Short-Term Rentals in Roanoke, VA (2026)

Short-Term Rental Permits

Roanoke regulates short-term rentals through its zoning chapter. A short-term rental is a dwelling rented to transient guests for less than 30 days. The use table marks it permitted by right in eight multiple purpose district columns, while a homestay needs a special exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals in all eight residential districts and must meet owner-occupancy and guest limits.

Roanoke Short-Term Rental and Homestay Permit Requirements

Some Restrictions

Roanoke City Code (Zoning) Sec. 36.2-405

(a) Applicability. The supplemental regulations set out in this section shall apply to bed and breakfast, homestay, and short-term rental establishments permitted by this chapter as of right or by special exception. ... (4) No more than six (6) guest sleeping rooms shall be utilized for a bed and breakfast establishment and the number of guest occupants shall not exceed twelve (12). (5) Rooms s...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Roanoke limits how many overnight guests a bed and breakfast or homestay can host. A bed and breakfast may use no more than six guest sleeping rooms and cannot exceed 12 total guest occupants, while a homestay is capped at two guest bedrooms and four total guests, with only one homestay allowed per property.

Roanoke Short-Term Rental Guest Occupancy Caps

Some Restrictions

Roanoke City Code § 36.2-405(b)(4), (d)(2)

(4)No more than six (6) guest sleeping rooms shall be utilized for a bed and breakfast establishment and the number of guest occupants shall not exceed twelve (12)....(2)The homestay shall have no more than two (2) bedrooms for guests and shall accommodate no more than four (4) total guests. No more than one (1) homestay shall be permitted per property.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

Roanoke's zoning code requires the owner of a homestay to occupy the property during guest stays. The same section caps the homestay at two guest bedrooms and four total guests, limits rentals to daily or weekly terms not exceeding thirty days, and allows only one homestay per property.

Roanoke Homestay Rule: Owner Must Be Home During Guest Stays

Significant Restrictions

Roanoke City Code § 36.2-405(d)(4)

(a) Applicability. The supplemental regulations set out in this section shall apply to bed and breakfast, homestay, and short-term rental establishments permitted by this chapter as of right or by special exception. ... (d) Standards for homestay establishments. (1) Changes made to the exterior of the building occupied by the homestay shall maintain the residential character of the building. (2...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Roanoke requires the owner of a residential bed and breakfast to reside in the dwelling, and requires an owner or on-site manager to live on the property for a bed and breakfast in the MX or CN commercial districts. The rule ties the use to an owner-occupied home rather than an investment property.

Roanoke Bed and Breakfast Owner Must Live On-Site

Some Restrictions

Roanoke City Code § 36.2-405(b)(3), (c)(1)

(3)The owner of the one (1) dwelling building occupied by the bed and breakfast establishment shall reside in the dwelling....(1)The owner or on-site manager shall reside on the property.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Extended Home Share

A Roanoke bed and breakfast or homestay can only rent rooms on a daily or weekly basis, and no single guest stay may run longer than 14 days. The cap under Section 36.2-405 keeps home-share and bed and breakfast uses distinct from month-to-month rentals or accessory apartments.

Roanoke Caps Home-Share Rental Stays at 14 Days

Some Restrictions

Roanoke City Code § 36.2-405(b)(5), (d)(3)

(5) Rooms shall be rented on a daily or weekly basis. Stays shall not exceed fourteen (14) days. [...] (3) Rooms shall be rented only on a daily or weekly basis, [...] Stays shall not exceed fourteen (14) days.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗