Virginia county rules
Campbell County, VA vacation rental rules and taxes
Campbell County calls a vacation rental a “tourist house.” It’s allowed by right on agricultural (A-1) lots of 25 acres or more set back from the road and neighbors, and in the B-LC business district; smaller A-1 lots and the residential districts need a special use permit. Stays pay 5.3% sales tax plus the county’s 7% lodging tax.
Checked against official sources November 7, 2026We found no county registry or operating standards (occupancy, parking, safety) in the zoning chapter. Ask Community Development in Rustburg what a special use permit would require. The towns of Altavista and Brookneal set their own zoning.
What to do
Check your district and lot
Look up your zoning. In A-1, a tourist house is allowed by right only on a lot of at least 25 acres, 50 feet from the road and 250 feet from the nearest neighbor’s property line; otherwise you need a special use permit. In the R-SF, R-MF, and R-DU residential districts every tourist house needs a special use permit, with hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.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. Campbell County’s lodging tax is 7% (effective July 1, 2026). For direct bookings, ask the Commissioner of the Revenue how to register and file. Inside Altavista, ask the town about its 5.5% tax.Source
Sources
- Campbell County Code, Chapter 22 Zoning (posted copy dated 12/2/25) · Campbell County
- Virginia Locality Transient Occupancy Rate Chart (as of July 1, 2025) · Virginia Tax
- Virginia Airbnb market data (active listings) · AirROI
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 Spot something out of date?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.