Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Lancaster County, VA

Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are allowed in Lancaster County, VA, but operators must obtain a permit before listing. STRs are allowed in A-2, R-1, R-3, and R-4 zones. Occupancy is limited to 2 persons per bedroom (excluding minors) with a site-wide cap of 20 persons. Hosted rentals require the owner to stay overnight as a primary residence; all STRs are capped at 240 rented nights per year and must maintain $500,000 liability insurance and quiet hours (11 p.m.–7 a.m.). "Airbnb" is a brand name; the rules on this page apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.). See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

STRs are allowed in A-2, R-1, R-3, and R-4 zones. Occupancy is limited to 2 persons per bedroom (excluding minors) with a site-wide cap of 20 persons. Hosted rentals require the owner to stay overnight as a primary residence; all STRs are capped at 240 rented nights per year and must maintain $500,000 liability insurance and quiet hours (11 p.m.–7 a.m.).

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Lancaster County. 1) Determine type: Hosted STRs require administrative approval (no fee) while Unhosted STRs require a Special Exception ($400 fee) and public hearing. 2) Submit the appropriate application with proof of primary residence (for hosted), insurance certificate, and parking plan. 3) Upon approval, register annually ($50 fee) and file monthly Transient Occupancy Tax returns (2%).

1) Determine type: Hosted STRs require administrative approval (no fee) while Unhosted STRs require a Special Exception ($400 fee) and public hearing. 2) Submit the appropriate application with proof of primary residence (for hosted), insurance certificate, and parking plan. 3) Upon approval, register annually ($50 fee) and file monthly Transient Occupancy Tax returns (2%).

Yes. Vrbo operates under the same short-term rental rules as Airbnb in Lancaster County, VA, since regulations apply to the rental activity rather than the booking platform. A permit is required before you list on Vrbo or any other platform. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Lancaster 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 Lancaster County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.