LicensedRental

Virginia county rules

Henrico County, VA vacation rental rules and taxes

Henrico allows short-term rentals only in the owner’s primary residence, in single-family and agricultural zones. Hosted stays of up to six guests and 60 days a year are allowed by right on lots with 80 feet of street frontage; whole-home stays while you’re away, or anything larger, need a $300 conditional use permit. Every rental registers yearly for $200. Stays pay 6% sales tax plus an 8% lodging tax.

Checked against official sources November 7, 2026
Market
About 100 Airbnb listings
Glen Allen 43, Tuckahoe 21, Henrico 19, Lakeside 19 (AirROI).Source
Owner residency
Primary residence only
You can’t buy a home just to rent it, or live in one house and rent another.Source
Where allowed
R-0 to R-4A and A-1
Not in townhouse, zero-lot-line, or multifamily districts.Source
By right
Hosted, up to 6 renters, 60 days a year
In the main house, on a lot with at least 80 feet of public street frontage.Source
Conditional use permit
Unhosted stays and anything larger
$300, with a public hearing before the Board of Zoning Appeals.Source
Registry
$200 a year
Taxes
6% sales + 8% lodging tax

What to do

  1. Check whether you need a conditional use permit

    You need one for any unhosted stays (renting the whole house while you’re away), for a guest house or other outbuilding, for a lot with less than 80 feet of public street frontage, for more than six renters, or for more than 60 rental days a year. The Board of Zoning Appeals notifies neighbors and holds a hearing.Source

  2. Apply for zoning approval and a change of use

    Fill out the Short-Term Rental Application and Residency Affidavit, open a Change of Use request in the Build Henrico permit system, and upload both. Once zoning approves it, you get a permit number.Source

    Henrico short-term rental →

  3. Register every year

    Use the permit number to finish the county’s online short-term rental registration. The $200 yearly fee includes a building inspection.Source

  4. 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. Henrico’s 8% transient occupancy tax is reported and paid to the county every month by the 20th.Source

Fees

$200 a year, plus $300 once if you need a conditional use permit

Short-term rental registry (annual, includes inspection)$200
Conditional use permit (one time, if needed)$300

Source

Inspection checklist

What the inspector looks for, from Henrico County, Virginia’s published checklist.

  • Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishersAs the building code requires; keep exits clear.Source
  • Building inspectionPart of the registry fee.Source

House rules for guests

Guests
2 per bedroom, one booking at a time
At least one adult in the party.Source
Check-in and checkout
7 a.m. to 11 p.m. only
Source
Responsible adult
Able to respond in person at any time
Source
Posted inside
Address, contacts, shut-offs, trash days, noise rules
Include instructions for shutting off gas, electricity, and water.Source
Pets
3 total on the property
Yours and the guests’ combined.Source
Events
Not allowed
Source
Records
Keep a log of every rental
Source

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.