Virginia Beach, VA Short-Term Rentals: Registration Rules (2026)

Virginia Beach built its STR registration regime around the Conditional Use Permit because it wanted neighborhood-level input before allowing transient use of single-family homes. The process begins with a pre-application meeting with Planning staff, followed by a formal CUP application that includes a site plan, a parking plan, proof of insurance, an operator contact, and the proposed house rules. The Planning Commission holds a public hearing, neighbors receive mailed notice, and the City Council votes on the CUP at a subsequent meeting. Applicants must also register separately with the Commissioner of the Revenue to obtain a lodging tax account. Operators in the Sandbridge Special Service District, where STR use has been a historic norm, follow a simpler registration pathway tied to that district. After approval, CUPs are renewable annually subject to a compliance review. A property that is sold generally requires the new owner to obtain a fresh CUP, because the permit runs with the operator and conditions rather than the land in the same way that a standard use permit would. Operating an STR without a CUP is a zoning violation and can result in fines and a cease-and-desist order.