Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Charlottesville, VA Short-Term Rentals: Repeat Violator Strikes (2026)

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

Key Facts

Complaint-based revocation trigger
3+ substantiated complaints/year
Also revocable for
any noncompliance with Section 3.5.2.E
Who revokes
the Administrator (Neighborhood Development Services)
Reapplication lockout
rest of that year plus all of the next

Summary

Charlottesville can revoke a homestay's Accessory Use Permit once the city gets 3 or more substantiated complaints in a calendar year, or for any other noncompliance, and a revoked owner is locked out of new homestay permits for the rest of that year and all of the next.

10. An Accessory Use Permit for a homestay may be revoked by the Administrator for the following reasons: a. In the event that 3 or more substantiated complaints are received by the City within a calendar year; or ... ... b. For failure to maintain compliance with any of the requirements of this Section. 11. A property owner whose Accessory Use Permit has been revoked is not eligible to receive any new Accessory Use Permits for homestays for the remaining portion of the calendar year in which the permit is revoked and for the entire succeeding calendar year.

Full Breakdown

10 gives the Administrator two independent grounds to pull a homestay's Accessory Use Permit. The first is a complaint-based strike rule: revocation is available in the event that 3 or more substantiated complaints are received by the City within a calendar year. E can be enough on its own. 11 states that a property owner whose Accessory Use Permit has been revoked is not eligible to receive any new Accessory Use Permits for homestays for the remaining portion of the calendar year in which the permit is revoked and for the entire succeeding calendar year.

Depending on when in the year the revocation happens, that can function as a lockout well over a full year long before the owner can apply again.

Violations & Fines

Accumulating 3 or more substantiated complaints in a calendar year, or otherwise falling out of compliance with any homestay standard in Section 3.5.2.E, triggers revocation under Section 3.5.2.E.10. A revoked owner then cannot obtain a new homestay Accessory Use Permit for the balance of that year plus the entire following year under Section 3.5.2.E.11.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does it take to lose a homestay permit in Charlottesville?
Three. Development Code Section 3.5.2.E.10.a lets the Administrator revoke a homestay's Accessory Use Permit once the City receives 3 or more substantiated complaints against it within a single calendar year.
Can my permit be revoked for reasons other than complaints?
Yes. Section 3.5.2.E.10.b also allows revocation simply for failure to maintain compliance with any of the requirements of this Section, so a single serious violation, not just repeated complaints, can end the permit.
If my homestay permit is revoked, can I reapply the same year?
No. Section 3.5.2.E.11 blocks a revoked owner from getting any new homestay Accessory Use Permit for the rest of that calendar year and for the entire following calendar year, a lockout of well over one full year in some cases.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Charlottesville

All Charlottesville rules

Compare Charlottesville to another location·View the Virginia short-term rentals overview

Get notified when Repeat Violator Strikes in Charlottesville, VA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.