Fairfax County adopted regulations in 2018 to allow short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods where previously they were not allowed. Typically, such rentals are facilitated through online platforms such as Airbnb, FlipKey, and HomeAway. Based on input from the community, including 11 public hearings and an online survey, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors put in place reasonable restrictions to address multiple stakeholder viewpoints.
SB 1701 (Ebbin) passed the Senate and seeks to undo this yearlong effort to reach compromise by mandating that Fairfax County triple the number of nights per year (going 60 to 180) that a host would be allowed “by right” to accommodate up to six adult guests.
ACTION REQUIRED – SB 1701 passed the Senate by a 26-12 vote and will be headed to the House for consideration. Please contact your Delegates now to oppose.
KEY POINTS
- Passage of this bill would set an unwelcome precedent and have a chilling effect on the willingness of local elected bodies to accommodate short-term rentals in residential areas.
- VACo opposes any legislation that limits or restricts local authority to regulate short-term rentals.
KEY CONTACTS
VACo Contact: Joe Lerch, AICP