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

8 rules for unincorporated Hanover County, Virginia.

Verified from official government sources

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

Short-Term Rental Permits

Anyone operating a non-owner-occupied or accessory-detached short-term rental in Hanover County outside Ashland must register annually with the Planning Department under Zoning Ordinance § 26-300.1(2)(k). Registration requires the operator's name, every rental address, and a registration fee; several licensed categories, including real estate agents, are exempt.

Hanover County STR Registration Rule

Significant Restrictions

Hanover County Code § 26-300.1(2)(k)

(k)Registry.(1)As used in this section, "Operator" means the proprietor of any dwelling, lodging, or sleeping accommodations offered as a short-term rental, whether in the capacity of owner, lessee, sublessee, mortgagee in possession, licensee, or any other possessory capacity.(2)All operators must register annually with the planning department by paying the registration fee established by the ...

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Noise Rules

Hanover County doesn't set a separate STR-specific decibel limit; instead, Zoning Ordinance § 26-300.1(1)(i)(5) requires every short-term rental to conspicuously post the Hanover County Noise Ordinance inside the property so guests see the county's general noise rules, outside the Town of Ashland.

Hanover County STR Noise Posting Rule

Light Restrictions

Hanover County Code § 26-300.1(1)(i)(5)

(i)Posting of information required. The property owner must conspicuously post the following information in any property offered for short-term rental: ... (5)The Hanover County Noise Ordinance.

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Taxes & Fees

Every Hanover County short-term rental operator, owner-occupied, accessory detached or non-owner-occupied, outside the Town of Ashland, must register annually with the planning department and pay the registration fee the Board of Supervisors sets under Zoning Ordinance Sec. 26-300.1(k). Skipping registration draws a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation and bars further rentals until the fee is paid.

Hanover County Short-Term Rental Registration Fee

Some Restrictions

Hanover County Code § 26-300.1(k)

(2)All operators must register annually with the planning department by paying the registration fee established by the board and completing a registration form providing the following information:(i)The complete name of the operator,(ii)The address of each property in the locality offered for short-term rental by the operator, and(iii)An attestation that the property owner has granted permissio...

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Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Hanover County requires one off-street parking space per guestroom at every short-term rental, on top of the parking already required for the house itself, and every guest has to park in a driveway or other constructed parking area. The rule is in Zoning Ordinance § 26-300.1(1)(b), outside Ashland.

Hanover County STR Parking Requirement

Some Restrictions

Hanover County Code § 26-300.1(1)(b)

(b)Parking spaces. One (1) off-street parking space must be provided for each guestroom, in addition to those parking spaces required for the principal dwelling. All guests of short-term rentals must park in a driveway or other area designed and constructed for parking.

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Occupancy Limits

Hanover County caps how many people can stay overnight at a short-term rental. Under Zoning Ordinance § 26-300.1, occupancy may not exceed twice the number of bedrooms in the dwelling, with a hard ceiling of ten guests, and the limit drops further if the property's septic system permit allows for fewer people, outside the Town of Ashland.

Hanover County STR Occupancy Limit

Some Restrictions

Hanover County Code § 26-300.1(1)(d)

(d)Limit on number of occupants. The occupancy of any property during a short-term rental may not exceed a number equal to twice the number of bedrooms in the dwelling but in no case shall exceed the occupancy allowed by the septic system permit, if applicable, or ten (10) occupants total.

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Host Presence Rule

Hanover County short-term rental owners must designate an adult who is reachable at all times a rental is occupied and who can respond, in person or by phone, within 60 minutes to resolve guest issues and complaints. The duty comes from Zoning Ordinance § 26-300.1(1)(c), outside the Town of Ashland.

Hanover County STR Host Response Rule

Some Restrictions

Hanover County Code § 26-300.1(1)(c)

(c)Resolution of issues and complaints. The property owner must respond to and resolve issues and complaints that arise in connection with the stay at any time. Prior to offering the property as a short-term rental, the property owner must provide, on a form provided by the planning director, the name and contact information of an adult who will be available at all times when the property is oc...

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Primary-Residence-Only Rule

An owner-occupied short-term rental in Hanover County can only operate in a dwelling the owner actually occupies at least 185 days a year. Zoning Ordinance § 26-300.1(1)(a) requires the owner to certify that occupancy to the Planning Director and prove it with a driver's license, voter card, pay stub, W-2, or bank statement.

Hanover County STR Primary Residence Rule

Significant Restrictions

Hanover County Code § 26-300.1(1)(a)

(a)Principal residence and ownership required. Only a dwelling that is occupied by the property owner for at least 185 days per year may be offered for short-term rental. Prior to offering any property as a short-term rental, the property owner must (1) certify, on a form provided by the Planning Director, that the property owner occupies the property for at least one hundred eighty-five (185) ...

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Repeat Violator Strikes

Hanover County can bar a non-owner-occupied or accessory detached short-term rental from operating at all after more than three violations of state or local law tied to the rental. The Planning Department administers the registry under Zoning Ordinance Section 26-300.1(2)(k), and operators who skip registration face a $500 civil penalty per violation before the repeat-violator prohibition even applies.

Hanover County short-term rental strike rule

Significant Restrictions

Hanover County Code § 26-300.1(2)(k)(4)-(5)

(4)Any operator who fails to register as required by this subsection is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) per violation. Unless and until such operator pays the penalty and registers such property, the operator may not continue to offer such property for short-term rental. Upon repeated violations of this subsection as it relates to a specific property, an ...

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All Hanover County ordinances

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