Make Sure You Have All the Needed Permits
If you rent rooms in your home, a group of tiny houses, or campsites on your property online or through an app, you might need a permit from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). Before listing your rental, make sure to cover all the legal considerations.
Overnight Rentals
Any establishment (no matter what you call it) that offers two or more overnight sleeping accommodations might be considered a “hotel.” These establishments might need a permit. Hotels include renting rooms in your home, a bed and breakfast or other lodge or hostel-type accommodation.
Your rental might need a hotel permit from VDH if:
- You rent more than one room in a house, apartment, or other accommodation for at least one night
- You rent residential rooms and provide food services
- Food service does not include providing whole, uncut produce, or commercially packaged food that does not require refrigeration
- You rent separate overnight spaces that share common or group amenities, such as a swimming pool, shared dining area, or shared bathhouse
You might need additional permits if you prepare and/or serve food to guests.
To find out if you need a permit, please contact your local health department. To learn more about the hotel (and bed-and-breakfast) program, visit the VDH Tourist Lodging webpage.
Camping Rentals
Camping rentals include:
- Overnight space on your property for people to set up tents
- Recreational vehicles (RVs)
- Or any other type of camping units
You will need a campground permit from VDH if you rent your property:
- With three or more campsites, to include:
- Temporary camping, such as a festival or gathering where people camp overnight
- Camping at wineries, breweries, farms, or other places where people will camp overnight, even if it’s not called a “campground”
A campsite is any plot of ground used or intended to be used for an overnight stay in a camping unit (tent, RV, or other camping vehicle or device).
Please consider the following when thinking about renting campsites on your property:
- Campsite location and general safety
- Provision of safe drinking water
- Proper sewage disposal
- Effective vector or pest control
- Proper grounds maintenance
- Emergency planning
- Swimming pool safety
To find out if you need a permit, please contact your local health department. To learn more about the campground program, visit the VDH Campgrounds webpage.
For more information on how to obtain hotel and campground permits, please contact your local health department.