🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Portsmouth, VA
Portsmouth Moves Toward First-Ever Rules for Short-Term Rentals Amid Safety Concerns and Complaints
Portsmouth Sets the Stage for STR Crackdown
Portsmouth is finally stepping into the short-term rental conversation. The city has been one of the last holdouts in Hampton Roads without policies regulating Airbnb- or Vrbo-style stays — but after safety scares and mounting resident complaints, officials are ready to draft their first real rulebook.
At a September 9 public work session, council members heard from Planning Director Rhonda Russell about the city’s STR landscape. The facts were eye-opening: only six property owners have actually received zoning clearances to run short-term rentals, yet an “anecdotal search” uncovered more than 20 pages of online listings. That means the overwhelming majority are technically out of compliance under state law.
The stakes feel high. In January 2024, a 15-year-old was killed in a shooting at an Airbnb near North Street in Olde Towne, a tragedy that underscored how unregulated rentals can become flashpoints for safety concerns. Beyond that, residents have been calling council members about noise, trash, parking shortages and other nuisance issues.
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Russell’s presentation outlined a path forward. She suggested a comprehensive policy including registration and licensing, occupancy limits, parking rules, fire safety measures, insurance, inspections, and tax collection. Revenue from occupancy taxes and inspection fees could help offset enforcement costs, she noted.
Council members are also drawing inspiration from nearby cities. Norfolk requires permits and limits occupancy to two guests per bedroom; Hampton caps STRs at 1% of homes per zone and requires inspections; Newport News and Chesapeake have similar controls. Virginia Beach is even considering turning some violations into criminal offenses.
Portsmouth leaders also floated new ideas. Vice Mayor Bill Moody suggested ID requirements at check-in to mirror hotels. Council member Yolanda Thomas asked for data on STR-related crime, while Kathryn Bryant requested an analysis of how rentals are affecting the city’s housing stock.
A vote on a new ordinance is tentatively expected by June 2026, and the city is considering a task force to study the issue and bring stakeholders together. As Mayor Shannon Glover put it, regulating STRs isn’t just about safety — it’s also about fairness. “All other property and business owners are expected to pay certain taxes,” he said.
If all goes as planned, Portsmouth will go from the region’s regulatory laggard to a model for how to rein in STRs without choking off tourism or property rights.
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