Prince William County, VA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Prince William County, VA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- STR registry
- No standalone registry
- Register with
- PWC Tax Administration
- Trigger
- Lodging rented under 30 days
- Defining code
- PWC Code Sec. 26-121
- Tax rate
- 8% transient occupancy tax
Summary
There is no separate short-term rental registry, but every business offering lodging for 30 days or less must register with Prince William County Tax Administration to collect and remit the transient occupancy tax. County Code Sec. 26-121 defines the lodging and transient covered.
A transient is any person who, for any period of not more than 29 consecutive days, either at his own expense or at the expense of another, obtains lodging or the use of any space in any hotel or travel campground, for which lodging or use of space a charge is made.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 46 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
Prince William County does not maintain a dedicated STR registration program. Instead, operators register as a lodging business with the Tax Administration Division so the 8% transient occupancy tax can be reported and remitted. County Code Sec. 26-121 defines "hotel" broadly to include tourist homes and other lodging places offering lodging for four or more persons, and defines a "transient" by the length of stay. Short-term rental of tangible personal property is separately addressed as a business/property tax under Chapter 26, Article XIII (a 92-day daily-rental classification, distinct from the lodging tax).
Violations & Fines
Failure to register and file transient occupancy tax returns results in tax assessment, penalties and interest under Chapter 26.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a short-term rental registry in the county?
How does the county define a covered lodging?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Prince William County
How Prince William County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Prince William County to another location·View the Virginia short-term rentals overview
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