Overview: Are STRs allowed?

Yes—subject to tight controls. In Warren County (the jurisdiction that includes the Town of Warrenton), short-term tourist rentals are allowed only as a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) use for single-family detached dwellings located on individual lots and rented for less than 30 days. The property must sit within one of the following zoning districts: Agricultural (A), Residential-One (R-1), or Rural Residential (RR). Approval requires a full public process through the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, a $1,750 application fee, and multiple supporting documents. The county applies a 100-foot setback evaluation and requires a written property management plan. See the Warren County Planning page and supplemental zoning regulations for full details [Ref 1, 2].

Note: Town-specific (municipal) STR rules are not included in the provided materials; this guide covers county-level requirements applicable to properties in and around Warrenton.

How to start an STR business in this market (Warren County process)

• Pre-application consultation: Schedule a meeting with Planning staff to confirm eligibility, review the CUP process, and discuss site-specific constraints (e.g., the 100-foot setback standard) [Ref 1].
• Prepare a complete application package (see Required Documents below).
• Submit the package and fee to Planning; ensure the County Treasurer confirms that real estate taxes are current (tax verification is handled by staff but is a prerequisite for acceptance) [Ref 1].
• Health Department review: Initiate and complete Health Department comment requests. The application is not complete until Health Department comments are received. The address for the Health Department is provided below under Contact Information [Ref 1].
• Public hearings: Expect a minimum of 3 months from acceptance to Board decision:
  • Month 1 (Planning Commission request for advertisement): If the Commission approves advertising, the county posts a property sign, mails notices to adjoining owners, and publishes a newspaper advertisement.
  • Month 2 (Planning Commission public hearing): First public hearing; submit written support one week prior for inclusion in packets.
  • Month 3 (Board of Supervisors advertisement and public hearing): Final decision on the CUP [Ref 1].
• Post-approval: After Board approval, Planning Staff will provide next steps for completing the permitting process and any additional compliance requirements [Ref 1].

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

• Conditional Use Permit (CUP): Complete application signed by applicant and current property owner (if different). Answer all questions; mark N/A or None if applicable [Ref 1].
• Written justification statement summarizing the request and the intended STR use [Ref 1].
• Application fee: $1,750, payable to the Warren County Treasurer [Ref 1].
• Deed copy verifying current ownership [Ref 1].
• Site plan/survey showing property boundaries, existing/proposed structures, adjacent roads, and details relevant to the proposed STR use [Ref 1].
• Warren County Health Department comments and documentation: Use the County’s comment request form (under Forms). Submit by mail or delivery; the application will not be considered complete until Health Department comments are received [Ref 1].
• Tax verification: Planning Staff submits verification to the County Treasurer’s Office; the application will not be accepted until verification is completed. If there are tax issues, staff will contact you; resolve with the Treasurer’s Office [Ref 1].
• Property management plan: A written plan is required; a template (example) is available on the County site [Ref 1].
• HOA/subdivision comments: If the property lies within a subdivision or has a homeowners’ association, Planning Staff will solicit the association’s comments when a complete application is accepted [Ref 1].
• Additional department reviews: Comments may be requested from Building Inspections, Fire Marshal, VDOT, and other agencies as applicable [Ref 1].
• Setback/waiver: The County GIS Coordinator will generate a location map to verify 100-foot setbacks. If unmet, consult Planning Staff about requesting a waiver [Ref 1].
• Posting and notices: The County will post a sign on the property and mail notices to adjoining property owners following Planning Commission approval to advertise the public hearing [Ref 1].

Specific regulations (county and state)

• Zoning eligibility: STRs are permitted via CUP in Agricultural (A), Residential-One (R-1), and Rural Residential (RR) zoning districts for single-family detached dwellings on individual lots [Ref 1].
• Use definition: A short-term tourist rental is a single-family dwelling (not attached to any other dwelling), located on an individual lot, rented for compensation for less than 30 days [Ref 1].
• 100-foot setbacks: The County evaluates the 100-foot setback standard; consult with staff if a waiver is needed [Ref 1].
• Public process: Two public hearings (Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors) are required after advertisement and notice to adjoining property owners [Ref 1].
• Property management: A written property management plan is mandatory [Ref 1].
• Health Department: Health Department comments are required before the application is deemed complete [Ref 1].
• Tax compliance: Real estate tax verification must be completed before acceptance [Ref 1].
• HOA/subdivision: HOA input is solicited for properties within subdivisions or HOAs [Ref 1].
• State tax context: Virginia’s Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) applies to short-term lodging statewide; local enforcement of tax collection varies. This guide does not include state statutory text beyond that acknowledgment.

Note: For the Town of Warrenton’s municipal requirements, no town-specific STR rules were included in the provided materials.

Contacts

• Warren County Planning (CUP intake and process):
  • Address: 220 North Commerce Avenue, Front Royal, VA 22630
  • Phone: 540-636-4600
  • Email: info@warrencountyva.gov
  • Website: www.warrencountyva.gov/ [Ref 1]
• Warren County Treasurer (real estate tax verification):
  • Website: www.warrencountyva.gov/233/Treasurer [Ref 1]
• Warren County Health Department (comments/documentation):
  • Address: 465 W 15th Street, Suite 200, Front Royal, VA 22630 [Ref 1]
• Short-Term Tourist Rental Interactive Map:
  • warrencountyva.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html [Ref 1]

Filing deadlines (example cadence)

To be included on the meeting agenda for:

• October 8, 2025: Submit by September 17, 2025
• November 12, 2025: Submit by October 15, 2025
• December 10, 2025: Submit by November 19, 2025
• January 2026: Submit by December 17, 2025 Note: The process requires a minimum of 3 months after acceptance to reach a Board decision [Ref 1].

Source pages (links)

1. Short-Term Tourist Rentals – Warren County Planning: www.warrencountyva.gov/669/Short-Term-Tourist-Rentals
2. Supplemental Regulations for Short-term Tourist Rentals (Warren County Zoning): ecode360.com/16173026
3. Regulations for Conditional Use Permits (Warren County Zoning): ecode360.com/9747084
4. Short-Term Tourist Rental Interactive Map (Warren County): warrencountyva.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html
5. Property Management Plan Example (Warren County): www.warrencountyva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1679/Property-Management-Plan-Example
6. Short-term Tourist Rental Application (Warren County): www.warrencountyva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2681/Short-term-Tourist-Rental-Application

Practical reminder for investors

• Eligibility first: Confirm the subject property is in an A, R-1, or RR district and is a single-family detached home on an individual lot [Ref 1].
• Document readiness: Assemble a site plan/survey, deed, justification statement, property management plan, and Health Department comments in parallel to avoid delays [Ref 1].
• Timeline: Budget at least 3–4 months from application acceptance to final approval, including advertisement and public hearings [Ref 1].
• Setback compliance: Engage GIS/Planning early to confirm 100-foot setbacks or explore waiver options [Ref 1].
• Tax compliance: Ensure real estate taxes are current to prevent application rejection [Ref 1].