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Virginia county rules

Hanover County, VA vacation rental rules and taxes

Hanover has a small rental market around Mechanicsville and Ashland. Stays pay 6% sales tax plus the county’s 8% lodging tax. The county was drafting short-term rental rules in late 2024 (a permit, rental records, parking, and a 60-minute complaint response); we could not confirm whether they were adopted.

Checked against official sources November 7, 2026
Market
About 60 Airbnb listings
Mechanicsville 39, Ashland 18 (AirROI).Source
County rules
Proposed in 2024, status not confirmed
The vote was postponed to January 2025.Source
Taxes
6% sales + 8% lodging tax

What to do

  1. Ask whether the new rules passed

    In December 2024 the Board of Supervisors postponed a vote on rules that would require a permit, standards like parking, a log of rentals, and responding to complaints within 60 minutes. Ask Hanover County Planning what’s in effect now before you list.Source

  2. 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. Hanover’s transient occupancy tax is 8%. For direct bookings, ask the Commissioner of the Revenue how to register and file.Source

  3. Then your town or area

    Zoning rules are set by the county outside town limits and by each town inside them, and towns can add their own lodging tax. Pick your area.

Towns

Full guide

Ashland

Ashland levies its own lodging tax; stays owe 6% sales tax + 8% town lodging tax. We could not search the town’s zoning code, so ask the town whether a short-term rental needs a permit.

Sources

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 Spot something out of date?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.