Is Morgantown, West Virginia Good for Airbnb Investment?

To start an Airbnb in Morgantown, West Virginia, begin by researching local regulations as the city requires short-term rental operators to obtain a business license from the City Clerk's office and comply with zoning ordinances that may restrict rentals in certain residential areas. Contact Morgantown's Planning and Code Enforcement Department at 304-284-7431 to verify your property's zoning allows short-term rentals and obtain necessary permits, which typically include a business license ($25-50 annually) and potentially a certificate of occupancy. Find a suitable property near West Virginia University campus or downtown areas where demand is highest, ensuring it meets safety requirements including smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and proper egress windows. Furnish the space with essential amenities like Wi-Fi, linens, kitchen supplies, and university-themed decor to appeal to visiting families and business travelers, budgeting approximately $3,000-8,000 for initial furnishing. Create your Airbnb listing with professional photos highlighting proximity to WVU (within 2-3 miles is ideal), downtown attractions, and outdoor activities like Coopers Rock State Forest, pricing competitively at $80-150 per night depending on size and location. Manage your property by establishing cleaning protocols between guests, maintaining 24/7 communication availability, coordinating with local cleaning services like Morgantown Cleaning Company, and ensuring compliance with West Virginia's 6% sales tax and Morgantown's 1% hotel occupancy tax that must be collected and remitted quarterly to the city's Finance Department.

To identify profitable short-term rental properties in Morgantown, West Virginia, focus on locations within 1-2 miles of West Virginia University campus, downtown areas near High Street, and neighborhoods like South Park and Sunnyside that attract students, visiting families, and business travelers. Target 2-4 bedroom properties with parking, updated kitchens, reliable WiFi, and outdoor spaces, as these appeal to group bookings during football weekends and graduation periods. Conduct pricing analysis using AirDNA and Mashvisor to benchmark against existing STRs, aiming for properties under $200,000 that can generate $150-250 per night during peak university events and $75-125 during off-peak periods. Research competition by analyzing occupancy rates and pricing strategies of successful listings in Suncrest, Star City, and near the WVU Coliseum, noting that properties offering game-day packages and student-friendly amenities typically outperform standard rentals. Utilize tools like Rabbu, STR Helper, and local Facebook groups such as "Morgantown Real Estate Investors" while consulting with realtors familiar with WVU's academic calendar and major events like football season, which drives 70-80% of annual STR revenue in the market.

To obtain an Airbnb/STR permit in Morgantown, West Virginia, you must first contact the Morgantown Planning Department at City Hall located at 389 Spruce Street to determine if your property is in a zone that allows short-term rentals, as the city implemented regulations around 2019-2020 requiring special permits. You'll need to submit an application for a Conditional Use Permit along with required documents including a site plan, proof of property ownership or lease agreement, floor plans showing the rental space, parking plan demonstrating adequate off-street parking, and contact information for a local property manager if you're an absentee owner. The application fee is typically around $200-400, and you may also need to pay for a public hearing notice publication fee of approximately $100-150. The process involves a Planning Commission review, potential public hearing, and can take 60-90 days for approval. Morgantown-specific requirements include maintaining a local contact person available 24/7, providing adequate parking (typically one space per bedroom), ensuring the property meets all building and fire codes, obtaining a business license from the city, and potentially limiting the number of overnight guests. You may also need to register with the West Virginia State Tax Department for lodging tax collection and ensure compliance with any homeowners association rules or deed restrictions before beginning operations.

Short-term rentals (STRs) are legal in Morgantown, West Virginia, but operate under specific regulations established by the city. As of 2023, Morgantown requires STR operators to obtain a business license and comply with zoning restrictions that limit short-term rentals primarily to commercial and mixed-use districts, while generally prohibiting them in single-family residential neighborhoods. The city implemented these regulations around 2019-2020 in response to concerns from residents about noise, parking, and neighborhood character disruption near West Virginia University. Properties must meet safety requirements including smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers, and operators are required to provide local contact information for guests and neighbors. The regulations also include occupancy limits based on the number of bedrooms and parking requirements. Recent enforcement efforts have focused on ensuring compliance with licensing requirements and addressing complaints in residential areas near the university campus, where many property owners had been operating unlicensed STRs targeting student and visitor markets.

The best Airbnb investment areas in Morgantown, West Virginia center around West Virginia University's campus and downtown core, with Sunnyside, South Park, and the Evansdale neighborhoods being prime locations due to their proximity to WVU facilities and consistent demand from visiting parents, prospective students, and university staff. Downtown Morgantown, particularly the Wharf District near the Monongahela River, attracts business travelers visiting major employers like Mon Health System and Ruby Memorial Hospital, while also serving football fans during WVU Mountaineers home games at Milan Puskar Stadium. The Sabraton area offers good value with lower property costs while maintaining reasonable access to both the university and downtown business district. Cheat Lake and surrounding upscale residential areas provide opportunities for luxury short-term rentals targeting higher-end visitors and extended-stay business travelers. The Star City area, while slightly removed from campus, offers more affordable investment properties with good highway access for visitors attending events at the WVU Coliseum or exploring outdoor recreation opportunities in the surrounding Appalachian region, making these neighborhoods collectively strong for Airbnb investments due to consistent university-driven demand, seasonal football tourism, medical tourism from the hospital system, and growing outdoor recreation interest.

In Morgantown, West Virginia, Airbnb hosts are subject to both state and local lodging taxes. The West Virginia state consumer sales tax of 6% applies to short-term rental accommodations, along with the state's 6% lodging tax, for a combined state rate of approximately 12%. Monongalia County imposes an additional hotel occupancy tax of 6%, bringing the total tax burden to around 18% on gross rental receipts. These taxes are typically collected from guests at the time of booking through Airbnb's automated tax collection system, which remits payments directly to the appropriate tax authorities on behalf of hosts for properties in participating jurisdictions. Hosts operating in areas where Airbnb doesn't automatically collect taxes must register with the West Virginia State Tax Department and Monongalia County, file monthly or quarterly returns, and remit collected taxes by the 20th of the following month. Exemptions generally apply to stays exceeding 30 consecutive days, which are considered long-term rentals rather than transient accommodations, and certain government or non-profit organization bookings may qualify for exemptions with proper documentation.

The total cost to start an Airbnb in Morgantown, West Virginia is approximately $180,000-$220,000. Property purchase costs around $150,000-$180,000 based on median home prices in the area as of 2023. Furnishing a 2-3 bedroom property typically runs $8,000-$12,000 including beds, sofas, dining sets, linens, kitchenware, and basic appliances. Initial setup costs including professional photography, listing creation, welcome materials, and basic renovations total $2,000-$3,500. Permits and fees including business license, short-term rental permit, and tax registration cost approximately $300-$800 annually. Insurance for short-term rental coverage runs $1,200-$2,000 per year. Utility setup and deposits for electricity, water, gas, internet, and cable cost around $500-$800 initially. First six months of operating costs including utilities ($150-$200/month), cleaning services ($50-$75 per turnover), maintenance and supplies ($100-$150/month), platform fees (3% of bookings), and marketing total approximately $3,000-$5,000 depending on occupancy rates and seasonal demand in the university town market.

Airbnb properties in Morgantown, West Virginia show moderate profitability potential, with average nightly rates ranging from $75-120 depending on proximity to West Virginia University campus and property size. Properties within 2 miles of WVU typically generate $2,500-4,200 monthly revenue during peak academic months (September-April), while summer months see 30-40% revenue drops. Operating expenses average $1,200-1,800 monthly including mortgage, utilities, cleaning fees ($25-40 per turnover), property management (10-15% of revenue), insurance ($150-250/month), and maintenance costs. Net profit margins typically range from 15-25% for well-managed properties, with higher margins achieved by hosts who self-manage and maintain high occupancy rates above 70%. Success factors include strategic location near campus or downtown, competitive pricing during football weekends and graduation periods when rates can surge to $200-300 nightly, professional photography, and quick response times to booking inquiries. Properties targeting students and visiting families perform best, with 3-4 bedroom houses near campus showing stronger returns than smaller units, though initial investment costs are higher at $180,000-280,000 for suitable properties in desirable neighborhoods like Sunnyside or South Park.

Airbnb investments in Morgantown, West Virginia typically generate annual ROI of 12-18% due to consistent demand from West Virginia University students, parents, and football game visitors. Cash-on-cash returns generally range from 8-14% annually, with properties near campus or downtown commanding higher rates of $80-120 per night during peak periods like football season and graduation. Most investors achieve profitability within 18-24 months, with initial investment costs averaging $150,000-250,000 for suitable properties. The market benefits from limited hotel inventory and strong seasonal demand, particularly during WVU events, with occupancy rates typically reaching 65-75% annually. Properties within 2 miles of campus or downtown core perform best, with some investors reporting ROI as high as 22% during exceptional years when major events coincide with high university enrollment periods.

STRSearch is a national platform that helps investors identify profitable short-term rental properties in Morgantown, West Virginia, by providing market data and investment analysis. Local real estate agents specializing in Airbnb investments include Coldwell Banker Realty agents who focus on investment properties near West Virginia University, and RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists who have experience with rental properties in the downtown and Sunnyside areas. Keller Williams agents in Morgantown also work with investors seeking properties in high-demand areas like South Park and Evansdale. National services include Mashvisor, which provides Airbnb analytics for Morgantown properties, AirDNA for market research and revenue projections, and Awning, a full-service platform that helps investors purchase and manage short-term rentals. RedAwning offers property management services for Airbnb investments, while companies like Vacasa and AvantStay provide management solutions for investors who purchase properties in the area. Local property management companies such as Mountain State Property Management and University Town Properties also assist investors with Airbnb operations, particularly focusing on properties that cater to WVU visitors and business travelers in the Morgantown market.