What should Williamsburg hosts know about you can only rent one?

You can only rent ONE room in your house; whole-house rentals are prohibited.

What are the key requirements for Williamsburg hosts?

The owner must be physically present at the property during the entire rental period.

Are there rental limits in Williamsburg?

Maximum of 104 nights per year (roughly equates to weekends only).

What zoning rules apply to STRs in Williamsburg?

Special Exception approval is required through the Board of Zoning Appeals, which includes a public hearing and neighbor notification.

What should Williamsburg hosts know about event rentals (parties/weddings) and furnishing?

Event rentals (parties/weddings) and furnishing of meals are strictly prohibited.

Williamsburg

Prohibited

VirginiaUpdated Feb 10, 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 Williamsburg are strictly regulated as 'homestays' requiring a Special Exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals and are limited to one room in an owner-occupied home.

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Owner-occupied required
Host presence required (hosted-only)
Moderate night cap: 104 nights/year
Moderate permit fee: $300
Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required

In plain English

What this means for you

To host a short-term rental, you must live in your home, be present during stays, and rent out only one room to a maximum of two adults. You must apply for a Special Exception permit which involves a public hearing and a $300 fee, and you cannot rent the room for more than 104 nights per year.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit104/year

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$300

Processing time8-12 weeks

5 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1You can only rent ONE room in your house; whole-house rentals are prohibited.
2The owner must be physically present at the property during the entire rental period.
3Maximum of 104 nights per year (roughly equates to weekends only).
4Special Exception approval is required through the Board of Zoning Appeals, which includes a public hearing and neighbor notification.
5Event rentals (parties/weddings) and furnishing of meals are strictly prohibited.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility10 rules

Williamsburg requires the host to be present during STR stays (hosted rentals only).
Williamsburg: The permit holder must personally manage the listing - third-party property managers may not be allowed.
Williamsburg allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family detached dwellings.

Requirements13 rules

Williamsburg STR warning: Special Exception approval is required through the Board of Zoning Appeals, which includes a public hearing and neighbor notification.

Application process8 rules

How to set up an STR in Williamsburg: To host a short-term rental, you must live in your home, be present during stays, and rent out only one room to a maximum of two adults. You must apply for a Special Exception permit which involves a public hearing and a $300 fee, and you cannot rent the room for more than 104 nights per year.

Fees & costs1 rule

Williamsburg charges a registration fee of $300 (one_time). Extended/additional fee: $50 (Annual business license fee is typically $50 or based on gross receipts.).

Taxes2 rules

Virginia has a state sales tax of 0.07% that applies to STR rentals.
Williamsburg charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.07%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO may collect/remit the 7% TOT and state taxes, but hosts should verify and are responsible for the $2/night flat fee if not collected by the platform.

Limits & restrictions7 rules

Williamsburg occupancy calculation: 2 adults per room (excluding minor children). Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Williamsburg: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Williamsburg limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.

Safety requirements1 rule

Williamsburg requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Floor plan showing safety device locations, Register of all transient visitors (names and addresses) kept for 2 years, Consent for city inspection with 24-hour notice.

Penalties2 rules

Williamsburg: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Williamsburg enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Revocation of Special Exception. Second offense: Fines per city code violation. Third offense: Permanent ban on STR use. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Williamsburg

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Property Eligibility

Ensure the property is a single-family detached dwelling and your primary residence where you will be present during all stays.

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Submit Special Exception Application

File a Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) application for a Special Exception to allow the rental of one room.

1-2 months$300

Documents needed

Floor plan
Survey plat
Title certificate
Proof of insurance

Official resource

Step 3

Public Signage and Hearing

The applicant must post a sign in their yard before the BZA public hearing. The BZA will then hold a hearing to approve or deny the request.

2-4 weeksFree

Step 4

Obtain City Business License

Once approved by the BZA, register with the Commissioner of the Revenue for a business license.

1 week$50

Documents needed

Approval of Special Exception

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

Williamsburg

Prohibited

VirginiaUpdated Feb 10, 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 Williamsburg are strictly regulated as 'homestays' requiring a Special Exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals and are limited to one room in an owner-occupied home.

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Owner-occupied required
Host presence required (hosted-only)
Moderate night cap: 104 nights/year
Moderate permit fee: $300
Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit104/year

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$300

Processing time8-12 weeks

5 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1You can only rent ONE room in your house; whole-house rentals are prohibited.
2The owner must be physically present at the property during the entire rental period.
3Maximum of 104 nights per year (roughly equates to weekends only).
4Special Exception approval is required through the Board of Zoning Appeals, which includes a public hearing and neighbor notification.
5Event rentals (parties/weddings) and furnishing of meals are strictly prohibited.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility10 rules

Williamsburg requires the host to be present during STR stays (hosted rentals only).
Williamsburg: The permit holder must personally manage the listing - third-party property managers may not be allowed.
Williamsburg allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family detached dwellings.

Requirements13 rules

Williamsburg STR warning: Special Exception approval is required through the Board of Zoning Appeals, which includes a public hearing and neighbor notification.

Application process8 rules

How to set up an STR in Williamsburg: To host a short-term rental, you must live in your home, be present during stays, and rent out only one room to a maximum of two adults. You must apply for a Special Exception permit which involves a public hearing and a $300 fee, and you cannot rent the room for more than 104 nights per year.

Fees & costs1 rule

Williamsburg charges a registration fee of $300 (one_time). Extended/additional fee: $50 (Annual business license fee is typically $50 or based on gross receipts.).

Taxes2 rules

Virginia has a state sales tax of 0.07% that applies to STR rentals.
Williamsburg charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.07%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO may collect/remit the 7% TOT and state taxes, but hosts should verify and are responsible for the $2/night flat fee if not collected by the platform.

Limits & restrictions7 rules

Williamsburg occupancy calculation: 2 adults per room (excluding minor children). Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Williamsburg: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Williamsburg limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.

Safety requirements1 rule

Williamsburg requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Floor plan showing safety device locations, Register of all transient visitors (names and addresses) kept for 2 years, Consent for city inspection with 24-hour notice.

Penalties2 rules

Williamsburg: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Williamsburg enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Revocation of Special Exception. Second offense: Fines per city code violation. Third offense: Permanent ban on STR use. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Williamsburg

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Property Eligibility

Ensure the property is a single-family detached dwelling and your primary residence where you will be present during all stays.

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Submit Special Exception Application

File a Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) application for a Special Exception to allow the rental of one room.

1-2 months$300

Documents needed

Floor plan
Survey plat
Title certificate
Proof of insurance

Official resource

Step 3

Public Signage and Hearing

The applicant must post a sign in their yard before the BZA public hearing. The BZA will then hold a hearing to approve or deny the request.

2-4 weeksFree

Step 4

Obtain City Business License

Once approved by the BZA, register with the Commissioner of the Revenue for a business license.

1 week$50

Documents needed

Approval of Special Exception

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

Verify Property Eligibility

Submit Special Exception Application

Public Signage and Hearing

Obtain City Business License

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Williamsburg?

3Are there rental night limits in Williamsburg?

4What are the occupancy rules for Williamsburg rentals?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

5 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Property Eligibility

Submit Special Exception Application

Public Signage and Hearing

Obtain City Business License

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Williamsburg?

3Are there rental night limits in Williamsburg?

4What are the occupancy rules for Williamsburg rentals?

Disclaimer