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Petersburg, VA

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STR Regulations for Petersburg, Virginia

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Petersburg, VA?

Yes, short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Petersburg, VA. On June 17, 2025, the Petersburg City Council formally adopted amendments to the city's zoning ordinance to permit short-term rental uses (Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway, FlipKey, etc.) within specific zoning districts. This marked a significant regulatory shift, as STRs were previously unregulated and technically prohibited. The new framework establishes a comprehensive regulatory system including registration requirements, operational standards, and enforcement mechanisms.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Petersburg?

Petersburg hosts earn a median $29,396/year with $134 ADR and 78% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $37,750+ per year.

See the full Petersburg market breakdown →

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Petersburg

Step 1: Zoning Compliance Verification

Before proceeding, verify your property is located in an approved zoning district. Short-term rentals are permitted in the following zones:

  • Residential Districts: R-3 (Two-Family Residence), R-4 (Multiple-Dwelling), R-5 (Multiple-Dwelling), R-6 (High Rise)
  • Mixed-Use Districts: MXD-1 (Mixed Use), MXD-2 (Mixed Use)
  • Business Districts: RB (Office-Apartment), B-2 (General Commercial), B-3 (Central Commercial)

Use the city's online GIS system to confirm your property's zoning designation.

Step 2: Owner-Occupied vs. Non-Owner-Occupied Determination

  • Owner-Occupied Properties: No special use permit required if the property serves as your primary residence
  • Non-Owner-Occupied Properties: Special use permit required for any STR established after June 17, 2025

Step 3: Registration Process

All STR properties must register with the Planning Department and recertify annually. Registration is free but requires compliance verification. Submit your application through the online registration form.

Critical Deadlines:

  • Existing operators (operating before June 17, 2025): Register by October 1, 2025 to avoid penalty fees
  • New operators: Register before commencing operations
  • Annual recertification: No later than January 31 each year

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Registration Requirements

Submit the following information with your registration application:

  1. Operator Information:

    • Name, telephone number, address, and email address
    • Proof of commercial general liability insurance ($1,000,000 minimum)

  2. Property-Specific Documentation:

    • If sharing common wall/driveway: Written notification to adjacent property owners
    • Designation of responsible party (available 24/7 for complaint resolution)
    • Floor plan showing room usage, occupancy levels, emergency egress locations, and detector placement

  3. Compliance Certifications:

    • Agreement to permit inspections at reasonable times with notice
    • Certification that property meets all STR regulations
    • Proof of compliance with Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code

Special Use Permit (SUP) Requirements

For non-owner-occupied properties, submit SUP applications through the Planning Department. The process involves:

  • Application submission
  • Public hearing (if required)
  • Planning Commission review
  • City Council approval

Safety Compliance Checklist

Ensure your property meets these safety standards:

  • Functioning smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors
  • Proper emergency egress and rescue openings
  • Posted responsible party contact information
  • Prominently displayed trash/recycling collection dates

Exemptions from Registration

Registration is not required for:

  • Licensed Real Estate Board members or represented property owners
  • Properties registered under Virginia Real Estate Time-Share Act
  • Department of Health licensed lodging facilities
  • Locally licensed hotels, motels, campgrounds, and bed & breakfast establishments

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

Use Standards and Limitations

Property Structure:

  • Lodging must occur within primary structures (accessory buildings prohibited)

Occupancy Restrictions:

  • Maximum guests limited to underlying zoning district's occupancy limits
  • Principal renter must be at least 21 years of age
  • No double-booking or splitting units for multiple parties simultaneously

Appearance and Signage:

  • No exterior signage advertising the rental
  • No recreational vehicles, buses, or trailers visible on property or adjacent streets
  • Trash and recycling collection dates must be posted prominently

Operational Prohibitions:

  • No food preparation or service by property owner/operator
  • No commercial use beyond what zoning permits
  • No advertising for prohibited commercial activities

Multi-Family Dwelling Limitations

For apartment buildings and multi-family developments:

  • Maximum of 10 units or one-third of total units (whichever is less) may be registered as STRs
  • Existing operations prior to adoption (June 17, 2025) are grandfathered but cannot expand beyond current levels

State-Level Regulations (Virginia)

Virginia law provides Petersburg with authority to regulate STRs through zoning and land use powers. Key state provisions include:

  • localities may establish registries and require annual registration
  • special use permits may be required for non-owner-occupied properties
  • penalties may be imposed for failure to register

Enforcement and Penalties

Registration Violations

  • $500 penalty for operating without registration
  • Properties cannot be offered for STR until registration is complete
  • No grace period for new operators

Revocation Grounds

Registration may be revoked for:

  • Failure to collect/remit required taxes or maintain business license
  • Three or more substantiated violations within 12 months
  • Failure to maintain primary residence status (without SUP approval)
  • Violation of zoning ordinance or city code provisions

Revocation Process

  1. Written notice sent via certified mail
  2. Violation description and correction requirements specified
  3. 30-day appeal period to Board of Zoning Appeals
  4. If no appeal filed, registration revoked

Post-Revocation Restrictions

Operators cannot re-register for:

  • Remaining portion of the calendar year in which revocation occurred
  • Entire following calendar year

Contact Information for Local Authority

Primary Contact: Planning Department

Department: Planning & Community Development
Address: 135 N Union Street, Room 304, Petersburg, VA 23803
Phone: (804) 733-2308
Website: www.petersburg-va.org/2308/Short-Term-Rental
Online Registration: forms.office.com/r/eYcST3TvsW

General City Information

Address: 135 N Union Street, Petersburg, VA 23803
Phone: 804-733-2300
Website: www.petersburg-va.org

Zoning Administrator

Contact through Planning Department for:

  • Registration questions
  • SUP applications
  • Compliance verification
  • Violation reports

Board of Zoning Appeals

For revocation appeals:

  • Submit within 30 days of notice
  • Follow Article 27 procedures in zoning ordinance

Source Links and Resources

Primary Regulatory Documents

Planning Commission Resources

Municipal Resources

Supporting Documentation

This guide provides investors with the essential framework for establishing and maintaining compliant short-term rental operations in Petersburg, VA. Given the recent implementation of these regulations, staying current with city communications and working closely with the Planning Department is crucial for successful STR investment in this market.

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Petersburg

Market Saturation Score

036912
Low Saturation
0/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
0–1 declining months: minimal saturation pressure — revenue trends are stable.
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Photos of Petersburg

Overview of Petersburg

Petersburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 33,458 with a majority black American. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines Petersburg (along with the city of Colonial Heights) with Dinwiddie County for statistical purposes. The city is 21 miles (34 km) south of the commonwealth (state) capital city of Richmond. It is located at the fall line (the head of navigation of rivers on the U.S. East Coast) of the Appomattox River (a tributary of the longer larger James River which flows east to meet the southern mouth of the Chesapeake Bay at the Hampton Roads harbor and the Atlantic Ocean). In 1645, the Virginia House of Burgesses ordered Fort Henry built, which attracted both traders and settlers to the area. The Town of Petersburg, chartered by the Virginia legislature in 1748, incorporated three early settlements, and in 1850 the legislature elevated it to city status.Petersburg grew as a transportation hub and also developed industry. It was the final destination on the Upper Appomattox Canal Navigation System, which opened in 1816, to a city mostly rebuilt after a devastating 1815 fire. When its Appomattox River port silted up, investors built an 8-mile railroad to City Point on the James River, which opened in 1838 (and was acquired by the city and renamed the Appomattox Railroad in 1847). As discussed below, that became one of four railroads built (some with government subsidies) constructed (with separated terminals to the advantage of local freight haulers) before the American Civil War. In 1860, the city's industries and transportation combined to make it the state's second largest city (after Richmond). It connected commerce as far inland as Farmville, Virginia at the foothills of the Blue Ridge and the Appalachian Mountains chain, to shipping further east into the Chesapeake Bay and North Atlantic Ocean. During the American Civil War (1861–1865), because of this railroad network, Petersburg became critical to Union plans to capture the Confederate States national capital established early in the war at Richmond. The 1864–65 Siege of Petersburg, which included the Battle of the Crater and nine months of trench warfare devastated the city. Battlefield sites are partly preserved as Petersburg National Battlefield by the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Petersburg rebuilt its railroads, including a connecting terminal by 1866, although it never quite regained its economic position because much shipping traffic would continue to the Norfolk seaport. After the consolidations of smaller railroads, both the CSX and Norfolk Southern railway networks serve Petersburg. Petersburg has the oldest free black settlements in the state at Pocahontas Island. Two Baptist churches in the city, whose congregations were founded in the late 18th century, are among the oldest black congregations and churches in the United States. In the post-bellum period, a historically black college which later developed as the Virginia State University was established nearby in Ettrick in Chesterfield County. In the 20th century, these and other black churches were leaders in the national Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s-1960s. Richard Bland College, now a junior college, was originally established here as a branch of Williamsburg's famed College of William and Mary. Petersburg remains a transportation hub. Area highways include Interstate Highways 85, 95, and U.S. Route highways with 1, 301, and 460. Both CSX and Norfolk Southern rail systems maintain transportation centers at Petersburg. Amtrak serves the city with daily Northeast Regional passenger trains to Norfolk, Virginia, and long-distance routes from states to the South.In the early 21st century, Petersburg civic leaders promote the city's historical attractions for heritage tourism, as well as industrial sites reachable by the transportation infrastructure. The federal government is also a major employer, with nearby Fort Gregg-Adams, as home of the United States Army's Sustainment Center of Excellence, and the Army's Logistics Branch, Ordnance, Quartermaster, and Transportation Corps.

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