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Surry, VA

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STR Regulations for Surry, Virginia

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

Short-term rentals are currently permitted in Surry County, Virginia, but only under very specific and limited conditions.

Explicitly: Whole-house short-term rentals (the typical Airbnb model) are largely prohibited. The county's current zoning framework only allows short-term rental operations that function as bed-and-breakfast establishments in agricultural-rural zones, and these require property owners to reside on-site. The regulatory environment is actively evolving, with Surry County currently conducting a formal evaluation process to potentially develop more comprehensive STR regulations.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Surry?

Surry hosts earn a median $36,151/year with $263 ADR and 61% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $56,737+ per year.

See the full Surry market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Surry County

Current Pathway (Limited Availability)

  1. Property Zoning Verification

    • Confirm your property is located in an agricultural-rural zone
    • Verify current zoning classification with the Planning & Community Development Department

  2. Conditional Use Permit Process

    • Apply for a conditional use permit specifically for bed-and-breakfast operations
    • This is the only viable pathway for STR operations under current regulations

  3. Residency Requirement

    • Establish primary residence on the property
    • Operate the STR as an owner-occupied bed-and-breakfast

Future Considerations

  • Monitor Regulatory Changes: The county is actively evaluating STR regulations through their ongoing survey process
  • Participate in Public Process: Engage with the county's evaluation process as new guidelines are developed

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Current Requirements

Zoning Application (PDF)

  • Required for conditional use permit applications
  • Available through Planning & Community Development Department
  • Part of the land use approval process

Conditional Use Permit

  • Mandatory for any STR operation in agricultural-rural zones
  • Must be approved before commencing operations
  • Subject to specific operational conditions

Potential Future Requirements (under development)

  • Registration systems as enabled by Virginia General Assembly framework
  • Tax collection and remittance procedures
  • Safety and inspection protocols

Application Process

  1. Zoning Application Submission
  2. Conditional Use Permit Application
  3. Public Hearing Process (typically required for CUPs)
  4. County Board of Supervisors Approval

Specific Regulations by Jurisdiction Level

County-Level Regulations (Current)

Zoning Restrictions:

  • STRs only permitted in agricultural-rural zones
  • Must operate as bed-and-breakfast establishments
  • Owner-residency requirement mandatory
  • Conditional use permit required for all operations

Operational Limitations:

  • No whole-house rental model permitted
  • Limited to hosted accommodations (owner present)
  • Restricted to bed-and-breakfast format

State-Level Framework (Virginia)

Virginia General Assembly Provisions:

  • Framework exists for localities to create STR registries
  • Local implementation authority granted to counties
  • Tax collection authority framework established
  • Health and safety standard delegation possible

Local Control Structure:

  • Surry County Board of Supervisors has regulatory authority
  • Implementation timeline and specific rules determined locally
  • Current evaluation phase expected to lead to formal ordinances

Future Regulatory Development

The county is in an active evaluation phase, with the following areas under consideration:

  • Comprehensive STR registration systems
  • Tax collection and remittance requirements
  • Safety and inspection protocols
  • Operational standards and limitations
  • Enforcement mechanisms

Contact Information for Local Authority

Primary Contact

Surry County Planning & Community Development Department

Key Departments

Planning & Community Development

Board of Supervisors

  • Final authority on STR regulations and permits
  • Decision-making body for ordinance development
  • Contact through main county number: 757-294-5271

Online Resources

County Code and Ordinances:

STR Evaluation Process:

Source Pages

  1. Surry County Short-Term Rentals Survey
  2. Surry County Planning & Community Development Documents
  3. Surry County Code of Ordinances
  4. Lodge Compliance - Surry County Analysis

Important Note for Investors: The current regulatory environment in Surry County is highly restrictive for traditional short-term rental operations. The county is actively evaluating potential regulatory changes, which could create opportunities for more diverse STR operations in the future. Prospective investors should monitor the county's regulatory development process and consider engaging with local officials during this evaluation period.

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Surry

Market Saturation Score

036912
High Saturation
10/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
8–10 declining months: high saturation - supply likely outpacing demand.
View Full Surry Market Analysis

Photos of Surry

Overview of Surry

Surry is a small unincorporated community and the seat of Surry County, Virginia, situated on the south bank of the James River in the Tidewater region. The community itself is tiny, but it sits in a county of roughly six thousand residents, giving the area a distinctly rural, slow-paced character defined by farmland, river views, hardwood forests, and quiet country roads. Surry is best known as the southern gateway to Virginia's Historic Triangle, since the Jamestown Ferry departs from just outside town and crosses the river to the site of the first permanent English settlement in North America. It lies approximately 40 miles southeast of Richmond and only a short ferry ride — or about a 25-mile drive via the Benjamin Harrison Bridge — from Williamsburg, making it a quiet counterpoint to the busier tourist corridors to the north.

A short drive east of the community, Chippokes Plantation State Park offers more than 1,700 acres of James River shoreline, walking and biking trails through mature forests, a working farm demonstration, an antebellum plantation house, and a campground. It is one of the oldest continually operated plantations in the country and combines outdoor recreation with a layer of Virginia history that draws visitors year-round.

Just down the road, Bacon's Castle is a striking 17th-century brick manor built in 1665, recognized as the oldest brick dwelling in English North America and a rare example of Jacobean architecture in the United States. The property is preserved as a small historic site with interpretive tours, giving travelers a glimpse of life in the colonial tidewater more than a century before the Revolution.

The James River itself is one of Surry's most defining features, and the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry is a free state-run service that runs continuously across the river between Surry and the historic Jamestown Island. From the Surry landing, the drive across the river is about 20 to 25 minutes including wait time, and it deposits visitors directly within minutes of Historic Jamestowne and the Jamestown Settlement, with Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens Williamsburg only a few miles further north.

For short-term rental owners and guests alike, Surry offers a compelling balance: the area feels genuinely rural and removed, yet it sits within easy reach of some of Virginia's most-visited historic and family destinations. Lower density, scenic river and farmland surroundings, and proximity to the Historic Triangle give the community a niche that is hard to replicate in the Williamsburg market itself, appealing to travelers who want space, quiet, and a different vantage point on the region's deep history.

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