Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Arlington County, VA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Arlington County, VA, but with restrictions. Accessory homestay (short-term rental) is allowed only as a home-occupation in dwelling units used as the host’s primary residence (must live there at least 185 days/year). Occupancy is limited to a maximum of six overnight guests or two guests per bedroom (whichever is greater), with detached accessory buildings limited to 3 guests; units must have functioning smoke/CO detectors and fire extinguishers. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Accessory homestay (short-term rental) is allowed only as a home-occupation in dwelling units used as the host’s primary residence (must live there at least 185 days/year). Occupancy is limited to a maximum of six overnight guests or two guests per bedroom (whichever is greater), with detached accessory buildings limited to 3 guests; units must have functioning smoke/CO detectors and fire extinguishers.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Arlington County. 1) Apply for an Accessory Homestay Permit via Arlington’s Building/Permits portal and pay the $63 filing fee. 2) Register for an Arlington business license and Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) account through the Commissioner of Revenue's CAPP portal. 3) Submit documentation including proof of primary residence, neighbor notification certified-mail receipts, and an evacuation plan for multi-family units.

1) Apply for an Accessory Homestay Permit via Arlington’s Building/Permits portal and pay the $63 filing fee. 2) Register for an Arlington business license and Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) account through the Commissioner of Revenue's CAPP portal. 3) Submit documentation including proof of primary residence, neighbor notification certified-mail receipts, and an evacuation plan for multi-family units.

Vrbo is permitted in Arlington County, VA under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Arlington County are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Arlington County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.