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Albemarle County, VA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Parking Rules (2026)

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

Key Facts

Parking source
§ 4.12.6, in addition to dwelling's own parking
Alternative off-site parking
not permitted (§ 4.12.8 excluded)
Disclosure required at
zoning clearance application, § 5.1.48(a)
Extra screening trigger
parking within 125 feet of an abutting lot (RA, 5+ acres)

Summary

A homestay in Albemarle County must provide off-street parking under Zoning Ordinance § 4.12.6 on top of the parking already required for the single-family dwelling, and § 5.1.48(b)(4) bars using the county's alternative off-site parking option for that homestay parking.

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

4.Parking. In addition to the parking required for a single-family dwelling, the number of off-street parking spaces required by section 4.12.6 must be provided on-site. No alternative parking under section 4.12.8 is permitted.

Full Breakdown

6 must be provided in addition to the parking already required for the single-family dwelling itself, not in place of it. 8 is permitted for a homestay, meaning off-site or shared parking arrangements the county allows for other uses are not an option here. 48(a)(1)(i) requires the zoning clearance application to state the provision of authorized on-site parking, and the accompanying schematic plan must show how access, on-site parking, outdoor lighting, signage and minimum yards will comply with the chapter before the county issues a clearance. 7(b) through (e). 6 are added on top.

Violations & Fines

Operating a homestay without the on-site parking required by § 18-5.1.48(b)(4), or relying on off-site alternative parking barred by that subsection, is a Chapter 18 zoning violation under § 18-36.1. The zoning administrator's enforcement path runs through a notice of violation, then a civil summons of $200 for the first offense and $500 for each subsequent one, capped at $5,000 aggregate under § 18-36.3, before misdemeanor prosecution becomes available under § 18-36.4.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a homestay in Albemarle County use street parking or a neighbor's lot?
No. Section 18-5.1.48(b)(4) requires the § 4.12.6 homestay parking to be provided on-site and expressly bars using the county's alternative parking option under § 4.12.8, which otherwise allows off-site or shared arrangements for some other uses.
Does homestay parking replace the parking my house already needs?
No, it stacks on top. Section 18-5.1.48(b)(4) requires homestay parking under § 4.12.6 to be provided in addition to the parking already required for the single-family dwelling, not as a substitute for it.
Is homestay parking disclosed when applying for a zoning clearance?
Yes. Section 18-5.1.48(a)(1)(i) requires the application to state the provision of authorized on-site parking, and the accompanying schematic plan must show how that parking complies with the chapter before a clearance can issue.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Albemarle County

All Albemarle County rules

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