Newport News, VA Short-Term Rentals: Repeat Violator Strikes (2026)
Key Facts
- Revocation threshold
- 3+ recorded violations within one year
- Reapplication bar
- 2 years after certificate revocation
- Annual certificate fee
- $150 paid to department of planning
- Civil penalty
- $200 initial summons, up to $500 each additional
- Liability insurance required
- at least $300,000 per occurrence
- Guest log
- required for zoning administrator inspection on notice
Summary
Newport News revokes a short-term rental's zoning compliance certificate after three or more recorded violations in a single year, and the owner is barred from reapplying for two years. Revocation also follows noncompliance with the STR rules, refusal to cooperate with a complaint investigation, or delinquent city charges on the rental property.
A short-term rental certificate of zoning compliance may be revoked by the zoning administrator as set forth below. An owner whose short-term rental has been revoked pursuant to this paragraph, shall not be eligible to obtain a certificate of zoning compliance for two (2) years:a.In the event there are three (3) or more violations recorded by the city within a one (1) year period; orb.For failure to comply with the regulations set forth in this section; orc.For refusal to cooperate with the city in a complaint investigation, including allowing the zoning administrator or his/her designee to enter the dwelling unit upon reasonable advance notice as permitted under section 45-3501 (a); ord.For delinquency in the payment of real estate taxes, nuisance charges, utility fees or any other charges assessed by the city against the short-term rental property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 81).
Full Breakdown
1(c). 00, submit a floor plan showing bedroom locations, and stay current on real estate taxes, nuisance charges and utility fees owed to the city. 1, refusal to cooperate with a complaint investigation (including letting the zoning administrator or a designee inspect the dwelling on reasonable notice under § 45-3501(a)), or delinquency on real estate taxes, nuisance charges, utility fees or other city charges against the property. An owner whose certificate is revoked cannot obtain a new certificate of zoning compliance for two years. Because the STR standards fall under the city's zoning chapter, a revoked owner who keeps operating faces the chapter's general civil penalties in § 45-3501(d): up to $200 for an initial summons and up to $500 for each additional summons for the same violation.
The section also requires owners to keep a guest log of names, addresses, phone numbers and arrival/departure dates, which the zoning administrator may inspect on reasonable notice to verify compliance and build the violation record that triggers a three-strikes revocation.
Violations & Fines
A first zoning-administrator summons for violating the short-term rental rules can run up to $200, with later summonses up to $500 each under § 45-3501(d). Three or more recorded violations within one year triggers outright revocation of the STR certificate of zoning compliance, and the owner is locked out of reapplying for two years under § 45-517.1(c)(6)a. Operating without a valid certificate after revocation is itself a further zoning violation subject to additional civil penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many violations before Newport News revokes my short-term rental certificate?
Can I reapply for a new STR certificate after Newport News revokes mine?
What can trigger revocation besides repeat violations?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Newport News
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