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Short-Term Rentals in Fairfax County, VA (2026)

8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Fairfax County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Fairfax County requires short-term lodging operators to designate a contact agent, post that information for guests, keep a guest log, and list their permit number in every ad.

Fairfax County Short-Term Rental Operator Rules

Significant Restrictions

Fairfax County, VA, Zoning Ordinance § 4102.7.O(3)(d), (4)(e)-(f)

(d) Designate at least one person who consents to serve as an authorized agent for the short-term lodging operator. Contact information (name, address, telephone, and email address) for the authorized agent(s) must be provided on the application ... (e) All advertisements for short-term lodging ... must include the short-term lodging permit number ... (f) A short-term lodging operator must main...

Noise Rules

Fairfax County bans events and gatherings, including parties, weddings, banquets and fund-raisers, at any short-term lodging property. Subsection 4102.7.O(4)(d) of the Zoning Ordinance prohibits any gathering of people beyond the registered lodgers, whether or not the host is paid directly or indirectly for hosting it.

Fairfax County STR Party And Event Ban

Significant Restrictions

Fairfax County, VA, Zoning Ordinance § 4102.7.O(4)(d)

The short-term lodging use is subject to the following use limitations: (a) A dwelling or manufactured home may be used for short-term lodging for no more than 60 nights per calendar year. (b) The maximum number of lodgers per night may not exceed six adults, except where the USBC requires fewer occupants. ... (d) Events and activities, including luncheons, banquets, parties, weddings, meetings...

Taxes & Fees

Fairfax County STR operators must collect Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) of 4% on gross rental receipts, plus Virginia state sales tax of 5.3% and regional transportation tax of 0.7% (NVTA), for a total tax burden of 10% on the room rate. Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit state sales and county TOT automatically for most listings, but operators remain legally responsible for compliance and must register with the Department of Tax Administration.

Short Term Rentals: Taxes

Some Restrictions

Fairfax County Transient Occupancy Tax

Transient Occupancy Tax is applicable to any public or private hotel, inn, apartment hotel, hostelry, tourist home or house, motel, rooming house, any place that offers short-term lodging as defined in Article 20, Part 3 of the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance, or other lodging place within the county offering lodging for one or more persons at any one time, and the owner and operator thereof, w...

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Fairfax County short-term lodging hosts must provide one designated off-street parking space reserved for lodgers, and advertisements must state where that space is located.

Fairfax County STR Off-Street Parking Rule

Some Restrictions

Fairfax County, VA, Zoning Ordinance subsec. 4102.7.O(2)(d)

Have one designated off-street parking space available for lodgers, which the operator has the authority to reserve for short-term lodging purposes. A short-term lodging operator must: (a) Be a permanent resident of the property hosting the short-term lodging use, as demonstrated at the time ...

Occupancy Limits

Fairfax County limits short-term lodging stays to no more than six adult lodgers per night and no more than 60 nights of use per calendar year.

Fairfax County Short-Term Rental Occupancy Cap

Some Restrictions

Fairfax County, VA, Zoning Ordinance § 4102.7.O(4)(a)-(b)

The short-term lodging use is subject to the following use limitations: (a) A dwelling or manufactured home may be used for short-term lodging for no more than 60 nights per calendar year. (b) The maximum number of lodgers per night may not exceed six adults, except where the USBC requires fe...

Night Caps

Fairfax County limits short-term lodging to no more than 60 nights per calendar year per dwelling, capped further at six adult lodgers and one rental contract per night.

Fairfax County 60-Night STR Annual Cap

Significant Restrictions

Fairfax County, VA, Zoning Ordinance subsec. 4102.7.O(4)(a)

A dwelling or manufactured home may be used for short-term lodging for no more than 60 nights per calendar year. (b) The maximum number of lodgers per night may not exceed six adults, except where the USBC requires fewer occupants. (c) All lodgers occupying a short-term lodging must be associ...

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Fairfax County requires anyone operating short-term lodging to be a permanent resident of the property, defined as occupying it at least 185 days a year as a primary residence. The Zoning Administrator verifies residency when issuing the two-year short-term lodging permit under subsection 4102.7.O(3)(a), and a person may claim only one permanent residence countywide.

Fairfax County Short-Term Rental Residency Rule

Some Restrictions

Fairfax County, VA, Zoning Ordinance § 4102.7.O(3)(a); § 9102 (definition of "Permanent Resident")

A short-term lodging operator must: (a) Be a permanent resident of the property hosting the short-term lodging use, as demonstrated at the time of application for a permit to operate short-term lodging; (b) Obtain written consent from the owner of the property for the short-term lodging use; (c) Assume responsibility for determining whether any regulations, prohibitions, and covenants applicabl...

Extended Home Share

Fairfax County requires an administrative Zoning Administrator permit before any dwelling can be used for short-term lodging, valid for two years, under the county's short-term lodging zoning standards.

Fairfax County Short-Term Lodging Permit

Some Restrictions

Fairfax County, VA, Zoning Ordinance subsec. 4102.7.O(1)

Short-term lodging is permitted in a dwelling or manufactured home only upon the Zoning Administrator's issuance of a permit in accordance with subsection 4102.1.I. (a) An application for a short-term lodging permit must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator on a form furnished by the County. (b) ...

Short-Term Rentals by City in Fairfax County

3 cities in Fairfax County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

All Fairfax County ordinances

See every category we cover for Fairfax County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

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