Alexandria Short-Term Rental Regulations

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Permit & Licensing

Short-Term Residential Rental Permit (owner-occupied)

This permit type does not require primary residence.

Short-Term Residential Rental Permit (owner-unoccupied)

This permit type does not require primary residence.

Application Process

Operator submits a permit application to the Department of Planning & Zoning (via the APEX online portal) for any STR operated more than 10 days per year; upon acceptance, the applicant must notify the property owner (if different) and all abutting properties by registered or certified mail before the permit is granted.

Note: Document requirements vary by permit type. See individual permit sections above for eligibility details.

Tax Obligations

Combined rate: 9.5% + $1.25 per room per night (combined City + State transient lodging tax) of gross rental income.

Collection: For short-term rentals booked through an accommodations intermediary (e.g., Airbnb, Vrbo), the intermediary reports and remits the sales tax on the entire transaction; if booked directly, the property owner/operator collects and remits the tax to the City.

Filing: Monthly; returns and remittances due on or before the last day of the month following the month being reported

Rental Limits

Alexandria does not impose an annual cap on the number of nights you can rent.

Occupancy & Density Limits

2 people per legal bedroom plus 2 additional people (excluding children age 3 and under); capped at 10 people for rentals with 5 or more bedrooms, and 3 people for an accessory dwelling

Zoning & Restrictions

Short-term residential rentals are permitted citywide subject to the permit requirement; an accessory dwelling unit may not be rented as a short-term residential rental at the same time as the principal dwelling unit on the same lot. In residential zones, parties/events exceeding maximum occupancy are prohibited at all times; commercial, office, industrial, and mixed-use zones may host occasional events as an accessory use if operational standards are met.

Insurance & Safety

Insurance

Alexandria does not require short-term rental operators to carry specific insurance. Standard homeowner policies often exclude short-term rental activity, so many hosts obtain dedicated short-term rental or landlord liability coverage.

Safety & Operating Requirements

• Smoke detectors installed and certified
• Fire extinguishers installed and certified
• Carbon monoxide detectors installed and certified

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Failure to obtain the required Short-Term Residential Rental Permit results in a civil citation under City Code Sec. 11-200; two or more repeated violations of the permit requirement bar the operator, upon notice, from reapplying for a permit and from offering that property as a short-term residential rental for one year. Separately, failure to register a short-term residential rental with the Department of Finance within 30 days of first offering it for rent carries a $500 penalty (waivable by the director if the failure was not the operator’s fault), and the property may not continue to be offered as an STR until the penalty is paid and the property is registered.

Platform Requirements

Accommodation intermediaries (booking platforms) must remit a monthly supplementary report to the City of Alexandria listing property addresses and gross receipts for all accommodations they facilitate in the city.

Compliance Checklist

Follow these steps to legally operate a short-term rental in Alexandria:

1. Determine your permit type. Alexandria has 2 permit types. Identify which applies to your property (Short-Term Residential Rental Permit (owner-occupied), Short-Term Residential Rental Permit (owner-unoccupied)).
2. Meet safety requirements. Smoke detectors installed and certified. Fire extinguishers installed and certified. Carbon monoxide detectors installed and certified.
3. Apply for your STR permit. Submit application. Fees vary by type: Short-Term Residential Rental Permit (owner-occupied) $100; Short-Term Residential Rental Permit (owner-unoccupied) $350. See permit types above to determine which applies.
4. Register for tax accounts. Set up lodging tax accounts with City of Alexandria Department of Finance, Revenue Division.
5. Collect and remit taxes. 9.5% + $1.25 per room per night (combined City + State transient lodging tax) on all bookings.
6. Renew annually. Renewal fees vary by permit type ($100 annually / $350 annually). See permit types above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Alexandria?

Yes. Alexandria requires a short-term rental permit to operate an Airbnb or Vrbo, and there are 2 permit types. See the permit types above to find which applies to your property.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Alexandria?

Permit costs in Alexandria vary by type: Short-Term Residential Rental Permit (owner-occupied) $100; Short-Term Residential Rental Permit (owner-unoccupied) $350.

Does Alexandria require a short-term rental to be your primary residence?

No. Alexandria allows non-owner-occupied short-term rentals, so investment properties can qualify provided you hold the required permit.

How many days a year can you short-term rent in Alexandria?

Alexandria does not cap the number of nights per year you can short-term rent, though permitting, zoning, and occupancy rules still apply.

What taxes do you pay on a short-term rental in Alexandria?

Short-term rental stays in Alexandria are subject to a combined 9.5% in lodging taxes. This combines 6.5% + $1.25 per room per night Alexandria Transient Lodging Tax (City) + 3.0% Virginia State Transient Occupancy Tax. The host is responsible for collecting and remitting them.

What happens if you run a short-term rental without a permit in Alexandria?

Failure to obtain the required Short-Term Residential Rental Permit results in a civil citation under City Code Sec.