Starting July 1, owners of Virginia short-term rental properties may now be subject to additional regulations, as a result of new legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr. and signed into law by Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
Senate Bill 1578 will allow local governments to implement ordinances that require people to register if they are planning to make their property available for short-term rental. A bed-and-breakfast ABC license would also be required if the rental owners want to serve alcoholic beverages. The registries can then be used for taxing and regulating the rentals. Failure to register—or otherwise comply with state, federal, or local law—could mean penalties of up to $500. Supporters of the bill include the hospitality industry and many lawmakers in both chambers, where the legislation passed easily. However, opponents have expressed concerns about whether local governments could impose expensive fees and regulations.
Meanwhile, Senate Joint Resolution 295, sponsored by Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, passed both the Virginia House and Senate and seeks to implement more checks and balances on the regulatory process. If approved by voters, SJR 295 will allow the Legislature to approve or reject a regulation based on a review to determine that it’s consistent with legislative intent.
