Afton, Virginia

Afton is unincorporated and split between Nelson and Albemarle counties, so short-term rental rules depend on which side of the county line a property sits on. Both counties permit short-term rentals, but require registration or licensing plus tax collection, and investors should verify a parcel’s county and zoning district before purchasing.

On the Nelson County side, where most short-term rental activity in this area is concentrated, owners must obtain a county business license from the Commissioner of the Revenue and complete a zoning approval confirming the use is compliant before licensing is issued. A 7.00% transient occupancy tax has applied since July 1, 2024, which platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo now collect and remit on the host’s behalf.

On the Albemarle County side, hosts enroll on the county’s Short-Term Rental Registry (free for first enrollment, with a $27 annual re-enrollment fee plus a $50 fire-safety inspection) and collect a combined 10% transient occupancy tax (a 9% base tax plus an additional 1% daily short-term rental tax). Albemarle’s owner-occupied homestay designation is restricted to a full-time primary residence in a single-family dwelling, vacation homes do not qualify, and requires on-parcel parking. A non-owner-occupied whole-house rental, treated as tourist lodging, may require a special use permit depending on the zoning district.

Neither county publishes a hard cap on nights rented per year. Enforcement is rated moderate and is administrative, driven through zoning review, business licensing, and platform tax remittance rather than active patrol.