Charlottesville, VA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Charlottesville, VA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Permit type
- Accessory Use Permit
- Issuing authority
- Zoning Administrator, Neighborhood Development Services
- Must prove
- ownership and permanent residence
- Acceptable proof
- driver's license, voter card, or passport
- City inspection
- at least once per permit year, advance notice
Summary
Operating a short-term rental (called a Homestay) in Charlottesville requires an Accessory Use Permit. Applicants must prove they own and permanently live at the property and must identify a responsible party, and the city can inspect the home once a year to confirm compliance.
5. An individual who applies for an Accessory Use Permit to authorize the operation of a homestay must present proof of the following: a. The individual's ownership and permanent residence of the property that is the subject of the application. Acceptable proof of permanent residence includes: applicant's drivers license, voter registration card or U.S. passport, or other documents showing the address of the property which the Administrator determines provide equivalent proof of permanent residence at the property; and b. Contact information for the responsible party. If the owner is not the responsible party who will be responsible during the time of use as a homestay, then the responsible party must be identified and must sign the application form.
Full Breakdown
The Development Code treats short-term rentals as a Homestay accessory use under Div. E, and every homestay needs an Accessory Use Permit before it can operate. passport, or another document the Administrator determines shows the property as the applicant's permanent address. The application must also include contact information for the responsible party; if the owner will not be the person responsible while guests are staying, that responsible party must be identified by name and must sign the application form. 2 layers most Home Occupation standards onto homestays as well, including the requirement that the use stay subordinate to the residential use and comply with noise, odor and hazardous-material restrictions.
8 authorizes City inspectors to enter the property, with reasonable advance written notice, at least once during the calendar year the permit is valid, specifically to verify the homestay is being run according to these requirements.
Violations & Fines
Hosting overnight guests for pay without first securing the Accessory Use Permit, or submitting false ownership or residency proof to get one, means the rental is not authorized and Neighborhood Development Services can deny or decline to renew the permit. An unauthorized homestay is treated as a zoning violation the Administrator can act on the same as any other unpermitted accessory use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What permit do I need to run a short-term rental (homestay) in Charlottesville?
What if I'm not the one managing the rental day to day?
Can the city inspect my homestay?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charlottesville
How Charlottesville compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Charlottesville to another location·View the Virginia short-term rentals overview
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