To:
Dare County Board of Commissioners
North Carolina General Assembly
NC Real Estate Commission
 
The Problem
Every year, thousands of families travel to the Outer Banks, NC (OBX) to enjoy a safe and memorable vacation. Unfortunately, many rental homes are managed by companies that fail to conduct proper safety inspections, leaving dangerous conditions unchecked—rotting decks, loose railings, rusted nails, and improperly secured stairs.

These are not minor inconveniences. Families have reported life-threatening situations—some resulting in injuries, airlifts, and hospitalizations. Currently, North Carolina law (the Vacation Rental Act) only requires landlords to keep properties “fit and habitable,” but it does not require licensed inspections before each rental season or between guests.

This gap allows large realty companies to delay repairs until after an accident occurs.

 
Our Demand
We, the undersigned, call for the creation of a mandatory rental safety inspection program for all OBX vacation rentals. Specifically, we demand:

Licensed Inspections Before Each Rental Season

Decks, railings, stairs, structural supports, and pool enclosures must be inspected by a licensed contractor or county inspector.
Follow-Up Inspections After Any Reported Safety Complaint

If a renter reports a safety issue, an immediate inspection and documented repair must occur before the next rental.
Publicly Available Inspection Reports

Renters should have access to inspection records before booking.
Penalties for Non-Compliance

Realty companies or property owners who skip required inspections should face fines and temporary removal from rental listings.
 
Why This Matters
Families trust that their vacation rental is safe. They should not have to worry about their children leaning against a railing that could collapse. A basic inspection requirement would prevent tragedies, hold realty companies accountable, and keep OBX the safe, beautiful destination we all love.

This isn’t about “ruining tourism”—it’s about protecting it. When renters feel safe, they come back.

 
Our Goal
We are asking Dare County and the State of North Carolina to introduce legislation or county-level ordinances that will require seasonal safety inspections for all OBX vacation rentals.

Your Voice Matters
Sign this petition, share it with others, and help us push for the change that should have been in place years ago. Together, we can protect renters, hold realty companies accountable, and keep the Outer Banks a safe place for every family.

 
✍ Sign and share today. Let’s fix this before another preventable accident happens.

Edit: 

    In 2022, North Carolina passed House Bill 619, requiring residential rental elevators to meet new safety standards after several tragic elevator-related deaths. Landlords are now required to provide certified proof that elevators comply with these safety measures before they can be used.

This law was enacted only after lives were lost. Yet, elevators exist in only a small percentage of Outer Banks rental homes, while nearly every single home has one or more elevated decks and railings that are used daily by families with children.

If the State recognized the importance of certifying elevators for safety, it is only logical that decks—which are far more common—should also require certification by a licensed contractor to verify they are built and maintained to code.

We should not wait until more preventable injuries or deaths occur to enforce what should already be a basic standard of safety for vacationers. https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/House/PDF/H619v6.pdf
House bill 619 attached.

2nd edit: 

1. North Carolina’s Vacation Rental Act (Chapter 42A of the NC General Statutes)
This statewide law defines and regulates properties rented for less than 90 days for vacation purposes. Under this law, these properties are treated differently from typical residences—even exempting them from certain local housing inspections as long as they were considered safe when built. Facebook+2sevendevilsnc.gov+2JD Supra+2

2. State preemption of local inspection laws
NC statutes prohibit local governments from imposing periodic registration or inspection programs specific to short-term rentals. This was reinforced in the Court of Appeals decision Schroeder v. City of Wilmington (2022), which struck down Wilmington’s registration requirement under G.S. 160D‑1207(c) as unconstitutional preemption. Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law+1Wikipedia+1

Because of this state law, local governments are limited in enforcing new building or safety standards solely through short-term rental registration—and instead only retain general zoning authority

So essentially, Because these properties are legally classified as “short-term rental homes,” they’re treated differently than regular residences. This classification removes local government oversight, which means property managers aren’t required to ensure homes are brought up to modern building codes. As long as the house was considered safe when it was originally built, it’s essentially “grandfathered in,” even if it’s now outdated or unsafe.