Virginia county rules
Goochland County, VA vacation rental rules and taxes
Goochland requires every short-term rental to register with the county each year. In the agricultural districts, hosted rentals in the owner’s home are allowed with standards; whole-home (unhosted) rentals, and any rental in a residential district, need a conditional use permit. No more than 10 people. Stays pay 6% sales tax plus a 2% lodging tax.
Checked against official sources November 7, 2026A property with violations on more than three occasions can’t be advertised or operated as a short-term rental.
What to do
Check your zoning
A hosted rental (you or a designee stays overnight) in your primary residence is allowed in the agricultural districts if it meets the county’s standards. Renting the whole home while no one stays there, or renting in any residential district, needs a conditional use permit from the county.Source
Register before you advertise
File the county’s short-term rental registration form with Community Development before you list, and again every year.Source
Taxes on each stay
Stays under 90 days owe 6% 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. Goochland’s transient occupancy tax is 2%. For direct bookings, ask the Commissioner of the Revenue how to file.Source
Inspection checklist
What the inspector looks for, from Goochland County, Virginia’s published checklist.
House rules for guests
Sources
- Short-term Rental Information and Registration · Goochland County Community Development
- Virginia Localities Transient Occupancy Tax Rate Chart (as of July 1, 2025) · Virginia Tax
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 Spot something out of date?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.