Limits on rental rules on supervisors radar

There has been a reoccurring lobbying effort in the Virginia General Assembly to get legislation approved that would restrict a locality’s ability to restrict short-term rental properties if it is managed by a Virginia Realtor.

Two bills with identical language came close to becoming law during the most recent legislative session. “It got very far this year and almost passed,” Middlesex County’s Attorney Heather Lewis told the Middlesex County Board of Supervisors (MCBS) at its March 7 regular monthly meeting.

According to the General Assembly’s Virginia Legislative Information System, Senate Bill SB 1391 and House Bill HB 2271, “Provides that a locality may not restrict by ordinance any short-term rental property managed by a Virginia Realtor.”

Although the measure died, the short-term rental bills could resurface in January 2024.

Local amendment

Localities still have control over short-term rentals, for now, and on March 7, the MCBS amended the county ordinance.

Citizen concerns about disturbing activities at “short-term rentals” prompted the MCBS to review the county’s ordinance.

“Citizen concerns included, but were not limited to, noise and misbehavior, parking, possible trespass, over exceeding of occupancy resulting in sewage disposal failure, lack of adjoining property owner input regarding the use, general safety and possible impacts on property values,” states the staff report of Middlesex Zoning Administrator David Kretz…