Short-term rental permit rules in Alexandria City, VA β also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration β list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Alexandria Ordinance No. 5575 (effective September 1, 2025) replaces the previous registration system with a formal Short-Term Residential Rental Permit administered by the Department of Planning & Zoning. Any property rented for more than 10 days per calendar year must hold a permit. Annual permit fees are $100 for owner-occupied rentals and $350 for owner-unoccupied rentals.
Ordinance No. 5575, adopted by City Council in 2025 and effective September 1, 2025, establishes a permit-based regulatory framework for short-term residential rentals (STRs). Previously, Alexandria operated under a registration system tied to the city's transient lodging tax. Under the new ordinance, properties used as STRs for more than 10 days in a calendar year must obtain a Short-Term Residential Rental Permit from Planning & Zoning, submitted through the city's APEX online system. Application requirements include: proof of ownership or signed owner consent if the applicant is a tenant; designation of a registered local agent if the owner resides more than 30 miles from the property; a parking plan; photographs verifying installed smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and a fire extinguisher; and a copy of the city's Good Neighbor Guide posted inside the rental. Applicants must also notify neighboring properties by certified mail and submit proof of mailing. Permit fees are $100 annually for owner-occupied units and $350 annually for owner-unoccupied units (non-refundable). The city continues to require collection and remittance of the transient lodging tax under City Code Title 3, Chapter 2, Article K (Β§3-2-152) and the short-term rental tax under Article T (Β§3-2-363).
Operating an STR without a permit triggers an initial civil citation of $200, followed by a $500 citation every 10 days thereafter until a complete permit application is submitted. Continued non-compliance can lead to permit denial or revocation.
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