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Loudoun County, VA Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Minimum owner occupancy
185 days per calendar year
Rental period cap
180 days per calendar year
Guest rooms per parcel
Maximum 4
Registration required
Chapter 1470, annual
First civil penalty
$200, then $500 each charge

Summary

In unincorporated Loudoun County, a Short-Term Rental, Residential Accessory operator must live in the rented dwelling at least 185 days a year. The rule is tied to the Zoning Permit and Chapter 1470 registration, not to whole-house commercial rentals, which follow separate standards.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Loudoun County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Residency Requirement. The Operator must occupy the dwelling unit the Short-Term Rental, Residential Accessory use is accessory to for a minimum of 185 days out of the calendar year.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Loudoun County's Zoning Ordinance treats an owner-occupied short-term rental as its own use category, distinct from Short-Term Rental, Commercial Whole-House. 1. 4) limited to one per parcel or condominium unit. c). An Operator or designated Manager must be reachable by phone within 30 minutes and on-site within 60 minutes during any rental. This use only applies in unincorporated Loudoun County; Leesburg, Purcellville, Hamilton, Middleburg, Round Hill, Hillsboro and Lovettsville regulate short-term rentals under their own town codes.

Violations & Fines

Operating without meeting the 185-day residency test, without Chapter 1470 registration, or without a valid Zoning Permit is a Zoning Ordinance violation. Under Section 10.13.E.1.b, civil violations carry a $200 penalty for the first charge and $500 for each additional charge, with each day of a continuing violation counted separately (no more than once per 10-day period for the same facts). The Zoning Administrator can also revoke the Zoning Permit for noncompliance, and repeated violations exceeding $5,000 in civil penalties from the same facts can be prosecuted criminally under Va. Code § 15.2-2286.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rent my Loudoun County home short-term without living there?
Not under the Residential Accessory category. Section 4.03.05.C.3.g requires the Operator to occupy the dwelling at least 185 days per year; a non-owner-occupied option exists only under the separate Short-Term Rental, Commercial Whole-House standards, which carry their own permit path.
Do I need a permit in addition to registering?
Yes. Chapter 1470 registration and a Zoning Permit under Section 4.03.05.C.4 are both required, and the permit is non-transferable to a new operator or property.
How many nights per year can I rent my Loudoun County home?
A Residential Accessory short-term rental is capped at 180 days per calendar year under Section 4.03.05.C.3.c, separate from the 185-day owner-occupancy minimum that governs the rest of the year.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Loudoun County

Short-Term Rental PermitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSignificant RestrictionsNight CapsSome RestrictionsRepeat Violator StrikesSignificant RestrictionsOccupancy LimitsSome RestrictionsExtended Home ShareFew RestrictionsHost Presence RuleSignificant RestrictionsShort-Term Rental Parking RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions

All Loudoun County rules

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