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Virginia Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Laws 2026

LawfulStay tracks short-term rental (STR / Airbnb / Vrbo / holiday let / vacation rental) regulations for 12 jurisdictions across Virginia. Select a city below for current permit requirements, tax rates, and compliance details.

9 Active 3 Restricted

Virginia Airbnb & Vacation Rental Regulation Overview

The short-term rental regulatory landscape in Virginia encompasses 12 tracked jurisdictions: 9 with active regulations, 3 with restrictions. Hosts operating on platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com should verify local requirements before listing, as rules vary significantly between cities and regions.

Approximately 100% of tracked jurisdictions in Virginia require some form of permit, license, or registration for short-term rental operations. Requirements range from simple online registration to comprehensive permit applications with inspections.

Tax obligations apply in 11 of 12 jurisdictions. Common taxes include occupancy taxes, tourist levies, and sales taxes. Many jurisdictions require hosts to register for tax collection, and some platforms like Airbnb collect and remit taxes automatically in select locations.

Cities with significant restrictions on vacation rentals include Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Williamsburg. These jurisdictions typically impose permit caps, zoning limitations, or primary residence requirements.

LawfulStay monitors Virginia STR regulations daily and updates this page as rules change. Each city page includes detailed permit requirements, fee schedules, tax rates, zoning rules, and penalty information sourced from official government websites.

Norfolk
Two types: Homestay (owner present) and Vacation Rental (owner absent). CUP required for 4+ bedroom properties, insufficient parking, or specific districts. Wes…
Restricted
Virginia Beach
Required: sworn statement form; life-safety inspection report with first application (good 5 years; attestation in off years); structural safety inspection repo…
Restricted
Williamsburg
Operator must: (1) apply to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) for approval; (2) owner must be physically present during ALL rental periods; (3) maintain a regis…
Restricted
Alexandria
Two-tier fees: $100/year (owner-occupied) or $350/year (non-owner-occupied). Max occupancy: 2 guests/bedroom + 2 additional (max 10 total; children 3 and under …
Active
Arlington
Must be primary residence for ≥185 days/year (applies to owners AND renters). Allowed in R, RA, and C districts. Max 6 overnight guests OR 2 per bedroom (whiche…
Active
Charlottesville
Owner must occupy as permanent residence ≥185 days/year. Non-owner-occupied investment properties NOT permitted in residential zones. Max 6 adult guests per tax…
Active
Fredericksburg
Annual renewal. Life-safety inspection required. TOT filed quarterly. STR tax registration must be filed with Commissioner of Revenue before opening. HOA/deed r…
Active
Loudoun County
Two STR categories: STR-RA (accessory use, owner-occupied implied, 180-day cap) and STR-CWH (whole-house non-owner-occupied, no cap). Zoning permit: $165 one-ti…
Active
Newport News
Newport News requires all STR operators to obtain a Short-Term Rental Permit through the city's Zoning Division, demonstrating that the rental property is their…
Active
Richmond
Must be owner's primary residence in residential zoning districts. Residential zones: 1 STR per lot only. Multifamily/non-residential: max 10 units or 1/3 of bu…
Active
Roanoke
Operators must: (1) obtain a zoning permit (and Special Exception permit if required by zone); (2) obtain a business license (requires zoning verification from …
Active
Shenandoah County
Registration process involves 5 steps including verifying listings and ensuring sanitary facility compliance. A separate work session on septic tank requirement…
Active

Data updated daily from official government sources.  ·  LawfulStay.com — The authoritative global STR regulations database.  ·  Data Methodology