Short-Term Rentals in James City County, VA (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated James City County, Virginia.

Verified from official government sources

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

Short-Term Rental Permits

James City County treats short-term "tourist home" rentals as a zoned use, not a blanket business license. In the county's A-1 General Agricultural District, a tourist home, defined as lodging for compensation in up to five rooms open to transients, needs a special use permit from the Board of Supervisors before it can operate, while the same use is allowed by right in several other districts.

James City County Tourist Home Permit Rule

Significant Restrictions

James City County Code §§ 24-2, 24-212

Tourist home. ... A dwelling where lodging or lodging and meals are provided for compensation for up to five rooms which are open to transients. ... Use Category Use List Permitted Uses Specially Permitted Uses ... Tourist homes. SUP

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

James City County's Zoning Ordinance caps a tourist home, the county's bed-and-breakfast-style short-term rental category, at five rooms open to paying transients. Sec. 24-2 defines the use, and district use tables require a special use permit in most zones before a property owner can rent out rooms this way.

Tourist Home Room Cap in James City County

Some Restrictions

James City County Code § 24-2 ("Tourist home")

Tourist home. A dwelling where lodging or lodging and meals are provided for compensation for up to five rooms which are open to transients.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All James City County ordinances

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

James City County Ordinance Hub →