🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Petersburg, VA

A Deep Dive into Your Area’s STR Updates—Helping You Navigate the Ever-Changing Rental Landscape.

Petersburg to Implement Short-Term Rental Regulations: What You Need to Know

The city of Petersburg is making strides to regulate short-term rentals, and it’s a change that could affect both hosts and guests. For years, local homeowners have rented out their properties on platforms like Airbnb and Flipkey, but with no regulations in place, these rentals have been flying under the radar. This lack of oversight has led to safety concerns and potential lost tax revenue. All that’s about to change.

Last March 17, Petersburg Planning Commission held a public meeting to review proposed regulations that will officially bring short-term rentals into the city's zoning ordinance. This is a big step forward for Petersburg, as short-term rentals have been operating without much regulation, leaving the city unable to track properties, enforce safety standards, or collect taxes on these rentals.

Why the Change?

The primary goal of the new regulations is safety. But the regulations go beyond just safety—they also aim to generate additional tax revenue for the city which could support local initiatives.

“We want to ensure that the short-term rental experience is safe for everyone involved and consistent with the residential character of our neighborhoods,” said Naomi Siodmok, Director of Planning and Community Development.

🔑 Key Points of the New Regulations

Under the proposed regulations, anyone operating a short-term rental will need to register with the city and pass an inspection. There will be penalties for those who fail to comply. These regulations will also ensure that only properties that are the primary residences of owners can be used for short-term rentals, which will prevent investors from buying properties solely for the purpose of renting them out short-term.

Theresa Cowens DeHart, a local Airbnb host, supports these changes noting that regulation is crucial to prevent short-term rentals from overwhelming neighborhoods.

"I think control is important. If we don’t have some sort of regulation, things can get out of hand like in other cities," she said.

What’s Next?

For those already hosting short-term rentals, there will be a grace period to register and obtain the necessary permits. However, starting in 2025, penalties will apply for those who haven’t registered. The Planning Commission Minute's meeting last April 03 will be a crucial step in finding out updates about these new rules.