Alexandria does not impose an annual night cap on permitted STRs under Ordinance No. 5575. Renting more than 10 days per year triggers the permit requirement but no annual ceiling. The previous 120-day cap on accessory dwelling unit (ADU) STR use was removed; however, a main dwelling and its ADU may not operate as STRs simultaneously.
Effective September 1, 2025, Ordinance No. 5575 governs short-term residential rentals citywide. Unlike many jurisdictions, Alexandria sets no maximum number of nights per calendar year that a permitted STR can host paying guests. The 10-day figure that appears in city materials is a permit-trigger threshold (10 days or fewer per year is exempt from permitting; more than 10 days requires a permit) rather than an annual cap on operation. The earlier 120-day annual limit that applied specifically to accessory dwelling units used as STRs was removed by the 2025 ordinance amendments. The ordinance does, however, impose a one-listing-at-a-time rule: an owner may not operate the principal dwelling and an associated ADU as STRs simultaneously. Stays must be under 30 consecutive days to qualify as a 'short-term' rental; rentals of 30 days or longer fall outside the STR program and into landlord-tenant law. Virginia Code §15.2-983 authorizes localities to register STRs; Virginia has no statewide preemption of local night caps, so Alexandria retains discretion to add one in future amendments. Operators must still comply with the 10-guest occupancy ceiling (max 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional, excluding children 3 and under), parking standards, and the 24/7 one-hour operator-response requirement.
Because no annual night cap exists, there is no per-night overage penalty. Operating any STR without a permit (i.e., more than 10 days per year unpermitted) draws a $200 initial citation and $500 every 10 days thereafter. Operating both the main dwelling and an ADU as STRs simultaneously violates Ord. 5575 and is grounds for permit revocation.
See how Alexandria's night caps rules stack up against other locations.
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