Alexandria City, VA Short-Term Rentals: Permit Requirements (2026)

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 (§3-2-152) and the short-term rental tax under Article T (§3-2-363).