Alexandria allows ADUs to be rented long-term to a single household. Short-term rentals (under 30 consecutive days) require registration with the City and remittance of the city transient lodging tax plus the 5.3% Virginia state sales tax on transient lodging. The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Va. Code §55.1-1200) governs long-term leases statewide. Va. Code §15.2-2208 preempts municipal rent control.
Long-term rental of an Alexandria ADU is permitted to a single household. Following the November 2023 Zoning for Housing reform, owner-occupancy is generally no longer required, so investor ADUs may be rented to a tenant household. Long-term tenancies (30+ days) are governed by the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA), Va. Code §55.1-1200 et seq., which sets statewide rules on security deposits (capped at two months rent), notice periods (60 days for month-to-month termination by landlord under the post-2019 amendments; 30 days by tenant), maintenance obligations under Va. Code §55.1-1220, and eviction procedures through the General District Court under Va. Code §8.01-126. Short-term rentals (under 30 consecutive days) — Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar — must register with the City of Alexandria short-term residential rental program and remit: (1) the Alexandria transient lodging tax (currently 8.5% city under Alexandria City Code Title 3 lodging tax provisions, plus a $1 per night fee where applicable); (2) the 5.3 percent Virginia state sales tax on transient lodging; (3) the regional transportation district tax where applicable under Va. Code §58.1-1742; (4) Va. Code §58.1-3819 transient occupancy authorization. Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit Virginia state tax automatically in most cases; the city tax compliance is typically the host's responsibility. Rent control: Virginia preempts local rent control under Va. Code §15.2-2208 — Alexandria cannot impose rent caps. The Virginia Fair Housing Law (Va. Code §36-96.1 et seq.) prohibits discrimination on the basis of source of income for landlords with 4+ units (since 2020), affecting Section 8 voucher acceptance.
Operating an unregistered STR: Notice of Violation from Planning and Zoning, fines up to $1,000 per occurrence under Va. Code §15.2-2286, and listing-removal cooperation requests to Airbnb/Vrbo. Failure to remit transient lodging tax: Alexandria Department of Finance collection action plus state-level liability through Virginia Department of Taxation. VRLTA violations: tenant remedies through Alexandria General District Court including damages, injunctive relief, and lease termination under Va. Code §55.1-1234.
Alexandria, VA
Alexandria prohibits storing abandoned, inoperable, or unregistered vehicles on public streets or visible on private property. Vehicles may be tagged and tow...
Alexandria, VA
Alexandria EV chargers need an electrical permit (and possibly a structural permit) via APEX. In the two locally-regulated historic districts or on 100-Year-...
Alexandria, VA
Alexandria regulates overnight parking on public streets. Many areas restrict parking between certain hours or require permits for overnight street parking.
Alexandria, VA
Alexandria requires pool barriers meeting safety codes to prevent drowning. Fences must be at least 4 to 5 feet tall with self-closing, self-latching gates.
Alexandria, VA
Alexandria requires permits for retaining walls above a certain height, typically 4 feet. Engineering review may be required for taller walls.
Alexandria, VA
Alexandria restricts or prohibits intentional feeding of wildlife including deer, coyotes, and bears. Feeding wildlife creates public safety hazards and nuis...
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