Short-Term Rentals in Prince William County, VA (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Prince William County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Prince William County treats a short-term rental host as an "accommodations provider" under Article X of Chapter 26. Anyone who furnishes lodging to the general public for compensation, to guests staying no more than 29 consecutive days, must collect the county's 5 percent transient occupancy tax and report it to the director of finance. Sec. 26-121 supplies the definitions that decide who is covered.
Prince William County Short-Term Rental Tax Definitions
Some RestrictionsPWC Code Sec. 26-121
Accommodations provider shall mean any person that furnishes accommodations to the general public for compensation. The term "furnishes" includes the sale of use or possession or the sale of the right to use or possess. ... Hotel shall include, but is not limited to, any public or private hotel, inn, apartment hotel, hostelry, tourist home or house, motel, rooming house or other lodging place w...
Taxes & Fees
Airbnb, VRBO, and other short-term rental bookings in Prince William County owe the same 5 percent transient occupancy tax as a hotel room, under Sec. 26-122. When a booking platform (an 'accommodations intermediary') facilitates the stay, Sec. 26-124(c) makes the platform, not the host, responsible for collecting and remitting the tax computed on the full room charge.
Prince William County Short-Term Rental Occupancy Tax
Some RestrictionsPWC Code § 26-124(c)
For any retail sale of accommodations facilitated by an accommodations intermediary, the accommodations intermediary shall be deemed under this article as a facility making a retail sale of an accommodation. The accommodations intermediary shall collect the tax imposed pursuant to this article, computed on the room charge, and shall remit the same to the county and shall be liable for the same....
Night Caps
Prince William County sets no annual cap on the number of nights a property may be short-term rented. The transient occupancy tax simply applies to any stay of fewer than 30 consecutive days, with no maximum booking count.
Short-Term Rental Night Caps in Prince William County
Some RestrictionsVA Code 58.1-3819
The tax imposed hereunder shall not apply to rooms or spaces rented and continuously occupied by the same individual or same group of individuals for 30 or more days.
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