City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Fredericksburg, VA
How Fredericksburg regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Rules here limit which homes may operate as short-term rentals, how many, where, or for how many nights a year.
- host-resident only: homestay operator must reside on the premises
- homestay capped at 90 days per calendar year, 2 guest bedrooms / 4 guests
- bed-and-breakfast inn requires a resident manager and a discretionary special use permit in R-2/R-4/R-8
- no whole-home non-resident STR use in any zoning district
Based on: City Code Ch. 72 (UDO). Sec. 72-84 defines 'Short-term residential rental' and 'Homestay'. Sec. 72-42.6E Homestay
Summary of the rule
E. Homestay. [Added 8-22-2017 by Ord. No. 17-19] (1) The use shall be operated by an operator who resides on the premises. (2) The use shall be operated in the principal dwelling unit, and not in any accessory building or structure. (3) A maximum of two guest bedrooms shall be offered for short-term rental, with not more than a total of four guests at any one time. (4) The homestay use of the property for guest lodging is limited to 90 days per calendar year. (5) There shall be no more than one kitchen in the principal dwelling unit. (6) The use shall not include public assembly uses ... (7) The Zoning Administrator shall require the operator to provide and maintain current contact information ... (8) Applications for homestays shall require written notice under § 72-21.9.
Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
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City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.