What are the permit fees in Norfolk?

Norfolk charges an additional flat fee of $2.00 per night per room occupied, on top of the 8% tax.

What are the permit fees in Norfolk?

Conditional Use Permits (CUP) cost $1,245 and require a public hearing, making them costly and time-consuming.

Are there rental limits in Norfolk?

Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 people per bedroom plus 2, with a hard cap of 10 people regardless of house size.

Norfolk

Permissive

VirginiaUpdated Mar 12, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

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

Verified Feb 11, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Norfolk requires short-term rentals to obtain either an administrative permit or a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and register annually with the Commissioner of the Revenue.

Restriction level

Severity 3

Classification

Permissive

Severity

Why this classification

Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
Safety standards required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host a short-term rental in Norfolk, you must first secure a zoning permit from the Planning Department and then register for taxes with the Commissioner of the Revenue. Depending on your property's location and whether it is your primary home, you may be required to go through a public hearing process for a Conditional Use Permit.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$100

Processing time2-4 weeks

Max fine$5,000

3 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Norfolk charges an additional flat fee of $2.00 per night per room occupied, on top of the 8% tax.
2Conditional Use Permits (CUP) cost $1,245 and require a public hearing, making them costly and time-consuming.
3Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 people per bedroom plus 2, with a hard cap of 10 people regardless of house size.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

Norfolk: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Norfolk: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Norfolk prohibits STRs in the following property types: Recreational vehicles, Tents, Non-residential structures.

Requirements9 rules

Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Norfolk: 1. Norfolk charges an additional flat fee of $2.00 per night per room occupied, on top of the 8% tax. 2. Conditional Use Permits (CUP) cost $1,245 and require a public hearing, making them costly and time-consuming. 3. Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 people per bedroom plus 2, with a hard cap of 10 people regardless of house size.

Application process7 rules

How to set up an STR in Norfolk: To host a short-term rental in Norfolk, you must first secure a zoning permit from the Planning Department and then register for taxes with the Commissioner of the Revenue. Depending on your property's location and whether it is your primary home, you may be required to go through a public hearing process for a Conditional Use Permit.

Fees & costs2 rules

Norfolk: Conditional Use Permits (CUP) cost $1,245 and require a public hearing, making them costly and time-consuming.
Norfolk charges a registration fee of $100 (one_time). Extended/additional fee: $15 ($15 annual registration fee with Commissioner of the Revenue; CUP application fee is $1,245.).

Taxes2 rules

Norfolk charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.08%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the 8% tax, but owners must still report monthly and may need to remit the $2/night/room fee manually if not collected by the platform.
Virginia has a state sales tax of 0.06% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions6 rules

Norfolk occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom, with a maximum total cap of 10 persons.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Norfolk: Norfolk charges an additional flat fee of $2.00 per night per room occupied, on top of the 8% tax.
Norfolk limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: 2 persons per bedroom, with a maximum total cap of 10 persons.

Safety requirements1 rule

Norfolk requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Floor plan showing exits must be posted, Functioning interconnected smoke alarms, Functioning carbon monoxide alarm if fuel-fired appliances or attached garage.

Penalties2 rules

Norfolk: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Norfolk enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 fine. Second offense: $1000 fine. Third offense: Permit revocation. Daily fine: $500 per day for operating without a permit. Maximum fine: 5000. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

Norfolk exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Licensed hotels, Motels, Bed and Breakfasts.
Norfolk: 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 Norfolk

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning and District Requirements

Check the City's online zoning map to determine if your property allows STRs by administrative permit or requires a Conditional Use Permit (CUP).

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Obtain STR Zoning Certificate

Submit a zoning application to the Planning Department. For many residential areas, you must apply for a CUP which involves a Planning Commission hearing and City Council approval.

2-4 weeks$100

Documents needed

Proof of Insurance
Floor Plan
Safety Affidavit

Official resource

Step 3

Register with Commissioner of the Revenue

Apply for a business registration to collect and remit the 8% Transient Occupancy Tax and the $2.00 per night per room flat fee.

1 week$15

Documents needed

Approved Zoning Certificate
Completed Business Registration Form

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

Norfolk

Permissive

VirginiaUpdated Mar 12, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

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

Verified Feb 11, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Norfolk requires short-term rentals to obtain either an administrative permit or a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and register annually with the Commissioner of the Revenue.

Restriction level

Severity 3

Classification

Permissive

Severity

Why this classification

Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
Safety standards required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$100

Processing time2-4 weeks

Max fine$5,000

3 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Norfolk charges an additional flat fee of $2.00 per night per room occupied, on top of the 8% tax.
2Conditional Use Permits (CUP) cost $1,245 and require a public hearing, making them costly and time-consuming.
3Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 people per bedroom plus 2, with a hard cap of 10 people regardless of house size.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

Norfolk: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Norfolk: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Norfolk prohibits STRs in the following property types: Recreational vehicles, Tents, Non-residential structures.

Requirements9 rules

Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Norfolk: 1. Norfolk charges an additional flat fee of $2.00 per night per room occupied, on top of the 8% tax. 2. Conditional Use Permits (CUP) cost $1,245 and require a public hearing, making them costly and time-consuming. 3. Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 people per bedroom plus 2, with a hard cap of 10 people regardless of house size.

Application process7 rules

How to set up an STR in Norfolk: To host a short-term rental in Norfolk, you must first secure a zoning permit from the Planning Department and then register for taxes with the Commissioner of the Revenue. Depending on your property's location and whether it is your primary home, you may be required to go through a public hearing process for a Conditional Use Permit.

Fees & costs2 rules

Norfolk: Conditional Use Permits (CUP) cost $1,245 and require a public hearing, making them costly and time-consuming.
Norfolk charges a registration fee of $100 (one_time). Extended/additional fee: $15 ($15 annual registration fee with Commissioner of the Revenue; CUP application fee is $1,245.).

Taxes2 rules

Norfolk charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.08%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the 8% tax, but owners must still report monthly and may need to remit the $2/night/room fee manually if not collected by the platform.
Virginia has a state sales tax of 0.06% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions6 rules

Norfolk occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom, with a maximum total cap of 10 persons.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Norfolk: Norfolk charges an additional flat fee of $2.00 per night per room occupied, on top of the 8% tax.
Norfolk limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: 2 persons per bedroom, with a maximum total cap of 10 persons.

Safety requirements1 rule

Norfolk requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Floor plan showing exits must be posted, Functioning interconnected smoke alarms, Functioning carbon monoxide alarm if fuel-fired appliances or attached garage.

Penalties2 rules

Norfolk: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Norfolk enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 fine. Second offense: $1000 fine. Third offense: Permit revocation. Daily fine: $500 per day for operating without a permit. Maximum fine: 5000. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

Norfolk exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Licensed hotels, Motels, Bed and Breakfasts.
Norfolk: 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 Norfolk

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning and District Requirements

Check the City's online zoning map to determine if your property allows STRs by administrative permit or requires a Conditional Use Permit (CUP).

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Obtain STR Zoning Certificate

Submit a zoning application to the Planning Department. For many residential areas, you must apply for a CUP which involves a Planning Commission hearing and City Council approval.

2-4 weeks$100

Documents needed

Proof of Insurance
Floor Plan
Safety Affidavit

Official resource

Step 3

Register with Commissioner of the Revenue

Apply for a business registration to collect and remit the 8% Transient Occupancy Tax and the $2.00 per night per room flat fee.

1 week$15

Documents needed

Approved Zoning Certificate
Completed Business Registration Form

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

3 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning and District Requirements

Obtain STR Zoning Certificate

Register with Commissioner of the Revenue

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Norfolk?

3Are there rental night limits in Norfolk?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Norfolk?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

3 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning and District Requirements

Obtain STR Zoning Certificate

Register with Commissioner of the Revenue

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Norfolk?

3Are there rental night limits in Norfolk?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Norfolk?

Disclaimer