LicensedRental

Warren County, Virginia

Front Royal, VA vacation rental requirements

Front Royal allows short-term rentals in every zoning district, but each one needs a special use permit from Town Council with a property management plan. Council dropped an owner-occupancy rule for the R-1 district in 2022. Stays pay 5.3% sales tax plus the town’s 6% lodging tax.

Checked against official sources November 7, 2026

Download checklist (PDF)Free. A printable version of this guide to tick off, with the official sources.

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Town permit
Special use permit
Approved case by case by Town Council, in any zoning district.Source
Owner occupancy
Not required
Council removed a proposed R-1 primary-residence rule in February 2022.Source
Application
Checklist + management plan
Taxes
5.3% sales + 6% town lodging tax

We read Front Royal’s rules through news reports of the 2021 draft and the 2022 vote; we could not open the town code itself. Confirm the current requirements and fee with the town before you apply.

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

Warren County, Virginia

  1. Then your town or area

    Towns have their own zoning and some levy their own lodging tax. The county’s rules apply outside town limits. Pick your area.

Town of Front Royal

  1. Apply for a special use permit

    Ask the town’s Planning and Zoning office for the short-term rental special use permit checklist. You’ll submit a property management plan, and Town Council decides each application after a public hearing. Check your HOA rules too; the town doesn’t override them.Source

  2. 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. Front Royal levies its own 6% lodging tax. For direct bookings, ask the town where to file it.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.