Virginia county rules
Brunswick County, VA vacation rental rules and taxes
Brunswick County, on the north shore of Lake Gaston, lists short-term rentals (30 days or less) as a permitted use in its R-2 residential district. We didn’t find them listed in the other districts, so ask the county before you buy. Stays pay 5.3% sales tax plus a 5% county lodging tax.
Checked against official sources November 7, 2026Lawrenceville and Alberta are towns with their own zoning.
We read the zoning ordinance in a third-party copy in November 2026.
What to do
Check your district
Since 2018 the county has listed short-term rentals as a permitted use in the R-2 (Residential, General) district. Ask county Planning and Zoning how it treats them in other districts, including the lake areas.Source
Taxes on each stay
Stays under 90 days owe 5.3% sales tax, and stays under 30 days also owe the local transient occupancy tax. Airbnb collects both on its bookings. If guests pay you directly, file sales tax with Virginia Tax. Brunswick County’s lodging tax is 5% (Cooper Center 2025 survey). Ask the Commissioner of the Revenue where direct bookings file it.Source
Sources
- Brunswick County Zoning Ordinance (definitions; Art. 8 R-2) · Brunswick County (Zoneomics copy)
- Meals, Transient Occupancy, Cigarette, and Admissions Excise Taxes (table) · Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, University of Virginia
A plain-language summary to help you prepare, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the office before you apply. Spot something out of date? Email hello@licensedrental.com.