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

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

Key Facts

Outdoor sound curfew
No amplified sound 10 p.m.–10 a.m.
Overnight lodger cap
3 overnight lodgers per bedroom max
Cap window
Applies 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Enforcement
CUP condition, Planning Department
Penalty
CUP or grandfather status revocation

Summary

Virginia Beach short-term rentals must end outdoor amplified sound by 10 p.m. and cap overnight occupancy at three lodgers per bedroom after 11 p.m., conditions attached to every STR permit.

(10)There shall be no outdoor amplified sound after 10:00 p.m. or before 10:00 a.m.;(11)The maximum number of persons on the property after 11:00 p.m. and before 7:00 a.m. ("overnight lodgers") shall be three (3) individuals per bedroom;

Source: Virginia Beach Zoning Ordinance - STR Conditional Use StandardsView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 170 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

Virginia Beach's zoning ordinance conditions every short-term rental conditional use permit on noise and occupancy limits: no outdoor amplified sound is permitted after 10:00 p.m. or before 10:00 a.m., and the property cannot house more than three "overnight lodgers" per bedroom between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Operators must post a Short-Term Rental Hotline number on-site and summaries of City Code noise sections 23-69 through 23-71 inside the unit. The Planning Department enforces these conditions, and City Council can revoke the permit or grandfathered status after a violation and hearing under Code of Virginia § 15.2-2204.

Violations & Fines

Violating the noise curfew or overnight lodger cap is grounds for conditional use permit or grandfathered-status revocation by City Council after notice and a hearing under Code of Virginia § 15.2-2204.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Virginia Beach short-term rental play outdoor music at midnight?
No. City Zoning Ordinance § 241.2(10) bans outdoor amplified sound after 10:00 p.m. and before 10:00 a.m. at every short-term rental, regardless of the property's underlying zoning district.
How many overnight guests can stay at a Virginia Beach STR?
No more than three "overnight lodgers" per bedroom between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., per City Zoning Ordinance § 241.2(11), a hard per-bedroom cap, not a whole-property limit.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Virginia Beach

All Virginia Beach rules

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