Short-term rental rules · Virginia Beach, Virginia
Short-term rentals in Virginia Beach, explained properly.
Virginia Beach allows new short-term rentals only in the Sandbridge Special Service District and the Oceanfront Resort STR Overlay District; properties registered before July 1, 2018 that paid transient occupancy taxes are grandfathered elsewhere. Every STR needs an annual $500 zoning permit, and new units in the Oceanfront overlay also need a conditional use permit renewed every five years. Operators must provide one parking space per bedroom, carry $1 million in liability insurance, file life-safety and structural reports, and register with the Commissioner of Revenue. On August 12, 2026 the Planning Commission voted 11-0 to recommend shrinking the Oceanfront overlay using the smaller 'Alternative A' map, with lawfully permitted existing rentals grandfathered; the recommendation now awaits a City Council vote.
At a glance
What you need to know before you buy or list
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Sandbridge and the Oceanfront overlay | All properties in the Sandbridge Special Service District are eligible with a zoning permit and Commissioner of Revenue registration; properties in the Oceanfront Resort STR Overlay District must first obtain a conditional use permit [1] |
| Pre-2018 registered units grandfathered | Properties registered before July 1, 2018 that paid transient occupancy taxes are grandfathered; expanding the home by more than 25% or 1,000 square feet (whichever is less) ends that status [1] |
| $500 annual zoning permit; CUP every five years | Every STR needs a zoning permit renewed annually for $500; conditional use permits for new overlay units must be renewed every five years [1] |
| Parking, insurance and safety reports | At least one 9-by-18-foot parking space per bedroom, proof of at least $1 million in liability insurance, a life-safety report (good for five years), a structural safety report every three years, Commissioner of Revenue registration and proof of transient occupancy taxes paid [1] |
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High-priority watch: the Oceanfront Resort STR Overlay District reduction now awaits a City Council vote (no date set as of this pass) after the Planning Commission's August 12, 2026 recommendation. Transient occupancy tax rates weren't confirmed in this pass.
On August 12, 2026 the Planning Commission voted 11-0 to recommend shrinking the Oceanfront Resort Short-Term Rental Overlay District using the smaller 'Alternative A' map (rather than the larger staff-proposed reduction), with existing lawfully permitted rentals grandfathered if their conditional use permit was issued before September 1, 2026. The recommendation now goes to City Council for final action; no City Council hearing date has been scheduled yet.
Sources
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This page is general information compiled from public sources, not legal or tax advice. HOA rules, deed restrictions and zoning for a specific property can be stricter. Confirm with the local permitting office and a qualified professional before buying or listing a property.