York County, VA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Sec. 24.1-409 sets standards for boarding houses and short-term rental homes, defined to include tourist homes and bed and breakfast establishments. Any special use permit application for a short-term rental home must include a narrative describing operating procedures, how guest behavior will be monitored, the maximum number of occupants, minimum and maximum length of stay, the number of bedrooms to be rented, off-street parking accommodations, and whether individual rooms or the whole house will be rented, along with a floor plan identifying which rooms are available to renters.

The planning commission and board weigh that application under the standards in Sec. 24.1-115(b)(3), plus roadway capacity and traffic impact on the surrounding network. Before operating, the owner/proprietor must secure all applicable Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code permits and Department of Fire and Life Safety approvals, obtain a York County business license, establish a county transient occupancy tax account, and file with the Virginia Department of Taxation for a state sales tax account. Life-safety conditions include an Emergency Action Plan approved by the Fire Marshal and posted for guests, at least one 2A10BC-rated fire extinguisher, an annual fire inspection by the Department of Fire and Life Safety, and interconnected smoke detectors installed per Section R314 of the 2012 Virginia Residential Code.

The owner or a designated responsible party must be available to resolve complaints and must give the Sheriff's Office their name, address, phone number, and email.