire's 8.5% Meals and Rooms (Rentals) Tax, which Airbnb/Vrbo collect as facilitators for platform bookings. There are no owner-occupancy rules, night caps, or minimum-stay requirements.

✓ Last verified July 21, 2026 · 11 official sources

Reviewed by the STR Rule Watch research team against 11 official sources. How we verify data

North Conway STR rules at a glance

Key short-term rental facts for North Conway
Legal statusAllowed with permit
Permit requiredYes
Permit nameRental Property Permit (Chapter 72 Rental Property Permit Program)
Permit fee$50
Owner occupancy requiredNo
Primary residence onlyNo
Total occupancy taxes~8.5% of gross revenue
EnforcementAdministered by the Town of Conway Zoning/Code Enforcement office (Designated Official under Chapter 72).
Current rules effective2025-04-08

What will guests pay in taxes on a North Conway stay?

Itemized occupancy taxes for North Conway, NH — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.

North Conway occupancy tax calculator

Gross rent$450.00
New Hampshire Meals and Rooms (Rentals) Tax (8.5%)· collection varies$38.25
Total tax (8.5%)$38.25
Guest pays$488.25

Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.

Permits & licensing

North Conway requires Rental Property Permit (Chapter 72 Rental Property Permit Program) to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $50.

Fee schedule approved by the Selectboard on Nov. 4, 2025: one- and two-family dwellings pay a $50.00 permit fee submitted as a self-affidavit (no inspection required); multi-family structures (3+ rental units) pay a $50.00 base fee plus $25.00 per unit (e.g., a 3-unit structure pays $125). The prior program (Sept. 2023 through 2025) charged $375 with a fire-department inspection for a 3-year license. New rental uses and changes of ownership still require a fire-department inspection under Chapter 72.

Zoning & location rules

STRs are allowed in all zoning districts of Conway, including North Conway village. In Town of Conway v. Kudrick (NH Supreme Court, May 2, 2023), the court held the Conway Zoning Ordinance permits non-owner-occupied short-term rentals in the town's residential districts, because occupants' residential-type use -- not duration of stay -- controls. There is no STR-specific zoning district or overlay; the town regulates rentals through the town-wide Chapter 72 life-safety permit program rather than zoning. Petition articles to repeal the rental inspection/licensing requirements failed at the April 2025 town election (Articles 55 and 56).

Taxes

TaxRateWho collects
New Hampshire Meals and Rooms (Rentals) TaxStatewide tax under RSA 78-A:6 ('A tax of 8.5 percent of the rent is imposed upon each occupancy'). Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo are treated as rental facilitators and collect/remit for platform bookings; operators taking direct bookings must obtain a NH Meals and Rentals License (RSA 78-A:4) and collect/remit themselves. RSA 78-A:4-a requires every STR advertisement to display the operator's meals and rooms license number. New Hampshire has no general sales tax and no county or municipal lodging taxes.8.5%varies

Enforcement & penalties

Administered by the Town of Conway Zoning/Code Enforcement office (Designated Official under Chapter 72). The Designated Official investigates suspected violations and may issue a verbal warning, written warning, or Notice of Violation; inspections are conducted by the fire department for new rental uses or ownership changes, and the town may obtain an administrative inspection warrant under RSA 595-B if consent is refused. Denials and violation notices are appealable to the Selectboard within 14 days; the town may seek judicial relief for non-compliance.

The Selectboard adopts a schedule of fines not to exceed $1,000 for each offense for operating without a permit or violating Chapter 72. For housing-standards violations, notice is given under RSA 48-A:15 and each continuing day of violation after notice is a separate finable offense.

⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.

Getting legal in North Conway: the playbook

Generated from this market's verified rules — each step traces to the sources at the bottom of this page.

  1. 1

    Verify your zoning

    Location rules apply: STRs are allowed in all zoning districts of Conway, including North Conway village. In Town of Conway v. Confirm your parcel's zoning with the city before applying — the full zoning rules are detailed above.

  2. 2

    Check the covenant layer

    HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.

  3. 3

    Apply for the Rental Property Permit (Chapter 72 Rental Property Permit Program)

    Budget $50. Fee schedule approved by the Selectboard on Nov. Apply through the city — the official application page is linked in the sources below.

  4. 4

    Set up tax collection & remittance

    Platforms don't collect everything here: New Hampshire Meals and Rooms (Rentals) Tax (8.5%) is remitted by the host in at least some cases. Register with the taxing authority before your first booking and calendar the filing deadlines.

  5. 5

    Know the cost of getting it wrong

    The Selectboard adopts a schedule of fines not to exceed $1,000 for each offense for operating without a permit or violating Chapter 72. For housing-standards violations, notice is given under RSA 48-A:15 and each continuing day of violation after notice is a separate finable offense. Full enforcement details and penalties are covered above.

Recent rule changes in North Conway

  1. April 14, 2026

    No Chapter 72 changes at 2026 town election; town petitions for local lodging-tax option

    The April 14, 2026 annual town election warrant contained no articles amending Chapter 72 or regulating short-term rentals, leaving the Rental Property Permit Program unchanged. Article 20 passed 1382-275, directing the town to petition the NH General Court for enabling legislation allowing municipalities to adopt an additional local Meals and Rooms tax of up to 1%; this is only a petition -- no local lodging surcharge exists unless the legislature acts and the town later adopts it.

    Official source →

  2. November 4, 2025material

    Selectboard approves new rental permit fee schedule

    Selectmen voted 4-1 to approve the Chapter 72 fee schedule: $50 self-affidavit permit for one- and two-family dwellings (valid 2 years per the posted schedule), and $50 base plus $25/unit for multi-family structures; town staff asked all rental owners to apply by Dec. 31, 2025.

    Official source →

  3. April 8, 2025material

    Article 16 rewrites Chapter 72 as Housing and Life Safety Standards / Rental Property Permit Program

    Voters passed Article 16 (1303-617), amending Chapter 72 in its entirety to create the Rental Property Permit Program: permits per property, inspections only for new rental uses or ownership changes, annual self-affidavits for grandfathered rentals, Selectboard-set fees, and fines up to $1,000 per offense. Petition articles to repeal rental licensing (Art. 55) and inspections (Art. 56) both failed.

    Official source →

  4. April 9, 2024material

    Town Meeting adopts Chapter 72 Certificate of Rental Compliance program

    Voters codified the rental program in Chapter 72 (Housing Standards), requiring a Certificate of Rental Compliance for all rentals of any duration (explicitly including short-term rentals up to 30 days), with a $375 inspection fee for 1-2 family homes and 3-year certificates.

    Official source →

  5. September 1, 2023material

    Conway begins rental licensing under original Rental Certificate Program

    The town's first rental licensing program took effect, offering a $375 fire-department-inspected license valid 3 years or a $125 one-year self-affidavit for 1-2 unit rentals; the self-affidavit option was later eliminated as of Jan. 1, 2024.

    Official source →

  6. May 2, 2023critical

    NH Supreme Court rules STRs allowed in Conway residential districts

    In Town of Conway v. Kudrick (No. 2022-0098), the NH Supreme Court held the Conway Zoning Ordinance permits non-owner-occupied short-term rentals in the town's residential districts, ending the town's attempt to treat STRs as prohibited transient/tourist uses under zoning.

    Official source →

Frequently asked questions

›Is Airbnb legal in North Conway?

Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are legal in North Conway, NH, but you must obtain a Rental Property Permit (Chapter 72 Rental Property Permit Program) before operating. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in North Conway?

Yes. North Conway requires a Rental Property Permit (Chapter 72 Rental Property Permit Program) to operate a short-term rental, which costs $50. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›How much does a North Conway short-term rental permit cost?

The Rental Property Permit (Chapter 72 Rental Property Permit Program) costs $50. Fee schedule approved by the Selectboard on Nov. 4, 2025: one- and two-family dwellings pay a $50.00 permit fee submitted as a self-affidavit (no inspection required); multi-family structures (3+ rental units) pay a $50.00 base fee plus $25.00 per unit (e.g., a 3-unit structure pays $125). The prior program (Sept. 2023 through 2025) charged $375 with a fire-department inspection for a 3-year license. New rental uses and changes of ownership still require a fire-department inspection under Chapter 72.

›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in North Conway?

Yes — North Conway does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in North Conway?

Hosts in North Conway are subject to: New Hampshire Meals and Rooms (Rentals) Tax (8.5%) — roughly 8.5% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.

›Does Airbnb collect taxes automatically in North Conway?

No — in North Conway hosts are responsible for registering, collecting, and remitting the listed occupancy taxes themselves. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in North Conway?

The Selectboard adopts a schedule of fines not to exceed $1,000 for each offense for operating without a permit or violating Chapter 72. For housing-standards violations, notice is given under RSA 48-A:15 and each continuing day of violation after notice is a separate finable offense. See the enforcement section on this page for full details.

›When did North Conway's current short-term rental rules take effect?

The current ordinance took effect on April 8, 2025. See the change timeline on this page for amendments since, and the sources section for the official text.

North Conway's STR rules changed 3 times recently.

Get an email the moment North Conway changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.

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This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with North Conway and a qualified professional before operating.

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