Henrico County, VA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Henrico County, VA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Zoning Sec. 24-4431
- Allowed districts
- R-0 to R-4A and A-1 only
- Hosted by-right limit
- 6 renters, 60 days, 80-ft frontage
- CUP trigger
- Unhosted, guesthouse, or over limits
- CUP authority
- Board of Zoning Appeals hearing
Summary
Henrico allows short-term rentals (under 30 days) in one-family residence districts (R-0 through R-4A) and A-1 agricultural, only at the owner's primary residence. Hosted stays are by-right within limits; a Board of Zoning Appeals conditional use permit is required for unhosted stays, guesthouses, sub-80-foot lots, over six renters, or over
A conditional use permit is required for short-term rental, hosted stays that are: (1) Located in a guesthouse; (2) Located on a lot that does not abut a public street for at least 80 feet; (3) Occupied by more than six short-term renters at any time; or (4) Rented more than a total of 60 days in any calendar year; and for short-term rental, unhosted stays.
Full Breakdown
Because Henrico County has no incorporated towns, the County Zoning Ordinance governs every resident. Zoning Section 24-4431, added when the Board of Supervisors adopted STR rules effective July 1, 2020, permits short-term rental as an accessory use only in the One-Family Residence Districts (R-0 through R-4A) and the A-1 Agricultural District, not in townhouse or multifamily districts. A hosted stay in the principal dwelling is allowed with no special zoning approval when the lot abuts a public street for at least 80 feet, no more than six renters occupy it, and it is rented no more than 60 days a year.
Violations & Fines
Zoning enforcement is by the Henrico Planning Department. Offering a property for short-term rental without required zoning approval or registration is a violation; unregistered operation carries a $500 civil penalty per violation under County Code Sec.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Henrico County?
Can I run a short-term rental in a Henrico townhouse or apartment?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Henrico County
How Henrico County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Henrico County to another location·View the Virginia short-term rentals overview
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