Short-Term Lodging (STL)

The Frederick County Board of Supervisors adopted regulations for short-term lodging (or “STL”) on September 28, 2022. STL’s are permitted by-right in the County’s RA (Rural Areas), RP (Residential Performance) and MH1 (Mobile Home Community) Districts with an approve administrative permit. As defined in the Zoning Ordinance, a STL is any occupancy of all or part of a dwelling for mobile home for a period of 30-days or less (§165-101.02). Structures that are unable to get a certificate of occupancy (CO) and/or do not meeting the building code definition of a dwelling such as campers, tents, yurts, or other structures are not permitted as STL units.

Where permitted, short-term lodging shall meet the following requirements (§165-204.35):

1. The maximum number of lodgers per night shall not exceed 10 unrelated persons, except where Uniform Statewide Building Code permits only a fewer number of occupants.
    
2. No more than five (5) guestrooms are permitted for short-term lodging.
   
   
3. The maximum number of rental contracts for a short-term lodging dwelling unit per night is one (1). All lodgers occupying the short-term lodging dwelling unit must be associated with the same rental contract.
   
   
4. A dwelling or manufactured home used for short-term lodging shall comply with the following standards:
   1. Be available for inspection by the County during reasonable hours and in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance. Comply with the requirements of the applicable version of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code or Virginia Manufactured Home Safety Regulations, as determined by the Building Official.
   2. Have a working multi-purpose fire extinguisher, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors (when required for a fireplace or gas service).
   3. Have a plan posted inside the door of each sleeping room showing the exit pathway from the sleeping room used for short-term lodging to the nearest exit from the dwelling or manufactured home.
   4. Have at least two (2) designated off-street parking space available for lodgers, which the Operator has the authority to reserve for short-term lodging purposes.
      
      
5. Special events, as defined in Part 101 of this Chapter, are prohibited in association with short-term lodging use.
   
   
6. No short-term lodging activity shall take place on the property until the Department of Planning and Development has approved a short-term lodging administrative permit for the use and the Commissioner of the Revenue has approved a business license for the use.

Those seeking to establish a short-term lodging operation, or those currently operating without a permit, MUST complete the following applications prior to establishment of the use:

1. A STL Administrative Permit ($200 fee) reviewed and approved by the Planning and Development Department; and
    
2. A business license reviewed and approved by the Commissioner of the Revenue (COR)

For questions regarding the STL regulations and/or applying for an Administrative Permit, please contact Planning and Development at 540-665-5651.

For questions regarding applying for a business license, please contact the Commissioner of the Revenue at 540-665-5681.