Hanover County, VA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Hanover County, VA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Who must register
- Non-owner-occupied and accessory-detached STR operators
- Registration frequency
- Annual, with planning department
- Fee
- Set by Board of Supervisors
- Exempt operators
- Licensed real estate agents, hotels, timeshares
- Penalty for non-registration
- Up to $500 civil penalty per violation
Summary
Anyone operating a non-owner-occupied or accessory-detached short-term rental in Hanover County outside Ashland must register annually with the Planning Department under Zoning Ordinance § 26-300.1(2)(k). Registration requires the operator's name, every rental address, and a registration fee; several licensed categories, including real estate agents, are exempt.
(k)Registry.(1)As used in this section, "Operator" means the proprietor of any dwelling, lodging, or sleeping accommodations offered as a short-term rental, whether in the capacity of owner, lessee, sublessee, mortgagee in possession, licensee, or any other possessory capacity.(2)All operators must register annually with the planning department by paying the registration fee established by the board and completing a registration form providing the following information: ... (4)Any operator who fails to register as required by this subsection is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) per violation. Unless and until such operator pays the penalty and registers such property, the operator may not continue to offer such property for short-term rental.
Full Breakdown
The Zoning Ordinance defines an 'Operator' broadly: the proprietor of any dwelling, lodging, or sleeping accommodations offered as a short-term rental, whether acting as owner, lessee, sublessee, mortgagee in possession, licensee, or in any other possessory capacity. Every operator of a non-owner-occupied or accessory-detached short-term rental must register annually with the Hanover County Planning Department, pay the registration fee set by the Board of Supervisors, and complete a form listing the operator's full name, the address of each rental property in the county, and, for lessees or sublessees, an attestation that the underlying property owner has granted permission for short-term rental use.
The code carves out several exemptions from registration: real estate licensees and owners represented by one, parties already registered under the Virginia Real Estate Time-Share Act, providers licensed or registered with the Virginia Department of Health for lodging, and property already licensed or registered with the county for rental or property management, including hotels, motels, campgrounds, and bed and breakfasts. 1(1)(a), where the owner certifies principal residence to the Planning Director rather than registering as an operator. 1(2)(k)(4), and unregistered properties cannot lawfully continue to be offered for short-term rental until the operator pays the penalty and registers.
Violations & Fines
An operator who fails to register is subject to a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation under § 26-300.1(2)(k)(4). Until the penalty is paid and the property is registered, the operator may not continue offering it for short-term rental. Repeated violations tied to a specific property can lead the county to bar that property from registering or operating as a short-term rental altogether.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all Hanover County short-term rental hosts have to register?
What information does the Hanover County short-term rental registration form require?
What is the penalty for not registering a short-term rental in Hanover County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hanover County
How Hanover County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Hanover County to another location·View the Virginia short-term rentals overview
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