Newport News, VA Hotels & Lodging: Transient Occupancy Tax (2026)
Key Facts
- Room tax rate
- 8% of total room charge
- Flat night fee
- $1 per night (not campgrounds)
- Who collects
- Provider or booking intermediary
- Remittance deadline
- 20th of following month
- Exemption
- Hospitals, clinics, convalescent homes
Summary
Newport News taxes hotel and short-term lodging stays at 8% of the total room charge, plus a flat $1 per night charge for every stay except campgrounds, collected by the accommodations provider or booking platform.
There is hereby imposed and levied on each transient a tax equivalent to eight (8) percent of the total amount paid for the use of accommodations. In addition thereto, there is hereby imposed and levied a flat tax of one dollar ($1.00) for each night of lodging at any place other than a campground.
(Ord. No. 1508, § 2; Code 1961, § 16-107; Ord. No. 4731-95, § 1; Ord. No. 5788-02, § 1; Ord. No. 6959-13, § 1; Ord. No. 7054-14, § 1; Ord. No. 7747-21, § 1)
Editor's note— Ord. No. 7054-14, § 1, adopted May 13, 2014, shall be in effect on and after July 1, 2014.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 81).
Full Breakdown
Newport News levies an 8 percent tax on the total amount paid for hotel, motel, and short-term rental accommodations, plus a flat $1-per-night charge on every stay except at campgrounds. The tax applies to any 'transient' - someone obtaining accommodations for 30 consecutive days or less. Accommodations providers and booking intermediaries (hotel operators or platforms like Airbnb/VRBO) must collect the tax and remit it to the city treasurer by the 20th of the following month. Charges for board and lodging at hospitals, medical clinics, convalescent homes, or homes for the aged are exempt.
Violations & Fines
Willfully failing to collect, remit, or account for the tax is a Class 1 misdemeanor plus liability for the unpaid amount; late remittance draws a 10-25% penalty and 10% annual interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the tax apply to Airbnb and VRBO stays in Newport News?
Is the $1 nightly fee charged at campgrounds?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Newport News
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