Alexandria, Virginia

Short-term rentals are permitted in Alexandria, and the rules are formal but open to investors. The city adopted Ordinance No. 5575 on March 15, 2025, effective September 1, 2025, replacing a voluntary registry with a mandatory annual permit. Any residential property rented short-term for more than 10 days per calendar year needs a Short-Term Residential Rental Permit, submitted through the APEX online portal and administered by the Department of Planning & Zoning. The permit costs $350 per year, or $100 for owner-occupied properties, and renews annually. There is no owner-occupancy or primary residence requirement, and no annual night cap applies to primary dwellings. A proposed 120-day limit for accessory dwelling unit STRs was removed from the final ordinance, though a main dwelling and its ADU cannot be listed as separate STRs at the same time. STRs are allowed in residential, commercial and mixed-use zones, and historic district and conservation overlays may add restrictions. Parking is required at 0.75 spaces per bedroom outside Enhanced Transit Areas and 0.25 within them. Maximum occupancy is 2 guests per bedroom plus 2, capped at 10. Hosts must install smoke detectors, CO alarms and fire extinguishers, post a Good Neighbor Guide with quiet hours of 11 PM to 7 AM, and notify adjacent property owners by certified mail. The transient lodging tax is 9.5% (city 6.5% plus state 3%), with an extra $1.25 per room per night for units accommodating 4 or more persons, plus a 6% sales tax, for a combined burden near 15.5% plus $1.25 per night. Platforms may collect and remit taxes on the host’s behalf. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. Permit processing began in mid-September 2025 in address-based batches and was expected to finish by summer 2026, so confirm your status with the city.