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  1. Home
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  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Virginia
  6. ·
  7. Portsmouth

Portsmouth

Permissive
VirginiaUpdated Mar 18, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

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

Verified Feb 12, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Portsmouth requires short-term rental operators to obtain a zoning clearance and a business license while collecting a 9% lodging tax and a $3.00 per-room nightly fee.

Restriction level

Severity 0
Classification
Permissive
0
Severity

Why this classification

  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • Safety standards required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host in Portsmouth, you must secure a zoning clearance from the Planning Department and a business license from the Commissioner of the Revenue. You are required to collect a 9% lodging tax and an additional $3.00 flat fee per room for every night booked. The city is currently in the process of implementing more comprehensive regulations expected to be fully active by mid-2026.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$130
Processing time2-4 weeks

3 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Operators must pay a flat fee of $3.00 per room per night in addition to the 9% percentage-based tax.
  2. 2A major regulatory update is in progress as of early 2026, which may introduce mandatory safety inspections.
  3. 3The 9% total tax includes a 1% state-mandated regional transient occupancy tax specifically for Hampton Roads.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility4 rules
  • Portsmouth allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, Apartment.
  • Portsmouth: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
  • Portsmouth: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
  • Portsmouth does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Requirements7 rules
  • Portsmouth STR warning: The 9% total tax includes a 1% state-mandated regional transient occupancy tax specifically for Hampton Roads.
  • Portsmouth does not require liability insurance for STR hosts, but it is strongly recommended.
  • Portsmouth STR warning: Operators must pay a flat fee of $3.00 per room per night in addition to the 9% percentage-based tax.
Application process6 rules
  • Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Portsmouth: Step 1: Obtain Zoning Clearance - Contact the Planning Department to apply for a zoning clearance certificate for the property's use as a short-term rental. Documents needed: Proof of property ownership. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks. Cost: 130. More info: https://www.portsmouthva.gov Step 2: Apply for City Business License - Register for a business license with the Commissioner of the Revenue. All STR operators are considered businesses under city code. Documents needed: Zoning clearance, Business license application. Estimated time: 1 week. Cost: 50. More info: https://www.portsmouthva.gov/302/Business-License-Tax Step 3: Register for Transient Occupancy Tax - Register with the Fiduciary Tax department to ensure the appropriate 9% tax and nightly fees are reported correctly. Documents needed: Business license number. Estimated time: 1 day. More info: https://www.portsmouthva.gov/303/Fiduciary-Taxes
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Portsmouth charges a registration fee of $130 (annual).
Taxes3 rules
  • Portsmouth: The 9% total tax includes a 1% state-mandated regional transient occupancy tax specifically for Hampton Roads.
Limits & restrictions4 rules
  • Portsmouth enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
  • Portsmouth: Operators must pay a flat fee of $3.00 per room per night in addition to the 9% percentage-based tax.
  • Portsmouth limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
  • Portsmouth occupancy calculation: 2 per bedroom. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Safety requirements2 rules
  • Portsmouth requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.
  • Portsmouth: A major regulatory update is in progress as of early 2026, which may introduce mandatory safety inspections.
Penalties2 rules
  • Portsmouth enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Summons and fine. Second offense: Increased fines. Third offense: Permit revocation. Permit may be revoked for violations.
  • Portsmouth: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Exemptions2 rules
  • Portsmouth: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
  • Portsmouth exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Portsmouth

0/3
steps completed
Step 1

Obtain Zoning Clearance

Contact the Planning Department to apply for a zoning clearance certificate for the property's use as a short-term rental.

1-2 weeks$130
Documents needed
  • Proof of property ownership
Official resource
Step 2

Apply for City Business License

Register for a business license with the Commissioner of the Revenue. All STR operators are considered businesses under city code.

1 week$50
Documents needed
  • Zoning clearance
  • Business license application
Official resource
Step 3

Register for Transient Occupancy Tax

Register with the Fiduciary Tax department to ensure the appropriate 9% tax and nightly fees are reported correctly.

1 dayFree
Documents needed
  • Business license number
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

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