Overview

Short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Floyd, Virginia, both at the county level and within the Town of Floyd. Floyd County requires registration with the Commissioner of the Revenue and collection of a 5% transient occupancy tax, while the Town of Floyd zoning regulations specifically recognize and regulate both "homestay" operations and bed & breakfast establishments as permitted or conditional uses within various zoning districts.

Starting a Short-Term Rental Business

County Registration Requirements (Floyd County)

1. Initial Registration: Prior to offering any property for short-term rental, register with the Floyd County Commissioner of the Revenue
2. Registration Fee: $50 initial fee (unless acceptable license or registration is provided)
3. Registration Form: Complete registration using the official form provided by the Commissioner
4. Penalties: Failure to register results in $500 penalty for each occurrence

Tax Obligations

1. Transient Occupancy Tax: Collect 5% tax on all rentals
2. Remittance Schedule: Monthly payments due by the 20th day of the month following collection
3. Payment Processing: Required payment vouchers provided upon registration
4. Zero-Reporting: Submit completed voucher even if gross receipts are zero

Platform Considerations

• If listing through accommodations intermediaries (Airbnb, VRBO, Evolve, etc.), they may remit transient occupancy taxes on your behalf
• Continue remitting taxes for direct booking transactions not processed through intermediaries

Required Documents and Permits

County-Level Requirements

1. Transient Occupancy Registration (Commissioner of Revenue)
2. Transient Occupancy Tax Payment Vouchers (monthly)
3. Property Registration Form (PDF format available)

Municipal Requirements (Town of Floyd)

Based on zoning ordinance analysis:

1. Zoning Permit (if operating within Town of Floyd limits)
2. Bed & Breakfast License (if serving 2-10 guests with meals)
3. Homestay Authorization (if operating in primary residence)
4. Building Permits (if any construction or alterations required)
5. Certificate of Occupancy (for new establishments)

Zoning Regulations

Town of Floyd Zoning Districts

Agricultural/Residential District (AR-1)

• Homestay: Permitted as accessory use (Section 11.9 compliance required)
• Bed & Breakfast: Conditional use with Town Council approval
• Accessory Dwelling Unit: Conditional use for STR purposes

Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3)

• Homestay: Permitted as accessory use
• Bed & Breakfast: Typically conditional use requiring special approval

Business Districts (B-1, B-2)

• Hotel: Permitted in certain business districts
• Bed & Breakfast: Generally permitted with appropriate zoning compliance

Key Definitions

• Homestay: "An accessory use to a dwelling where the host occupant offers their primary residence or a portion thereof to a guest party for short-term occupancy for compensation in accordance with Sec. 11.9"
• Primary Residence: "A person's principal home and domicile. If a person maintains more than one residence, their primary residence, for the purpose of Sec 11.9 'Homestay', shall be the residence where they live for more than half of the calendar year"
• Bed and Breakfast: "A building or part thereof, other than a hotel, motel, or restaurant, where meals and lodging are provided for compensation for two (2) to ten (10) unrelated persons, where no cooking or dining facilities are provided in individual rooms, and in which the length of stay is usually less than one week in duration"

State-Level Regulations (Virginia)

Uniform Statewide Building Code

All short-term rental properties must comply with Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code requirements for residential occupancy and safety standards.

Virginia Tax Code

• State sales tax may apply to certain accommodations
• Local transient occupancy taxes (5% in Floyd County) must be collected and remitted
• Federal income tax reporting requirements for rental income

Contact Information

Floyd County Commissioner of Revenue

Address: 201 E Main Street, Suite 3, PO Box 777, Floyd, Virginia 24091
Phone: (540) 745-9345
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Email: lbaker@floydcova.gov (Commissioner), jbutterworth@floydcova.gov (Chief Deputy)

Staff Contacts

• Lisa D. Baker, Commissioner of Revenue: lbaker@floydcova.gov
• Janine Butterworth, Chief Deputy: jbutterworth@floydcova.gov
• Barbara Turner, Deputy II: bwturner@floydcova.gov
• Katelyn K. Caldwell, Deputy I: kcaldwell@floydcova.gov

Town of Floyd Planning/Zoning

Address: 201 E Main Street, Floyd, VA 24091
Phone: (540) 745-9300
Email: info@floydcova.gov

Important Dates and Compliance Timeline

Registration and Tax Deadlines

• Initial Registration: Before first rental transaction
• Monthly Tax Remittance: Due by 20th of each month
• Personal Property Listing: May 1st annually (for business equipment)
• Business Personal Property Listing: May 1st annually

Application Deadlines

• Land Use Applications: October 1st - December 31st annually
• Elderly/Disabled Tax Relief: January 1st - April 1st annually

Additional Resources

Online Resources

• Floyd County Website: www.floydcova.gov/
• Real Estate Tax Assessment: floyd.cama.concisesystems.com/
• GIS Mapping: floyd.interactivegis.com/
• Virginia Department of Taxation: www.tax.virginia.gov
• Virginia Department of Planning and Community Development

Forms and Downloads

• Transient Occupancy Registration Form: Available through Commissioner of Revenue
• Payment Vouchers: Provided upon registration or downloadable
• Zoning Applications: Available through Town Hall

Compliance and Enforcement

County Penalties

• Unregistered Operations: $500 per occurrence
• Tax Non-Compliance: Additional penalties as determined by Commissioner
• Late Tax Payments: Interest and penalties may apply

Municipal Enforcement

• Zoning violations addressed through standard enforcement procedures
• Building code violations enforced through Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code processes
• Certificate of Occupancy required for new operations

Sources: Floyd County Commissioner of Revenue official website and Town of Floyd Zoning Ordinance (2020)