Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Loudoun County

Loudoun County, VA Short-Term Rentals: Night Caps (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Annual cap
180 days per calendar year
Applies to
Residential Accessory STR only
Waivable by Minor Special Exception?
no
Whole House STR night cap
none: different limits apply
Also fixed in
Chapter 12 use definition

Summary

A Short-Term Rental, Residential Accessory use in unincorporated Loudoun County, renting a room or portion of your home while you still live there, is capped at 180 days per calendar year; the whole-house commercial short-term rental has no such annual night cap.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Loudoun County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Rental Period. A Dwelling Unit, or portion thereof, only must be used as a Short-Term Rental, Residential Accessory use for a maximum of 180 days per calendar year.

View official code

Full Breakdown

1 among the provisions that 'cannot be modified by Minor Special Exception,' so the Zoning Administrator has no discretion to grant an operator more than 180 rental days in a calendar year. B, which governs the Short-Term Rental, Commercial Whole House use in a not-otherwise-occupied dwelling, contains no equivalent annual night ceiling, its limits are on guest count, room count, and permit conditions rather than total nights per year, so operators seeking to rent more than 180 nights annually must qualify for the whole-house classification instead of the residential-accessory one.

Violations & Fines

Because the 180-day cap cannot be modified by Minor Special Exception, exceeding it is a straightforward Zoning Permit violation the Zoning Administrator can cite, and it can also be treated as a 'Short Term, Recurring Zoning Violation' under the Chapter 12 definition, allowing the County to count each day of over-the-cap rental activity as a separate violation once written notice has been given, compounding exposure the longer the operator continues past 180 nights.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many nights per year can I rent out a room in my Loudoun County home?
Up to 180 days per calendar year under Zoning Ordinance Section 4.03.05.C.3.c, which governs the Short-Term Rental, Residential Accessory use: renting a room or part of the home you continue to occupy. This cap cannot be modified by Minor Special Exception.
Does the 180-night cap apply if I rent out my entire house while I'm away?
No. That's a Short-Term Rental, Commercial Whole House use under Section 4.03.05.B, which has no annual night cap of its own; its restrictions are on guest count, room count, and permit conditions rather than total nights per year.
Can the County grant an exception to rent more than 180 nights a year as a residential-accessory rental?
No. Section 4.03.05.C.1 specifically lists the 180-day Rental Period requirement among the provisions that cannot be modified by Minor Special Exception, so the Zoning Administrator has no authority to waive or extend it.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Loudoun County

Short-Term Rental PermitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSignificant RestrictionsPrimary-Residence-Only RuleSome RestrictionsRepeat Violator StrikesSignificant RestrictionsOccupancy LimitsSome RestrictionsExtended Home ShareFew RestrictionsHost Presence RuleSignificant RestrictionsShort-Term Rental Parking RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions

All Loudoun County rules

Compare Loudoun County to another location·View the Virginia short-term rentals overview

Get notified when Night Caps in Loudoun County, VA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.