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

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Minimum owner-occupancy
185 days per permit year
Permit term
issue date through Dec. 31
Proof required
driver's license, voter card, or passport
Non-owner-occupied rentals
do not qualify as homestays

Summary

A Charlottesville homestay is only legal if the owner actually lives there: the Accessory Use Permit requires the owner to occupy the dwelling as a permanent residence for at least 185 days during the permit's one-year term, ruling out pure investment-property rentals.

9. Each Accessory Use Permit for a homestay will be valid from the date on which the permit is issued through December 31 of the calendar year in which the permit is issued. During this period of validity, the owner of the homestay must occupy the dwelling unit as their permanent residence for a minimum of 185 days.

View official code

Full Breakdown

9 ties owner-occupancy directly to the life of the permit. Each Accessory Use Permit for a homestay is valid only from its issue date through December 31 of that same calendar year, and during that window the owner must occupy the dwelling unit as their permanent residence for a minimum of 185 days. passport, or another document the Administrator accepts as equivalent proof. Because the permit resets every calendar year, an owner must re-clear the 185-day occupancy threshold annually to keep operating, and a property that is not the owner's actual home for most of the year cannot qualify as a homestay no matter how the rental is marketed.

Violations & Fines

Falling short of the 185-day occupancy requirement, or renting out a property that is not the owner's actual permanent residence, is a failure to maintain compliance with Section 3.5.2.E, which Section 3.5.2.E.10.b lists as grounds for the Administrator to revoke the Accessory Use Permit outright.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to live in the home I'm renting out in Charlottesville?
Yes. Development Code Section 3.5.2.E.9 requires the owner of a homestay to occupy the dwelling as their permanent residence for at least 185 days during the permit's calendar-year validity period, so pure investment-property short-term rentals do not qualify as homestays.
How long does a Charlottesville homestay permit last?
An Accessory Use Permit for a homestay runs from its issue date through December 31 of that same calendar year under Section 3.5.2.E.9, meaning every homestay operator must renew annually and re-demonstrate the 185-day occupancy requirement.
What counts as proof that I actually live there?
Section 3.5.2.E.5.a accepts a driver's license, voter registration card, U.S. passport, or another document the Administrator determines shows the property address as your permanent residence when you apply for the Accessory Use Permit.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Charlottesville

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All Charlottesville rules

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