Short-term rental permit rules in Norfolk City, VA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Norfolk regulates short-term rentals through its Zoning Ordinance. Every rental needs a Zoning Permit (or a Conditional Use Permit) plus a Business License; Virginia Code §15.2-983 authorizes the rules.
Norfolk splits short-term rentals into two zoning uses: a Vacation Rental, where all owners are off-site during the stay, and a Homestay, where an owner is present on-site. To operate legally, a property needs a Zoning Permit and a Business License; where it does not qualify by-right, a Conditional Use Permit approved by City Council is required (roughly $1,080, two to three months). Owners may also file an optional two-year administrative registration with the Department of City Planning. Virginia Code §15.2-983 expressly authorizes localities to regulate short-term rentals. Questions go to STR@norfolk.gov.
Operating without the required Zoning Permit or Business License is a zoning violation; the city can pursue civil penalties, deny or revoke the authorization, and act on complaints filed through MyNorfolk.
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See how Norfolk City's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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