Primary-Residence-Only Rule
Virginia Beach does not impose a primary-residence-only rule citywide. The Sandbridge Special Service District has long permitted investor-owned vacation rentals as a core part of the local tourism economy.
Short-Term Rentals in Virginia Beach, VA (2026)
13 verified short-term rentals rules for Virginia Beach, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Permit Requirements
Virginia Beach regulates short-term rentals (STRs) primarily under Zoning Ordinance §241.2 and the STR Overlay District provisions in Article 23. All STR operators must obtain an annual STR Zoning Permit ($500 per address) administered by Zoning Administration. New STRs in the Oceanfront Resort STR Overlay District require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) approved by City Council before the zoning permit is issued; CUPs expire five years from adoption. STRs are permitted by-right (with annual zoning permit) inside the Sandbridge Special Service District.
Short-Term Rental Permit Requirements in Virginia Beach
Heavy RestrictionsNoise Rules
Virginia Beach imposes specific nighttime quiet requirements on short-term rentals on top of the general noise ordinance. STRs must observe a quiet window from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and the operator must provide a 24-hour contact who can respond to complaints within 30 minutes. Repeated violations can lead to revocation of the STR Conditional Use Permit.
Short-Term Rental Noise Rules in Virginia Beach
Heavy RestrictionsTaxes & Fees
Short-term rentals in Virginia Beach must collect and remit Virginia state sales tax and the city transient occupancy tax (lodging tax) under Virginia Code Section 58.1-3825. The combined lodging tax rate in Virginia Beach exceeds 14 percent on the room charge, and operators must also pay a flat per-room-night tourism fee in addition to the annual STR permit application fee.
Short-Term Rental Taxes and Fees in Virginia Beach
Some RestrictionsParking Rules
Virginia Beach requires short-term rentals to provide one off-street parking space per bedroom, and all guest parking must be accommodated on the property itself. Guests may not park on the lawn, block sidewalks, or rely on public on-street parking in residential neighborhoods. Failure to meet parking rules is one of the most common reasons for STR Conditional Use Permit denial.
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules in Virginia Beach
Heavy RestrictionsOccupancy Limits
Virginia Beach caps STR occupancy at two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons overall, with the total never exceeding the number allowed by the building code for the dwelling. Daytime-only gatherings at the property are also capped, and large events such as weddings and receptions are prohibited at STRs by the Conditional Use Permit conditions.
Short-Term Rental Occupancy Limits in Virginia Beach
Heavy RestrictionsInsurance Requirements
Virginia Beach requires short-term rental operators to maintain liability insurance of at least 1 million dollars in coverage that specifically covers short-term rental activity. Proof of coverage must be submitted with the Conditional Use Permit application, and the policy must remain current for the life of the permit.
Short-Term Rental Insurance Requirements in Virginia Beach
Heavy RestrictionsNight Caps
Virginia Beach does not set a fixed maximum number of rental nights per year for short-term rentals operating under a Conditional Use Permit, but state law under Virginia Code Section 15.2-983 defines an STR as a rental for fewer than 30 consecutive days. Operators outside the Sandbridge Special Service District must run under a CUP, and the CUP can include custom nightly caps in specific neighborhoods.
Short-Term Rental Night Caps in Virginia Beach
Some RestrictionsRegistration Rules
Virginia Beach requires every short-term rental outside of the Sandbridge Special Service District to obtain a Conditional Use Permit from the City Council and to register with the Commissioner of the Revenue for lodging tax. The CUP process includes a zoning review, a Planning Commission hearing, and a City Council vote, and CUPs must be renewed annually.
Short-Term Rental Registration Rules in Virginia Beach
Heavy RestrictionsHost Presence Rule
Virginia Beach generally does not require an STR operator to live onsite, except where overlay districts or conditional-use permit conditions specifically demand owner-occupancy or local agent availability.
Host Presence Not Required Citywide
Some RestrictionsRepeat Violator Strikes
Virginia Beach can revoke a short-term rental conditional-use permit when an operator accumulates documented violations such as overoccupancy, noise, or parking complaints. City Council reviews revocation cases on the public docket.
CUP Revocation For Repeat STR Violations
Heavy RestrictionsHost Platform Liability
Booking platforms operating in Virginia Beach generally collect and remit transient occupancy tax under VA Code §58.1-3826, but underlying hosts remain liable for zoning compliance, registration, and operational rule violations on their listings.