Primary-Residence-Only Rule
Chesterfield's zoning requires each short-term rental to be operated by the property owner, and allows only one per lot. The code ties the rental to the owner rather than a tenant or off-site manager.
10 rules for unincorporated Chesterfield County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Chesterfield permits short-term rentals (stays under 30 days) as a regulated use under the 2026 Zoning Ordinance. Operators must meet the short-term rental use standards in Zoning Ordinance section 19.2-32-40 and register with the county before advertising.
Chesterfield has no noise rule specific to short-term rentals; guests must comply with the county's general noise ordinance, which prohibits unreasonably loud or disturbing sound in residential areas.
Chesterfield levies an 8% transient occupancy tax on lodging rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days, including short-term rentals. Stays of 30 or more consecutive days are exempt. Establishments with 41+ rooms add a 2% tourism improvement district fee.
VA Code 58.1-3819
hotels, motels, boarding houses, travel campgrounds, and other facilities offering guest rooms rented out for continuous occupancy for fewer than 30 consecutive days
Chesterfield's zoning does not publish a separate short-term rental parking count. Guests use the dwelling's existing off-street parking (driveway and garage), and the county's general parking and street rules apply.
Chesterfield's zoning short-term rental standards cap occupancy at eight adults per night and allow only one short-term rental per lot. The use must be operated by the property owner.
Chesterfield's zoning standards do not require short-term rental hosts to carry liability insurance, and Virginia sets no statewide STR insurance mandate. Owners typically rely on homeowner or platform host-protection coverage.
Chesterfield sets no maximum number of rental nights per year. The defining limit is that each booking must be under 30 consecutive days; a guest occupying 30 or more consecutive days is no longer transient and is tax-exempt.
Short-term rental operators must obtain a Certificate of Registration from the Commissioner of the Revenue and include the rental permit number on all advertisements. Booking platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo must collect and remit the county's occupancy tax.
Chesterfield requires the property owner to operate the short-term rental, but the zoning standards do not require the host to be physically present or on-site during guest stays.
Chesterfield's zoning requires each short-term rental to be operated by the property owner, and allows only one per lot. The code ties the rental to the owner rather than a tenant or off-site manager.
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