The Virginia Beach City Council has been studying possible regulations for short-term home rentals, like those 
promoted on Airbnb and other sites, out of concern for how rentals affect quiet residential neighborhoods – especially with increased traffic, parking and noise. The council also wants to ensure the safety of visitors who rent homes, apartments or rooms.
To assist with this work, the Council and appointed an ad hoc committee to make recommendations. See the
Committee Recommendations.
The Council also adopted an ordinance requiring owners who rent their homes to register with the Commissioner of the Revenue. Such rentals are required to pay city and state taxes, the same as hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts.
Overview
January 15, 2019
City Council approved
an Ordinance regulating short term rentals on January 15, 2019. Though the
Ordinance has been adopted, the regulations will not take effect until November
1, 2019. A Conditional Use Permit (CUP) will be required for any short term
rental that is operating and was not registered with the Commissioner of
Revenue prior to July 1, 2018. The CUP requirement does not pertain to any short
term rental located in the Sandbridge Special Service District. City Council is
working with staff to established a process for which other neighborhoods can
apply to become an overlay district. Please contact the Zoning Office at
385-8074 should you have any questions.
Short Term Rental Adopted Ordinance - Summary
November 29, 2018
The Planning Commission will be holding a workshop on "Short Term Rentals", Thursday, November 29, 2018 at 5 p.m. in the Planning Conference Room, Building 2. The public is invited to attend, but there will be no public comment.
April 10, 2018
City Council held a discussion on short term rentals at their informal meeting on April 3rd. At this meeting, Vice Mayor Louis Jones distributed a draft ordinance he had prepared. The draft Ordinance permits home-sharing by-right and only requires registration with the Commissioner of Revenue Office. Short term rentals are permitted by-right in the Sandbridge SSD, Ocean Front Resort District, and the North End overlay. The draft ordinance proposes creating an overlay district for Sandbridge. In all other parts of the City, short term rentals would require a conditional use permit. Where short term rentals are permitted by-right or where they require a conditional use permit, they must adhere to 11 conditions. Please click the link below to view the draft Ordinance for more details.
The City Council will hold a workshop to discuss short term rentals on April 17, 2018.
April 3, 2018
City Council held a discussion on short term rentals at their informal meeting on April 3. At this meeting, Vice Mayor Louis Jones distributed a draft ordinance he had prepared. The draft Ordinance permits home-sharing by-right and only requires registration with the Commissioner of Revenue Office. Short term rentals are permitted by-right in the Sandbridge SSD, Ocean Front Resort District, and the North End overlay. The draft ordinance proposes creating an overlay district for Sandbridge. In all other parts of the City, short term rentals would require a conditional use permit. Where short term rentals are permitted by-right or where they require a conditional use permit, they must adhere to 11 conditions.
The City Council will hold a workshop to discuss short term rentals on April 17, 2018.
Draft Ordinance
March 20, 2018
The Virginia Beach City Council voted unanimously (10-0) to defer consideration of the short term rental ordinances for 60 days at their formal session. Eight speakers appeared before City Council. The video of the session can be viewed by the link below.
March 13, 2018
The Virginia Beach City Council held a workshop on March 13th to further discuss short term rentals. City Council discussed House Bill 824. The text of this house bill regarding Sandbridge is as follows:
"3. That any short-term rental located in the Sandbridge Special Service District in the City of Virginia Beach shall be a principal use subject to the City's regulations applicable to short-term rentals. Whether a short-term rental located in any other area of the City of Virginia Beach is a permitted use shall be determined by the provisions of the City's zoning ordinance."
City Council discussed possible regulations for short term rentals; however, no consensus was reached. Following the discussion, City Council unanimously agreed that more time was needed to properly address this issue. They agreed to defer the item for 60 days at the March 20th City Council formal session. The video of the workshop can be viewed by the link below.
March 6, 2018
The Virginia Beach City Council, at the March 6, 2018 Formal Session, received public comment regarding short term rentals. Fifty-Five (55) speakers appeared in front of Council. The video of the session can be viewed by the link below.
February 27, 2018
City Council Workshop on February 27, 2018
The Virginia Beach City Council held a workshop on February 27 to discuss Short Term Rentals. Staff supplied them with a matrix comparing all previous drafts and considerations.
Read more on the matrix.
View
video of City Council Meeting session on Short Term Rentals.
February 20, 2018
Planning Director’s Update to City Council On February 20, Planning Director Barry Frankenfield briefed the Virginia Beach City Council on the progress of Short Term Rentals through the Planning Commission’s recommendations.
View City Council
Video February 14, 2018
The Planning Commission public hearing was held on February 14, 2018 and the Planning Commission passed the following recommendations on to City Council for their consideration:
City of Virginia Beach (Alternative 1) – An Ordinance to Amend Sections 102, 111, 401, 501, 601, 901, 1110,1125, 1521 and 2203 of the City Zoning Ordinance and Section 5.2 of the Oceanfront Resort District Form-Based Code and Add Sections 209.6 and 241.2 of the City Zoning Ordinance pertaining to Definition, Requirements and Use of Home Sharing and Short Term Rentals
Planning Commission voted 11-0 to recommend Denial
City of Virginia Beach (Alternative 1) – An Ordinance to Add Article 23, Consisting of Sections 2300 through 2303, (Short Term Rental Overlay District) to the City Zoning Ordinance Establishing Regulations and Requirements pertaining to Short Term Rentals
Planning Commission voted 11-0 to recommend Denial
City of Virginia Beach (Alternative 1) – An Ordinance to Amend the Official Zoning Map by the Designation and Incorporation of Property into Short Term Rental Overlay District
Planning Commission voted 11-0 to recommend Denial
City of Virginia Beach (Alternative 2 – Planning Commission Substitution) – An Ordinance to Amend Sections 111, 401, 501, 601, 901, 1110, 1125, 1521 and 2203 of the City Zoning Ordinance and Section 5.2 of the Oceanfront Resort District Form-Based Code and Add Sections 209.6 and 241.2 of the City Zoning Ordinance pertaining to Definition, Requirements and Use of Home Sharing and Short Term Rentals
Planning Commission voted 9-2 to recommend Denial
City of Virginia Beach (Alternative 3 – Planning Commission Substitution) – An Ordinance to Amend Sections 111, 401, 501, 601, 901, 1110, 1125, 1521 and 2203 of the City Zoning Ordinance and Section 5.2 of the Oceanfront Resort District Form-Based Code and Add Section 209.6 of the City Zoning Ordinance pertaining to the Definition, Requirements and Use of Home Occupation-Short Term Rental
Planning Commission voted 10-1 to recommend Approval
View Planning Commission Video
Please contact Kevin Kemp for additional information at kkemp@vbgov.com or 757-385-4621.
February 7, 2018
A summary of the Planning Commission Workshop held on February 7, 2018 on Short Term Rentals can be found here.
The Planning Commission will hold a workshop on February 7, 2018, at 5 p.m., in Building 2 of the Municipal Center in the Planning Conference Room located at 2405 Courthouse Drive. Three alternative ordinances pertaining to Short-Term Rentals will be reviewed. A draft of each of the potential ordinances are available here. The public is invited to attend, but no public comment will be taken at the workshop. The three alternative ordinances will be considered by the Planning Commission at the February 14, 2018 Planning Commission Public Hearing, at which time the public will have an opportunity to voice their opinions.
For any questions or comments, please contact Zoning Administrator Kevin Kemp by email at kkemp@vbgov.com or 757-385-6379.
January 24, 2018
The Planning Commission held a workshop on January 24, 2018, to review the three alternative ordinances pertaining to Short-Term Rentals. To view the presentation, click here.
Nov. 7, 2017
City Attorney Mark Stiles presented an update to City Council regarding Short Term Rentals.
Short Term Rentals Alternatives
Sept. 28, 2016
The Ad Hoc Committee endorsed these preliminary recommendations at its Sept. 28 meeting. The committee will hear public comments on the proposals and possibly others, and vote on them at a meeting Monday, Oct. 3. Read the recommendations
here.
Aug. 23, 2016
Assistant to the City Manager Robert Matthias
presented an update to the City Council about the Ad Hoc Committee, including the membership, meeting schedule and topics to be covered at each meeting.
City Council Discussion 08/23/16
Aug. 16, 2016
The City Council took two actions:
The Council adopted a
resolution creating an Online Home Sharing Economy Ad Hoc Committee. The group will meet several times and provide recommendations to the City Council by the end of September.
The Council adopted an
ordinance requiring all lodging places subject to the city's transient occupancy tax to register with the Commissioner of the Revenue for purposes of collecting, reporting and remitting taxes.
City Council Discussion 08/16/16
Aug. 9, 2016
City Council discussion of creating an Online Sharing Economy Ad Hoc Committee.
City Council Discussion 08/9/16
Aug. 2, 2016
Two presentations to the City Council:
City Council Discussion 08/2/16
Jan. 5, 2016
The City Council adopted a
resolution asking the Virginia General Assembly to adopt legislation to regulate peer-to-peer home rentals like those offered by Airbnb