What are the key requirements for Arlington hosts?

Primary residence requirement: You must live in the home for at least 185 days per year.

What should Arlington hosts know about certified mail neighbor notification is?

Certified mail neighbor notification is mandatory before permit approval.

What should Arlington hosts know about multifamily buildings (apartments/condos) have a?

Multifamily buildings (apartments/condos) have a 25% occupancy cap for homestays.

What should Arlington hosts know about detached guesthouses cannot be used?

Detached guesthouses cannot be used for short-term rentals unless they are legally approved ADUs.

What are the key requirements for Arlington hosts?

Business licenses must be renewed annually by March 1st.

Arlington

Strict

VirginiaUpdated Mar 21, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 6, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals in Arlington, known as 'Accessory Homestays,' are permitted for primary residents who obtain an annual permit and business license.

Restriction level

Severity 78

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Owner-occupied required
Limited to 1 property per owner
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

To host a short-term rental, you must live in the home for at least 185 days per year and obtain an annual Accessory Homestay Permit. You also need an Arlington business license and must notify your neighbors by certified mail before starting. Stays are limited to 30 days or less, and you can host up to 6 guests at a time (or more if your home has many bedrooms).

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$121

Processing time2-4 weeks

5 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Primary residence requirement: You must live in the home for at least 185 days per year.
2Certified mail neighbor notification is mandatory before permit approval.
3Multifamily buildings (apartments/condos) have a 25% occupancy cap for homestays.
4Detached guesthouses cannot be used for short-term rentals unless they are legally approved ADUs.
5Business licenses must be renewed annually by March 1st.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility8 rules

Arlington: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Arlington requires that the property be the host's primary residence. Primary residence is defined as: Must live in the unit as a primary residence for 185+ days per year.
Arlington: Detached guesthouses cannot be used for short-term rentals unless they are legally approved ADUs.

Requirements13 rules

Arlington STR warning: Multifamily buildings (apartments/condos) have a 25% occupancy cap for homestays.
Arlington STR warning: Primary residence requirement: You must live in the home for at least 185 days per year.
Arlington: Primary residence requirement: You must live in the home for at least 185 days per year.

Application process9 rules

Arlington: To apply for an STR permit, you'll need: Proof of Residency (Government ID, Lease, or Utility Bill), Neighbor Notification Certified Mail Receipts, Parking Diagram, Floor Plan, Evacuation Plan (for multifamily units).

Fees & costs1 rule

Arlington charges a registration fee of $121 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Virginia has a state sales tax of 0.06% that applies to STR rentals.
Arlington charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.0825%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Intermediaries like Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit TOT directly to Arlington.

Limits & restrictions6 rules

Arlington: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Arlington enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Arlington limits STRs to a maximum of 6 guests. Formula: 6 guests total or 2 per bedroom, whichever is greater.

Safety requirements1 rule

Arlington requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Evacuation plan posted inside front door (multifamily), Annual county inspection access required, Responsible party within 30 miles available 24/7.

Penalties2 rules

Arlington: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Arlington enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 (operating without permit). Second offense: $1000. Third offense: Permit revocation. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

Arlington exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts (separately regulated).
Arlington: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Arlington

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Notify Neighbors

Send a notification letter via certified mail to adjacent property owners and the condo/homeowners association (if applicable). Keep the receipts as proof.

1 week$20

Documents needed

Certified mail receipts

Official resource

Step 2

Apply for Accessory Homestay Permit

Submit the permit application online through the Permit Arlington portal with required residency proof and floor plans.

2-4 weeks$121

Documents needed

Government ID
Parking Diagram
Floor Plan
Neighbor receipts

Official resource

Step 3

Obtain Business License

Once the zoning permit is approved, register for an Arlington County Business License (Section Code 72.A - Lodging) via CAPP.

1 week$30

Documents needed

Approved Accessory Homestay Permit

Official resource

Step 4

Register for TOT Account

The Commissioner of Revenue will help determine if a separate TOT account is needed for reporting (even if platforms remit, you may still need to register).

1 dayFree

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Arlington

Strict

VirginiaUpdated Mar 21, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 6, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals in Arlington, known as 'Accessory Homestays,' are permitted for primary residents who obtain an annual permit and business license.

Restriction level

Severity 78

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Owner-occupied required
Limited to 1 property per owner
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$121

Processing time2-4 weeks

5 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Primary residence requirement: You must live in the home for at least 185 days per year.
2Certified mail neighbor notification is mandatory before permit approval.
3Multifamily buildings (apartments/condos) have a 25% occupancy cap for homestays.
4Detached guesthouses cannot be used for short-term rentals unless they are legally approved ADUs.
5Business licenses must be renewed annually by March 1st.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility8 rules

Arlington: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Arlington requires that the property be the host's primary residence. Primary residence is defined as: Must live in the unit as a primary residence for 185+ days per year.
Arlington: Detached guesthouses cannot be used for short-term rentals unless they are legally approved ADUs.

Requirements13 rules

Arlington STR warning: Multifamily buildings (apartments/condos) have a 25% occupancy cap for homestays.
Arlington STR warning: Primary residence requirement: You must live in the home for at least 185 days per year.
Arlington: Primary residence requirement: You must live in the home for at least 185 days per year.

Application process9 rules

Arlington: To apply for an STR permit, you'll need: Proof of Residency (Government ID, Lease, or Utility Bill), Neighbor Notification Certified Mail Receipts, Parking Diagram, Floor Plan, Evacuation Plan (for multifamily units).

Fees & costs1 rule

Arlington charges a registration fee of $121 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Virginia has a state sales tax of 0.06% that applies to STR rentals.
Arlington charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.0825%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Intermediaries like Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit TOT directly to Arlington.

Limits & restrictions6 rules

Arlington: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Arlington enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Arlington limits STRs to a maximum of 6 guests. Formula: 6 guests total or 2 per bedroom, whichever is greater.

Safety requirements1 rule

Arlington requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Evacuation plan posted inside front door (multifamily), Annual county inspection access required, Responsible party within 30 miles available 24/7.

Penalties2 rules

Arlington: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Arlington enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 (operating without permit). Second offense: $1000. Third offense: Permit revocation. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

Arlington exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts (separately regulated).
Arlington: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Arlington

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Notify Neighbors

Send a notification letter via certified mail to adjacent property owners and the condo/homeowners association (if applicable). Keep the receipts as proof.

1 week$20

Documents needed

Certified mail receipts

Official resource

Step 2

Apply for Accessory Homestay Permit

Submit the permit application online through the Permit Arlington portal with required residency proof and floor plans.

2-4 weeks$121

Documents needed

Government ID
Parking Diagram
Floor Plan
Neighbor receipts

Official resource

Step 3

Obtain Business License

Once the zoning permit is approved, register for an Arlington County Business License (Section Code 72.A - Lodging) via CAPP.

1 week$30

Documents needed

Approved Accessory Homestay Permit

Official resource

Step 4

Register for TOT Account

The Commissioner of Revenue will help determine if a separate TOT account is needed for reporting (even if platforms remit, you may still need to register).

1 dayFree

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

5 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Notify Neighbors

Apply for Accessory Homestay Permit

Obtain Business License

Register for TOT Account

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Arlington?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Arlington?

3Are there occupancy limits for Arlington short-term rentals?

4What are the residency requirements for hosting in Arlington?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

5 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Notify Neighbors

Apply for Accessory Homestay Permit

Obtain Business License

Register for TOT Account

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Arlington?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Arlington?

3Are there occupancy limits for Arlington short-term rentals?

4What are the residency requirements for hosting in Arlington?

Disclaimer