STR Rule Watch

Short-Term Rental Laws in Richmond, VA (2026)

RestrictedRestricted

Richmond requires a biennial Short-Term Rental Permit ($600, valid two years) plus a pre-issuance building inspection before operating any rental under 30 days. The operator must be the property owner, and in residential zoning districts the STR must be on the lot of the operator's primary residence (verified via DMV or voter-registrar records), with only one STR per residential lot; multifamily buildings on non-residential lots are capped at the lesser of 10 units or one-third of units. There is no night cap, and stays are taxed at 8% city transient occupancy tax plus 6% state/regional sales tax, both collected by platforms for platform bookings.

✓ Last verified July 21, 2026 · 10 official sources

Reviewed by the STR Rule Watch research team against 10 official sources. How we verify data

Richmond STR rules at a glance

Key short-term rental facts for Richmond
Legal statusRestricted
Permit requiredYes
Permit nameShort-Term Rental Permit
Permit fee$600
RenewalBiennial
Owner occupancy requiredYes
Primary residence onlyNo
Total occupancy taxes~14% of gross revenue
EnforcementZoning Administration enforces the permit and operating rules; a building/premises inspection is required before the Certificate of Zoning Compliance is issued (Sec.
Current rules effective2023-09-25

What will guests pay in taxes on a Richmond stay?

Itemized occupancy taxes for Richmond, VA — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.

Richmond occupancy tax calculator

Gross rent$450.00
Richmond Transient Occupancy Short-Term Rental (S-TR) Tax (8%)· collection varies$36.00
Virginia Retail Sales and Use Tax on accommodations (Central Virginia region rate) (6%)· collection varies$27.00
Total tax (14%)$63.00
Guest pays$513.00

Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.

Permits & licensing

Richmond requires Short-Term Rental Permit to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $600, renewed every two years.

Biennial fee of $600 covers administration and monitoring costs; permit is active for two years from issuance. The fee was $300 under the original 2020 regulations and was raised by Ordinance No. 2023-235 (adopted Sept 25, 2023). A building inspection is required before the Certificate of Zoning Compliance is issued.

Zoning & location rules

STRs are permitted as a principal or accessory use to a dwelling unit across the city, but rules differ by district. In residential zoning districts the STR must be on the lot of the operator's primary residence (operator must be the property owner, residency proven via Virginia DMV or City voter-registrar records) and only one STR is allowed per lot. On non-residential lots, multifamily buildings may have STRs in a maximum of 10 units or one-third of the building's dwelling units, whichever is less. Occupancy is limited to eight adult renters per STR.

Taxes

TaxRateWho collects
Richmond Transient Occupancy Short-Term Rental (S-TR) Tax8% of total room charge. Accommodations intermediaries (Airbnb/Vrbo) must collect, file, and remit for platform bookings; the accommodations provider collects and remits for direct bookings. Due monthly by the 20th; late penalty is 10% or $10 (whichever is greater) plus 10% annual interest.8%varies
Virginia Retail Sales and Use Tax on accommodations (Central Virginia region rate)Richmond is in the Central Virginia region with a 6% combined general sales tax rate, which applies to accommodations. For short-term rentals booked through an intermediary, the intermediary reports the sales tax on the entire transaction on its Virginia sales tax return; providers collect and remit on direct bookings.6%varies

Enforcement & penalties

Zoning Administration enforces the permit and operating rules; a building/premises inspection is required before the Certificate of Zoning Compliance is issued (Sec. 30-1020.3). Unpermitted operation can be reported to Zoning Administration or via RVA311. On the tax side, the Department of Finance ran a 2025-2026 STR compliance initiative that collected approximately $5.6 million in outstanding transient occupancy taxes dating back to July 2023, and continues enforcement through levies, garnishments, and other legal actions.

Violation of the Zoning Ordinance is a Class 1 misdemeanor, subject to up to a $2,500 fine and/or up to a year in jail. Late transient occupancy tax remittance incurs a penalty of 10% or $10 (whichever is greater) plus 10% annual interest.

⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.

Getting legal in Richmond: the playbook

Generated from this market's verified rules — each step traces to the sources at the bottom of this page.

  1. 1

    Confirm you qualify

    Richmond requires owner occupancy — check this threshold before spending anything on applications. Investment properties generally do not qualify.

  2. 2

    Verify your zoning

    Location rules apply: STRs are permitted as a principal or accessory use to a dwelling unit across the city, but rules differ by district. In residential zoning districts the STR must be on the lot of the operator's primary residence (operator must be the property owner, residency proven via Virginia DMV or City voter-registrar records) and only one STR is allowed per lot. Confirm your parcel's zoning with the city before applying — the full zoning rules are detailed above.

  3. 3

    Check the covenant layer

    HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.

  4. 4

    Apply for the Short-Term Rental Permit

    Budget $600, renewed every two years. Biennial fee of $600 covers administration and monitoring costs; permit is active for two years from issuance. Apply through the city — the official application page is linked in the sources below.

  5. 5

    Set up tax collection & remittance

    Platforms don't collect everything here: Richmond Transient Occupancy Short-Term Rental (S-TR) Tax (8%), Virginia Retail Sales and Use Tax on accommodations (Central Virginia region rate) (6%) are remitted by the host. Register with the taxing authority before your first booking and calendar the filing deadlines.

  6. 6

    Calendar the renewal before you forget it

    This permit renews every two years (budget $600 again). Most cities take weeks to process renewals and don't send reminders — our Host plan emails you at 60/30/7 days out.

  7. 7

    Know the cost of getting it wrong

    Violation of the Zoning Ordinance is a Class 1 misdemeanor, subject to up to a $2,500 fine and/or up to a year in jail. Late transient occupancy tax remittance incurs a penalty of 10% or $10 (whichever is greater) plus 10% annual interest. Full enforcement details and penalties are covered above.

Recent rule changes in Richmond

  1. May 14, 2026material

    City collects $5.6 million through STR tax compliance initiative

    The Department of Finance's Revenue Administration Division completed a compliance review (begun late 2025) that identified STR tax non-compliance dating back to July 2023, collecting about $5.6 million in outstanding transient occupancy taxes and projecting roughly $2 million in additional annual revenue; enforcement continues via levies, garnishments, and other legal actions.

    Official source →

  2. September 25, 2023material

    Ordinance No. 2023-235 overhauls Richmond STR regulations

    City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2023-235 revising the 2020 STR rules: biennial permit fee raised to $600, operator must be the property owner, residential-district STRs restricted to the lot of the operator's primary residence (verified via DMV or voter-registrar records), one STR per residential lot, multifamily buildings on non-residential lots capped at the lesser of 10 or one-third of units, and occupancy capped at eight adult renters.

    Official source →

  3. July 1, 2023material

    8% transient occupancy tax applied to short-term rentals

    Effective July 1, 2023, Richmond City Council subjected short-term rentals to the same 8% transient lodging tax as hotels under the Transient Occupancy Short-Term Rental (S-TR) Tax, projected at the time to raise over $3.2 million annually for the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The city's 2026 press release consistently describes STR tax non-compliance 'dating back to July 2023'.

    Official source →

Frequently asked questions

›Is Airbnb legal in Richmond?

Airbnb is legal in Richmond, VA, but with significant restrictions — check the zoning and eligibility rules on this page before listing. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Richmond?

Yes. Richmond requires a Short-Term Rental Permit to operate a short-term rental, which costs $600 and must be renewed every two years. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›How much does a Richmond short-term rental permit cost?

The Short-Term Rental Permit costs $600 (biennial renewal). Biennial fee of $600 covers administration and monitoring costs; permit is active for two years from issuance. The fee was $300 under the original 2020 regulations and was raised by Ordinance No. 2023-235 (adopted Sept 25, 2023). A building inspection is required before the Certificate of Zoning Compliance is issued.

›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Richmond?

Generally no. Richmond requires the owner to occupy the property, which rules out running a dedicated investment property as a short-term rental in most cases. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Richmond?

Hosts in Richmond are subject to: Richmond Transient Occupancy Short-Term Rental (S-TR) Tax (8%), Virginia Retail Sales and Use Tax on accommodations (Central Virginia region rate) (6%) — roughly 14% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.

›Does Airbnb collect taxes automatically in Richmond?

No — in Richmond hosts are responsible for registering, collecting, and remitting the listed occupancy taxes themselves. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Richmond?

Violation of the Zoning Ordinance is a Class 1 misdemeanor, subject to up to a $2,500 fine and/or up to a year in jail. Late transient occupancy tax remittance incurs a penalty of 10% or $10 (whichever is greater) plus 10% annual interest. See the enforcement section on this page for full details.

›When did Richmond's current short-term rental rules take effect?

The current ordinance took effect on September 25, 2023. See the change timeline on this page for amendments since, and the sources section for the official text.

Richmond's STR rules changed 1 time recently.

Get an email the moment Richmond changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.

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Sources

This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Richmond and a qualified professional before operating.

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