Frederick County, VA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

08, and its occupancy rules are numeric and specific. No more than 10 unrelated persons may lodge on the property in a single night, though the cap drops further if the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) sets a lower occupant limit for the structure, since the stricter of the two controls. The ordinance also caps the number of guest rooms offered for short-term lodging at five, regardless of how large the house is. A separate rule limits each dwelling to a single rental contract per night: everyone lodging there must be associated with that one contract, so an operator can't book several unrelated parties into different rooms of the same house on the same night to get around the person cap.

The use has to comply with the applicable Virginia USBC or Manufactured Home Safety Regulations as determined by the Building Official, and special events, weddings, parties and similar gatherings, are prohibited outright in connection with short-term lodging. The Department of Planning and Development administers the use, and the property must be available for inspection during reasonable hours under Article II of the ordinance.