LicensedRental

King William County, Virginia

West Point, VA vacation rental requirements

West Point allows short-term rentals only as “homestays” in the owner’s primary residence, registered every year with the Town Treasurer, with stays of 14 days or less. Renting unregistered can cost $1,000 each time. Stays pay 5.3% sales tax plus the town’s 7% lodging tax.

Checked against official sources November 7, 2026

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Who can host
Owner who lives there
The home must be the owner’s principal residence.Source
Registration
Every year, with the Town Treasurer
Before you advertise. Runs January 1 to December 31.Source
Stays
24 hours to 14 days
Penalty
$1,000 per occurrence
Taxes
5.3% sales + 7% lodging tax

We read the town code through a secondary publisher. It doesn’t say which zoning districts allow homestays or list a registration fee; ask the town.

Your licensing checklist

In order: the state, the county, then the town.

Commonwealth of Virginia

  1. Know who pays the tax

    When a platform like Airbnb books the stay, it collects and pays the state sales tax and the local lodging tax for you. If guests pay you directly, register with Virginia Tax for sales tax and with your county or city for the transient occupancy tax.Source

    Register a business with Virginia Tax →

  2. Register with your locality if it has a registry

    Many counties and cities require short-term rental hosts to register every year. Registration is a simple filing (your name, each address, and the owner’s permission if you lease the home), but listing an unregistered rental can cost up to $500 per violation.Source

  3. Check your zoning

    Counties and cities keep their power to decide where short-term rentals are allowed and whether you need a zoning or use permit. HOA and condo rules still apply on top. Pick your area for the local rules.Source

King William County, Virginia

  1. 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. For direct bookings, file the county’s 7% transient occupancy tax return monthly, by the 20th.Source

  2. Ask about zoning

    Ask King William County’s planning office (or the Town of West Point, inside town limits) whether your district allows a short-term rental and whether you need a permit.

Town of West Point

  1. Register with the Town Treasurer

    Register the homestay with the Town Treasurer before you list or rent, and renew each year. The home must be your primary residence. A homestay that operated legally before the rules took effect is exempt, but the exemption ends when the property changes hands.Source

  2. Install alarms

    Put smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in every sleeping area and every room on the way from a bedroom to the outside door.Source

  3. 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. West Point’s lodging tax is 7% (since July 1, 2023). You collect and remit it to the town as part of registration; ask the Treasurer whether the county’s 7% also applies.Source

Fees

Operating without registering$1,000 per occurrence

Source

Inspection checklist

What the inspector looks for, from Town of West Point’s published checklist.

  • Smoke and carbon monoxide alarmsIn all sleeping areas and along the way out.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.