Hanover County’s planning staff is looking to curb the use of “Airbnb-style” rental properties within the county — but has failed to come to a consensus on its own rules and regulations.
Jo Ann Hunter, the county’s director of planning and community development, spoke with Hanover’s planning commission Thursday about short-term rentals, which have become divisive among residents.
“Staff has been working with the community development committee [for] about a year and a half on a short-term rental ordinance,” Hunter said. “It has been a surprisingly divisive ordinance, so we thought it would be helpful to slow things down, have this meeting with the planning commission and get this right.”
Virginia Code defines a short-term rental as a room or space purchased to be occupied for fewer than 30 consecutive days. These spaces are commonly associated with services like Airbnb and can come in many forms: guest rooms within an owner’s primary residence, accessory dwelling units or separate investment properties.
The General Assembly clarified the state’s guidelines on short-term rentals in a bill, signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in April, preventing localities from requiring special permits for short-term rental units within dwellings also occupied by the property owner.
Both Henrico County and the City of Richmond have established policies outlining the conditions under which short-term rentals are permitted, but as of Friday, Hanover has no such ordinance.
Short-term rentals are not officially permitted in any of the county’s zoning categories — excluding certain agricultural properties. County planners cited at least 11 property owners for violating the rules, according to Hunter.
“We are one of the few localities in the region that have not addressed short-term rentals,” Hunter said. “We're a little behind the curve on that. The goal of this ordinance is to provide clear direction and regulations on how we want short term rentals to be addressed in the county.”
Hunter said the future ordinance would set expectations for property owners looking to rent out portions of their home — whether that be a room, an accessory unit or secondary residence. Planning staff will also explore creating a registry of properties operating as short-term rentals and examine which zoning districts should permit them.
Although residents have raised concerns about the oversaturation of short-term rental properties, Hanover is not looking to ban them. As committee member Cliff Parker pointed out, the county collected nearly $220,000 in taxes from third-party bookers like Airbnb last year.
“I know a lot of people with big families that don't want to get three hotel rooms,” Parker said. “It may be even cheaper to get a short-term rental, but most people are going to do it for a week or two.”
During the committee’s work session Thursday, the commission agreed that short-term rentals should be allowed by right if the property owner is using their primary residence, while investor-owned properties should require more standards and additional permitting.
Hanover's planning commission is scheduled to meet again Nov. 21 to revisit the short-term rental issue. Hunter and planning staff expect to answer more questions from residents about housing affordability, noise and safety concerns.
