Short-Term Rentals in Richmond, VA (2026)

7 verified short-term rentals rules for Richmond, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Short-Term Rental Permits

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 Restrictions

Richmond 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...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking 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 Restrictions

Richmond 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.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Richmond caps short-term rental occupancy at the lesser of eight adult renters or the maximum allowed by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, under Section 30-697.1(1), and requires that at least one renter in every booking be 18 or older.

Richmond Short-Term Rental Occupancy Cap

Some Restrictions

Richmond City Code § 30-697.1(1)-(2)

(1)The number of short-term renters over the age of 18 years occupying or present within any short-term rental shall not exceed the lesser of eight persons, or the maximum number permitted by the most recent edition of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.(2)No short-term rental operator shall rent a short-term rental to one or more short-term renters, unless at least one of the short-t...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

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 Restrictions

Richmond 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...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

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 Restrictions

Richmond 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...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

In Richmond's residential zoning districts, a short-term rental may only operate on the same lot as the operator's primary residence. Richmond City Code § 30-697.2 covers every R-1 through R-73, R-MH, and RO-1 through RO-3 district, and caps each qualifying lot at one short-term rental, closing the door on non-owner-occupied investment rentals in those zones.

Richmond STR Must Be Operator's Primary Residence

Significant Restrictions

Richmond City Code § 30-697.2

The following conditions are applicable to all short-term rentals within the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-5A, R-6, R-7, R-8, R-43, R-48, R-53, R-63, R-73, R-MH, RO-1, RO-2, and RO-3 districts. The short-term rental shall be located on the same lot as the short-term rental operator's primary residence. Where the short-term rental operator is a legal person but not an individual, the short-term ren...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host 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 Restrictions

Va. 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...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗