Romney, West Virginia Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Yes—short‑term rentals (STRs) are allowed in the Town of Romney, WV. The Town has a mandatory Rental Registry Program that applies to “all rental properties within the town limits,” which includes short‑term rentals. Registration is free, but properties not registered by the end of the grace period are subject to a $100 per‑unit penalty beginning June 1, 2024.

How to Start a Short‑Term Rental Business in Romney, WV

Confirm the property is within the Town of Romney limits.
Prepare to list your STR on platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, etc., and to collect guests for stays typically under 30 days.
Register the rental property with the Town of Romney using the official webform.
Monitor Town Ordinances and Code Enforcement updates for any future STR‑specific rules (e.g., safety, parking, occupancy caps) that may be adopted.
For West Virginia state tax compliance (lodging sales tax and business registration), coordinate with the WV State Tax Division and the WV Secretary of State’s office; confirm requirements directly with those authorities if you plan to collect state occupancy taxes and obtain a business registration certificate.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Romney?

Romney hosts earn a median $24,043/year with $164 ADR and 51% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $34,769+ per year.

See the full Romney market breakdown

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Town of Romney Rental Property Registry (no fee). Owner/agent name, parcel/address, unit details (e.g., number of bedrooms/bathrooms), and contact information are typically required. The Town states you can complete registration online via the “Rental Registry” webform under Resources → Forms & Applications.
If the STR operates as a business subject to West Virginia lodging taxes and business registration, obtain a State Business Registration Certificate and comply with WV sales tax rules for lodging. Direct confirmations should be obtained from the WV State Tax Division and the Secretary of State.
Follow any building, fire, and life‑safety codes applicable to lodging uses. The Town has Code Enforcement and building‑permit references on its site; consult them if you alter the property or have safety concerns.
Display any required occupancy and safety information as required by local/state codes once published by the Town.

Specific Regulations (Town, County, and State)

Town of Romney

Mandatory Rental Registry Program for all rental properties within town limits; no registration fee during the grace period. After the grace period (through May 31, 2024), a $100 per‑unit penalty applies beginning June 1, 2024.
The Town may adopt STR‑specific requirements via ordinances in the future; owners should monitor “Town Ordinances” and “Code Enforcement” updates.
Enforcement contact: Code Enforcement; note the general contact information for the Town.

Hampshire County

No county‑specific STR regulations were identified in the provided sources.

West Virginia (State)

West Virginia generally taxes lodging/transient accommodations via the consumers sales and service tax and lodging tax; businesses collect and remit these taxes. Confirm applicability and registration requirements directly with the WV State Tax Division and obtain a State Business Registration Certificate from the Secretary of State if required.

Contact Information (Local Authority)

Town of Romney (general contacts)

Phone: (304) 822‑5118
Email: info@townofromney.org
Address: 340 East Main Street, Romney, WV 26757
Rental Registry webform: Access via the Town’s website under Resources → Forms & Applications → Rental Registry

Code Enforcement

Listed as a department on the Town website; use the general contact above to route inquiries or visit the site’s Departments section for Code Enforcement.

State‑Level (confirm directly)

WV State Tax Division (lodging taxes, business registration, sales tax permits)
WV Secretary of State (business registration)
Contact details not present in the provided sources; obtain directly from state websites.

Links to Source Pages (where available)

Rental Property Registry announcement (Town of Romney): www.townofromney.com/news/rental-property-registry
Town Ordinances, Code Enforcement, and Forms & Applications (for ongoing STR updates and registration link): www.townofromney.com/town-ordinances; www.townofromney.com/code-enforcement; www.townofromney.com/forms-applications
WV State Tax Division and WV Secretary of State (for state lodging tax and business registration; direct links not provided here—confirm on official state sites).

Notes and Best Practices

Although STRs are allowed and covered by the Town’s rental registry, explicit STR operational rules (e.g., maximum nights, occupancy caps, parking, or safety standards) were not identified in the provided content. Watch the Town Ordinances and Code Enforcement pages for future updates.
If you intend to collect lodging taxes and comply with state tax and business registration rules, confirm the exact requirements with the WV State Tax Division and Secretary of State before listing.

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Ask the AI Advisor about Romney

Romney is the oldest incorporated town in West Virginia, serving as the seat of Hampshire County in the state's eastern panhandle. With a population of approximately 1,800, the small river community carries a quiet, historic character shaped by its 18th-century origins, tree-lined residential streets, and a setting on the South Branch Potomac River. The town functions as a gateway to the broader Potomac Highlands region and lies about 30 miles west of Winchester, Virginia, and roughly 90 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., making it a natural stopover for travelers exploring the Appalachian borderlands.

The South Branch Potomac River flows alongside downtown Romney and provides the area's most immediate outdoor amenity. Anglers visit for smallmouth bass and other warm-water species, while the waterway also offers a calm, scenic route for canoeing and floating during the warmer months. Its banks and the surrounding lowland give visitors an easy introduction to the wooded, river-country landscape that defines Hampshire County.

A short drive south of Romney, Ice Mountain Preserve protects one of the more unusual natural features in the Appalachians. The site is a designated National Natural Landmark, recognized for its talus slopes and ice vents that hold frozen ground and trap cold air through the summer months. Maintained by The Nature Conservancy, the preserve has become a quiet draw for travelers interested in unusual geology and old-growth forest just minutes from town.

About 25 miles to the northeast, Cacapon Resort State Park anchors a larger outdoor-recreation option for visitors based in Romney. The park spreads across more than 6,000 acres of hardwood ridges and includes a lake for boating and fishing, a noted 18-hole golf course, horseback riding stables, and miles of marked hiking trails. Its historic lodge and rental cabins make it a frequent pairing with a stay in the Romney area.

For short-term rental investors and guests alike, Romney offers a combination of small-town character, deep historical roots, and immediate access to the rivers, mountains, and state parks of West Virginia's eastern panhandle. Its position between the Shenandoah Valley and the Potomac Highlands, paired with manageable drives to Winchester, Cumberland, and the Washington, D.C. region, gives the town year-round appeal for travelers seeking an unhurried base from which to explore both sides of the Appalachian range.