Virginia Beach, VA Short-Term Rentals: Noise Rules (2026)

Short-term rentals in Virginia Beach operate under a dedicated regulatory framework in the City Zoning Ordinance that requires a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for most properties outside the Sandbridge Special Service District. One of the core CUP conditions is a strict noise standard. Between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., amplified music, loud gatherings, and audible noise from inside or outside the rental must not be plainly audible at neighboring properties. The operator must post the 24-hour contact information for a responsible party inside the unit and supply it to the city, and that contact must be able to arrive on site or resolve a complaint within 30 minutes. Repeat violations of the noise rule are tracked by the Zoning Administrator and can trigger a show-cause hearing that ends in revocation of the CUP. The general city noise ordinance in Chapter 23 remains fully applicable as well, which means police can cite both the guest and the owner under general law while the Zoning Administrator separately pursues CUP enforcement. These rules were tightened after years of complaints from Oceanfront and North End residents and are an important reason the city maintains caps on the density of STRs in certain neighborhoods.