In 2021, the Norfolk City Council approved changes to City Code allowing short-term rentals both inside City limits and within the extraterritorial jurisdiction. 

Short-term rentals (such as Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.) are required to be licensed annually and inspected once an application has been received, and are defined as somebody renting out a house, a portion of a house or apartment for a length of time not to exceed 30 days. The licensure of short-term rentals is to assure minimum safety and welfare standards are being met for guests to Norfolk wanting a temporary lodging experience other than a typical hotel stay. Like other transient lodging facilities, inspections of short-term rentals are performed for safety purposes. Inspections are completed at the time an application is received and are not necessary to complete annually unless a complaint has been received. 

A benefit of the licensure and application process is that applicants must list a contact person (owner or manager) that would be available at any time and can respond to the property within 45 minutes. This is to help ensure that they are able to assist first responders if an emergency situation occurs. The hope for this is to provide the residential neighborhoods, in which short-term rentals are located, understanding of the expectations for applicants/owners of the rentals. 

All licenses issued are valid for one year from the date of issuance. Applicants are responsible for applying for a renewed license and may apply for renewal up to 30 days prior to expiration of the current license. 

The application and inspection checklist are available HERE.

Additional information regarding short term rentals can be found in City Code Section 13-371 – 13-375, and Section 27-284.