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Short-term rental permit

  1. INSTRUCTIONS

    Complete each of the fields with the appropriate information, incomplete applications will be rejected and not processed.  For assistance call (804) 520-9297 or visit our website at colonialheightsva.gov/520/Zoning-Other-Permit-ApplicationsA staff member will review the application and respond within 30 days. If the property is eligible for a STR permit, a staff member will contact you to schedule a date and time for a property inspection. The permit fee is $500 annually and must be paid prior to an inspection with the City. Permit approval is subject to the property and applicant meeting all City regulations and satisfactory inspections from the necessary City agencies. 


    PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY:

  2. ELIGIBILITY
  3. Do you own the property or are you a designated agent*
  4. Is the property located in the RL- Low Density Residential District?*
  5. Does the property have at least one off-street parking space?*
  6. If you answered “no” to any of the above, the home may not be used as a short-term rental.
  7. Does the property have open code violations at the time of this application?*
  8. Properties with open code violations will not be approved for short-term rental
  9. Is the application for an initial permit or renewal?*



    If you answered “Renewal Permit,” the records showing the number of days for short-term rental stays in the previous year and the proof of applicable transient occupancy taxes paid at the Commissioner of Revenue’s Office must be provided with the application before a permit is approved.

  10. Records for number of days of Short-term rental

  11. Proof of transient occupancy taxes paid

  12. Street Address, City, State, Zip Code

  13. Street Address, City, State, Zip Code

  14. Will you be the primary point of contact for the short-term rental?*


    If you answered “no”, provide the following information for the point of contact:

    If you answered “yes”, please type "N/A" to the following questions:

  15. Street Address, City, State, Zip Code

  16. Will the short-term rental be hosted or non-hosted? (see definitions below)*


    Hosted – the owner of the short-term rental dwelling lives on the property, either in the same structure as the short-term rental tenant(s) or in another structure on the property.

    Non-hosted – the owner or agent of the short-term rental dwelling does not live on the property being rented.

  17. Will the short-term rental be the principal structure or the accessory structure? (see definitions below).*


    Principle Building or Structure: A building or structure in which the primary use of the lot on which the building is located is conducted.

    Accessory Building or Structure: A building or structure detached from a principal building on the same lot and customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal building or use.

  18. Please read and confirm that the proposed Short-Term Rental property and operation complies with the following regulations and as the owner of the property you will ensure that compliance with these regulations is maintained throughout its operation as a short-term rental.*

    A.    Initial permits and renewals

    • The short-term rental annual permit issued is valid for one calendar year upon approval, from January 1 to December 31, regardless of the date of issuance and it must be renewed annually along with the payment of the $500 permit fee for the property to continue to operate as a short term rental.
    • All short-term rental stays must consist of fewer than 30 consecutive days.
    • A short-term rental dwelling shall not be rented for more than 180 days per calendar year.
    • The minimum rental period shall be one full-day per rental contract.
    • The owner or their designated agent must be available to respond to emergencies or complaints promptly or risk revocation of permit without refund.
    • At least one member of every rental party must be an adult. No operators shall enter into a short-term rental agreement with any person younger than 18 years of age.
    • An operator is prohibited from having in effect at the same time more than one short-term rental contract per parcel for the same rental period, regardless of the number of structures on the parcel.
    • Occupancy of any short-term rental dwelling shall not exceed a number equal to twice the number of bedrooms in the dwelling up to a maximum of six guests.
    • No short-term rental shall offer, provide, or allow any commercial use or event, including but not limited to, parties, banquets, weddings, receptions, meetings, or film productions. The short-term rental dwelling shall not be used for a family day home, group home, or assisted living home.
    • No signs shall be posted on the site advertising the property as a short-term rental.
    • The type of pets must comply with Chapter 98 of the City Code (attached) and the number of pets shall not exceed four (4) unless the exceptions in Chapter 98 have been met. The total of pets shall include all pets on the premises, including any owned by the operator.
  19. In addition to the regulations in Section A, please read and confirm that proof of compliance with the following regulations is provided.*

    B. For permit renewal

    • The operator must keep complete records of the number of days the short-term rental dwelling is rented as such for the preceding year and submit such records to the Administrator upon request and upon application to renew an existing short-term rental permit.
    • All Transient Occupancy Tax for each short-term rental must be paid to the City of Colonial Heights.
  20. Please read and confirm that you understand that the following are in place before calling for an inspection. Failure to provide these will cause the property to be rejected for operation as a short-term rental.*

    C. Inspection requirements

    • Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors must be installed and functioning in the areas specified in applicable law. Contact the Fire Marshall at 804-520-9376 for more information.
    • All windows and doors must be operational as designed.
    • A functional fire extinguisher shall be installed and visible in any kitchen area.
    • There must be at least one off-street parking space for the short-term rental.
    • No basement space shall be used as a sleeping area unless there are properly functioning windows or doors that conform with applicable law. Contact the Building Official for more information at 804-520-9297.
  21. Note: The annual permit fee paid prior to scheduling an inspection is nonrefundable. Make sure all requirements are met prior to scheduling an inspection.
  22. Please read and confirm that you understand that the following must be posted conspicuously inside the short-term rental.*

    D. Display requirements

    • The property address of the short-term rental.
    • The name, physical address, telephone number(s), and email address of the property owner or his/her agent responsible for responding to emergencies and complaints.
    • Instructions for emergency shut-off of gas, electricity, and water, including the locations of gas and water valves and circuit breakers.
    • The identification and location of emergency exits.
    • Recycling and solid waste collection schedules with instructions for bin location for collection and retrieval deadlines for bins. Any fines will be assessed to the property and be the property owner’s responsibility.
    • Section 218-4 of the Colonial Heights City Code, “Loud noise prohibited” (Attached).
    • Instructions to dial 9-1-1 in case of an emergency.
  23. Note: All short-term rental regulations of § 286-410.70 must be met before an application for a short-term rental will be approved. The owner risks revocation of the permit without a refund of the annual application fee if compliance with STR regulations is not maintained during its operation.
  24. I acknowledge that I have read and understand § 286-410.70 Short-term rentals (provided) and this application. By signing and submitting this application I hereby grant permission to the City of Colonial Heights staff to inspect my property for compliance to operate as a short-term rental.
  25. By printing your name and submitting the application, you are signing the application for processing.

  26. Leave This Blank:

  27. This field is not part of the form submission.

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