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Fayetteville Hotel, Motel, and Lodging District Regulations

Jurisdiction: FayettevilleCode Version: December 2025

Fayetteville permits hotels and motels primarily within commercial, industrial, and high-density mixed-use districts, such as the Thoroughfare Commercial (C-2) and Downtown Core (DC) districts. The City of Fayetteville allows bed and breakfast facilities as temporary conditional uses in all zoning districts, while rooming or boarding houses are permitted in several multi-family and urban residential zones. Short-term rentals are also authorized citywide, though non-owner-occupied units in residential areas require a conditional use permit from the City of Fayetteville.

Hotels and Motels (Use Unit 14)

In the City of Fayetteville, hotels and motels are categorized under Use Unit 14 (Hotel, Motel, and Amusement Facilities) [Section 162.01]. This unit is designed for establishments providing temporary lodging and related services.

District Permissions for Hotels and Motels

The following table outlines where the City of Fayetteville permits Use Unit 14 developments:

District Name District Symbol Permission Type
Community Services CS Conditional Use
Thoroughfare Commercial C-2 Permitted by Right
Central Commercial C-3 Permitted by Right
Urban Neighborhood UN Conditional Use
Urban Corridor UC Permitted by Right
Urban Thoroughfare UT Permitted by Right
Downtown Core DC Permitted by Right
Main Street Center MSC Permitted by Right
Downtown General DG Permitted by Right
Heavy Commercial and Light Industrial I-1 Permitted by Right

For non-residential uses like hotels and motels, the City of Fayetteville does not require a minimum number of off-street parking spaces [Section 172.05].

Bed and Breakfast Facilities

The City of Fayetteville defines a bed and breakfast facility as a permanently owner-occupied private home with a maximum of five guest rooms providing temporary lodging and meals [Section 151.01].

Standards and Conditions

In the City of Fayetteville, bed and breakfast facilities are allowed as a temporary conditional use in all zoning districts [Section 163.03]. The Planning Commission review is governed by several criteria:

Standard Category Requirement in Fayetteville
Maximum Guest Rooms 5 guest rooms
Maximum Stay 14 days
Parking 1 off-street space per guest room
Meals Limited to overnight and event guests only
Signage Limited based on district (e.g., 32 sq. ft. in RA, P-1, and commercial zones)

Rooming and Boarding Houses

Fayetteville defines a lodging or rooming house as a building where lodging is provided for two or more persons for compensation, but where no table board (meals) is furnished [Section 151.01]. These are categorized under Use Unit 26 (Multi-Family Dwellings) [Section 162.01].

Allowed Districts for Rooming Houses

Because they fall under Use Unit 26, the City of Fayetteville permits rooming and boarding houses in the following districts:

  • Residential Intermediate — Urban (RI-U) [Section 161.12]
  • Residential Multi-Family Districts (RMF-6, RMF-12, RMF-18, RMF-24, RMF-40) [Sections 161.13 - 161.17]
  • Mixed-Use and Urban Districts: CS, UN, UC, UT, DC, MSC, and DG districts all permit Use Unit 26 [Sections 161.22 - 161.28].
District Type Minimum Parking Requirement
Multi-Family / Rooming House 1 space per bedroom (Maximum 1 space per bedroom)

Short-Term Rentals (Use Unit 46)

Fayetteville regulates short-term rentals (stays of less than 30 consecutive days) as Use Unit 46 [Section 162.01].

  • Type 1 (Owner-Occupied): Permitted as a use by right in all zoning districts where residential uses are allowed [Section 164.26].
  • Type 2 (Non-Owner Occupied): Permitted by right in most commercial and mixed-use districts. However, in residential districts (such as R-A, RSF, RI, and RMF), Type 2 rentals require a Conditional Use Permit [Section 163.18].

Sections Cited

  • 151.01 Definitions
  • 161.12 - 161.17 Residential Intermediate and Multi-Family Districts
  • 161.22 Community Services (CS)
  • 161.23 Thoroughfare Commercial (C-2)
  • 161.24 Urban Thoroughfare (UT)
  • 161.25 Central Commercial (C-3)
  • 161.26 Downtown Core (DC)
  • 161.27 Main Street Center (MSC)
  • 161.28 Downtown General (DG)
  • 161.30 Heavy Commercial and Light Industrial (I-1)
  • 161.36 Urban Corridor (UC)
  • 162.01 Use Unit Establishment/Listing
  • 163.03 Bed and Breakfast Facilities
  • 163.18 Type 2 Short-Term Rentals in Residential Zoning Districts
  • 164.26 Type 1 and Type 2 Short-Term Rentals
  • 172.05 Standards for the Number of Spaces by Use

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