Norfolk caps a vacation rental at two guests per bedroom, no more than ten guests total, in no more than five bedrooms. Homes with over five bedrooms cannot be vacation rentals.
The Norfolk Zoning Ordinance limits each vacation-rental dwelling to two guests for every bedroom, with a hard ceiling of ten guests staying in no more than five bedrooms at any one time. A dwelling with more than five bedrooms cannot be used as a vacation rental at all. Bedroom count is taken from the city's real property records, not the listing, so operators must post the maximum occupancy inside the unit and provide a labeled floor plan. Occupancy must be stated identically across every booking platform the operator uses.
Exceeding the occupancy cap is a zoning violation; the city can impose conditions, deny, or revoke the zoning certificate or Conditional Use Permit, and acts on complaints filed through MyNorfolk.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Norfolk City, VA
Norfolk lets residents put up holiday decorations on private property without a permit. Displays just cannot block sidewalks or sight lines, create fire or e...
Norfolk City, VA
Norfolk allows small temporary signs to advertise a yard or garage sale on private property, but bars them from the public right-of-way, utility poles, and t...
Norfolk City, VA
Norfolk treats political yard signs as temporary signs under its zoning ordinance and cannot regulate their message. Signs are allowed on private property wi...
Norfolk City, VA
Norfolk runs rental inspection districts under Va. Code 36-105.1:1 and City Code Chapter 36.1. Rental homes in designated older neighborhoods must pass a cod...
Norfolk City, VA
Norfolk follows the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, not a local just-cause law. Landlords must give written notice and sue in court; a month-to...
Norfolk City, VA
Norfolk has no rent control, and it legally cannot enact any. Virginia is a strict Dillon's Rule state, so no locality may cap rent without the General Assem...
See how Norfolk City's occupancy limits rules stack up against other locations.
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