Richmond, VA local landlord rules

Short-term rentals (Airbnb)

Yes. Before operating, the owner needs a certificate of zoning compliance for the short-term rental use. It expires after 730 days, and every advertisement must show it (§ 30-697.1(8)-(10)). No more than 8 renters over 18 are allowed (or fewer if the building code requires), at least one renter must be 18 or older, and only one booking may be taken at a time. The operator must file contact information with the Zoning Administrator and post a floor plan. In multifamily buildings, at most 10 units or one-third of them, whichever is less, may be short-term rentals (§ 30-697.1). In residential (R) districts, the rental must be on the same lot as the operator's primary residence, with only one short-term rental per lot (§ 30-697.2).

Verified Source: Richmond City Code § 30-697.1, § 30-697.2 (Browser transcription) · last checked 2026-10-16