Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Winchester (city) County, VA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Winchester (city) County, VA, but with restrictions. STRs are limited to single-family homes and townhouses (multifamily excluded) with a maximum of 5 sleeping rooms. Occupancy is capped at two adults per room and nine adults total. Operators must provide a property management plan, install safety devices (smoke/CO detectors, fire extinguishers), identify a local contact, and are prohibited from hosting events or using exterior signage. 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.

STRs are limited to single-family homes and townhouses (multifamily excluded) with a maximum of 5 sleeping rooms. Occupancy is capped at two adults per room and nine adults total. Operators must provide a property management plan, install safety devices (smoke/CO detectors, fire extinguishers), identify a local contact, and are prohibited from hosting events or using exterior signage.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Winchester (city) County. 1) Apply for a Zoning Use Permit (ZUP) via the City's OpenGov permit portal or submit a ZUP form to the Zoning Office. 2) Include the 'Homeshare / Short Term Rental Supplemental Form' along with a property management plan, proof of primary residence (for homeshares), and evidence of safety devices (smoke/CO detectors and fire extinguishers). 3) Authorize an annual property inspection and maintain a ledger of stays to be provided annually to the Commissioner of the Revenue.

1) Apply for a Zoning Use Permit (ZUP) via the City's OpenGov permit portal or submit a ZUP form to the Zoning Office. 2) Include the 'Homeshare / Short Term Rental Supplemental Form' along with a property management plan, proof of primary residence (for homeshares), and evidence of safety devices (smoke/CO detectors and fire extinguishers). 3) Authorize an annual property inspection and maintain a ledger of stays to be provided annually to the Commissioner of the Revenue.

Vrbo is permitted in Winchester (city) 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 Winchester (city) 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 Winchester (city) County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.