Frederick County, VA Short-Term Rentals: Extended Home Share (2026)

08 governs short-term lodging, also called a tourist home, on unincorporated land outside Winchester, Stephens City and Middletown. Before any lodger books a night, the owner must secure a short-term lodging administrative permit from the Department of Planning and Development and a business license from the Commissioner of the Revenue; renting without both is an unpermitted use under the Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 165. Subsection B caps occupancy at 10 unrelated persons per night, though the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code can push that lower depending on egress and life-safety calculations for the structure.

Subsection C limits the operation to five guest rooms and a single rental contract per night, so a host cannot split a house into two simultaneous bookings under separate contracts; every lodger staying that night must be tied to the same contract. The dwelling or manufactured home used for short-term lodging must remain available for County inspection during reasonable hours under the Administration article of the chapter, must meet the applicable Virginia USBC or Manufactured Home Safety Regulations as determined by the Building Official, and must post an exit-pathway plan inside the door of every sleeping room used for lodging.

Special events, as separately defined in Article XI of the chapter, are flatly prohibited in connection with a short-term lodging use, so a host cannot layer a wedding or large gathering onto the rental. The Zoning Administrator processes the permit and enforces these standards, and the Commissioner of the Revenue collects the accompanying business license.