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Morgantown (home of West Virginia University) permits STRs in most zoning districts but distinguishes Owner-Occupied from Non-Owner-Occupied STRs, with stricter requirements for non-owner-occupied properties in single-family residential zones near campus (the WVU football-game-weekend rental demand has driven additional parking + occupancy enforcement). The 2021 ordinance is the framework; expect periodic City Council updates as the WVU-area STR market evolves.
Morgantown permits STR by business license + zoning permit in most residential and commercial zones. R-1, R-1A single-family residential, R-2 / R-3 multi-family, B-1 / B-2 / B-4 commercial, and downtown mixed-use all permit STR. Near-campus neighborhoods (Sunnyside, South Park, Wiles Hill) face stricter occupancy + parking enforcement during football-game-weekend peak rental periods. The Cheat Lake / Lakeview Resort area is in Monongalia County (not the city) and operates under separate county rules.
Operators must hold a short-term rental permit before listing. See the official permit portal.
Morgantown Business Licensing + Planning administer the program. Annual renewal. Application requires designated 24/7 local responsible-party contact, proof of property insurance, life-safety self-certification, parking plan (peak-season minimums for game weekends), and (for non-owner-occupied near-campus) zoning compliance verification. Monongalia County Hotel Occupancy Tax (6%) filed quarterly with the Monongalia County Sheriff's Tax Office. Operating without a license: civil fines + back-tax. Football-weekend enforcement (noise, parking, occupancy) is the dominant enforcement vector — repeated violations can trigger license review.
Combined short-term lodging tax in Morgantown is approximately 12.000% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).
West Virginia State sales tax 6% + Monongalia County Hotel Occupancy Tax 6% — combined ~12.0% on transient lodging
Verify the current combined rate via the Utah State Tax Commission before remitting — rates drift quarterly.
STR regulations vary by jurisdiction. Compare Morgantown against nearby markets.