Primary-Residence-Only Rule
Richmond's short-term rental ordinance generally restricts STR operation to the host's primary residence, limiting the rise of investor-owned ghost hotels and concentrating tourism rentals among owner-occupants.
Short-Term Rentals in Richmond, VA (2026)
13 verified short-term rentals rules for Richmond, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Permit Requirements
Richmond requires STR operators to obtain a Short-Term Rental Special Use Permit or Zoning Certificate under Ordinance 2020-046. Operators must live on the property as their primary residence at least 185 days per year. Non-owner-occupied STRs are prohibited by right.
Short Term Rentals: Permit Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsRichmond Ordinance No. 2023-235 (Short-Term Rentals)
The ordinance to revise the Short-Term Rentals regulations (Ordinance No. 2023-235) was adopted by City Council on September 25, 2023. The ordinance permits short-term rentals as a principal or accessory use to a dwelling unit or permitted accessory dwelling unit under the following conditions: Who can operate a short-term rental: The short-term rental operator shall be the property owner. In a...
Noise Rules
STR guests must comply with Richmond noise ordinance Chapter 38, Article II. Quiet hours run 11 PM to 7 AM Sunday through Thursday and midnight to 7 AM Friday and Saturday. STR permits can be revoked after 3 substantiated noise complaints in 12 months.
Short Term Rentals: Noise Rules
Heavy RestrictionsTaxes & Fees
Richmond imposes an 8 percent Transient Occupancy Tax plus a 2 dollar per room per night regional tourism fee on STR stays under 30 days. Combined with 5.3 percent Virginia sales tax, total tax is about 13.3 percent plus the flat fee.
Short Term Rentals: Taxes Fees
Some RestrictionsParking Rules
Richmond STRs must provide at least 1 on-site parking space per bedroom rented, per §30-692.4. On-street parking cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. Fan District, Museum District, and Church Hill have additional residential parking permit restrictions.
Short Term Rentals: Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsRichmond Ordinance No. 2023-235 (Short-Term Rentals)
Parking: No additional parking is required for the short-term rental use. Events: Events and gatherings of persons other than the authorized lodgers are prohibited from occurring at the short-term rental. Applying for a Short-Term Rental Permit — Beginning July 1, 2020, applicants can apply for a Short-Term Rental Permit through the City's Online Permit Portal.
Occupancy Limits
Richmond caps STR occupancy at 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, not to exceed 10 guests total per §30-692.3. Events, weddings, and commercial gatherings are prohibited at permitted STRs.
Short Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits
Heavy RestrictionsRichmond Ordinance No. 2023-235 (Short-Term Rentals)
Number of persons who can rent per night: The total number of adult renters (at least one being 18 years of age or older) allowed in a short-term rental shall be limited to eight adults. Double booking which consists of more than one booking transaction occurring at the same time is not allowed. The number of children per rental is not limited. Occupancy may be further limited under the Buildin...
Insurance Requirements
Richmond STR operators must carry at least 500,000 dollars in liability insurance covering STR use, or use a platform (Airbnb AirCover, Vrbo Liability Insurance) providing equivalent coverage. Proof required with permit application.
Short Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements
Some RestrictionsRichmond Ordinance No. 2023-235 (Short-Term Rentals)
Safety Requirements: Smoke detectors shall be present in compliance with the current edition of the Virginia Residential Construction Code. A fire extinguisher shall be present and be accessible at all times. Carbon monoxide detectors shall be present in any room used for sleeping or cooking. Parking: No additional parking is required for the short-term rental use. Events: Events and gatherings...
Night Caps
Richmond does not impose an annual night cap on owner-occupied STRs. Rentals are unlimited so long as the operator maintains primary residency at least 185 days per year and remains compliant with the STR permit.
short-term-rentals/night-caps
Few RestrictionsRichmond Ordinance No. 2023-235 (Short-Term Rentals)
Number of nights a short-term rental can operate: The number of nights a short-term rental can operate is not limited. Number of persons who can rent per night: The total number of adult renters (at least one being 18 years of age or older) allowed in a short-term rental shall be limited to eight adults. Double booking which consists of more than one booking transaction occurring at the same ti...
Registration Rules
All Richmond STRs must register annually with the Department of Planning and Development Review, post the permit number in all listings, and display a sign inside the unit with 24-hour contact info. Unregistered listings are subject to platform takedown requests.
Short Term Rentals: Registration Rules
Heavy RestrictionsRichmond City Code Sec. 30-1020.3
Applying for a Short-Term Rental Permit — Beginning July 1, 2020, applicants can apply for a Short-Term Rental Permit through the City's Online Permit Portal. Required documentation to apply includes the following: Short-Term Rental Owner Affidavit acknowledging compliance with the rules for operating a short-term rental (See Supporting Documentation in the Online Permit Portal for a copy of th...
Host Presence Rule
Richmond distinguishes hosted (host-present) versus unhosted (host-absent) short-term rentals, applying tighter zoning controls to unhosted whole-home rentals while allowing hosted home-shares more permissively in residential districts.
Host Presence and Hosted-Stay Rules
Some RestrictionsRepeat Violator Strikes
Richmond may revoke or deny renewal of short-term rental registration for hosts with repeated code, noise, or zoning violations, deploying a strike-style enforcement structure under RVA Ch. 30 and Ch. 44.
Repeat-Violator Permit Revocation
Heavy RestrictionsHost Platform Liability
Booking platforms operating in Richmond must work within Virginia's STR registry framework under VA §15.2-983, which permits localities to require listing information and tax remittance from short-term rental intermediaries.
Booking Platform Compliance Duties
Some RestrictionsVa. Code § 15.2-983
B. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, any locality may, by ordinance, establish a short-term rental registry and require operators within the locality to register annually. The registration shall be ministerial in nature and shall require the operator to provide (i) the complete name of the operator, (ii) the address of each property in the locality offered for s...