Do I pay the county lodging tax too?

No. Inside town limits the Town of Front Royal's 6% lodging tax applies, and the county's 5% applies only outside the town.

Do I have to live in the home?

No. The town has no owner-occupancy requirement, and Council has approved second homes.

Short-term rental rules

How to get a short-term rental approved in Town of Front Royal, Virginia

Inside Front Royal town limits, a short-term rental needs a Special Use Permit approved by Town Council after a Planning Commission hearing. The fee is $1,200, one time. It is allowed in every zoning district, there is no owner-occupancy rule and no cap, and occupancy is 2 adults per bedroom up to 10 people. Guests pay the town's 6% lodging tax, not the county's.

Verified against the sources below on 2026-09-23. Outside town limits, Warren County rules apply instead.

Approval: Public hearings required
Permit fee: $1,200,
Public hearings: 2
Lodging tax: 6%

Request a feasibility check Find a local manager

The permit you need

Special Use Permit^1,3,4

Every short-term rental inside town limits. Owner-occupied or not.

Fee:: $1,200, one time
Decided by:: Town Council, after a Planning Commission recommendation
Public hearings:: 2
Timeline:: Planning Commission hearing, then Town Council hearing. A denied request cannot be refiled for one year.

How the process works

STEP 1
Feasibility check
Confirm the address is inside town limits, count bedrooms against the 2-adults-per-bedroom rule, and check any HOA restrictions.
STEP 2
Application
Special Use Permit application to the Zoning Administrator with a preliminary site development plan and the property management plan.
STEP 3
Public hearings
The Planning Commission holds a hearing and recommends. Town Council holds a hearing and decides, and may add conditions.
STEP 4
Launch
Pass the town inspection, open the lodging tax account with the Town Treasurer, get a town business license, and post the management plan in the home.

The rules

What counts: A room or space for dwelling, sleeping, or lodging for fewer than 30 consecutive days, for a charge.²
Where it is allowed: All zoning districts, by Special Use Permit.¹
Occupancy: No more than 2 adults per bedroom, and 10 people total unless Town Council approves more.^1,2
Inspection: Town staff inspect before the permit is issued, and afterward on complaint. The owner consents in writing to inspection on 24 hours' notice.¹
Parking: An existing home is exempt from the town's off-street parking requirements.¹
Life safety: A visible fire extinguisher in every kitchen, smoke detectors per the building code, and a carbon monoxide detector on each floor.¹
Management plan: Local contacts who can respond immediately, posted in the unit and given to town staff, public safety, any HOA, and every guest with the rental contract. Plus an emergency evacuation plan and a copy of the town noise ordinance kept in the unit.¹
Appearance: No visible exterior evidence that the home is a short-term rental.¹
Owner occupancy and caps: Neither. Second homes have been approved, though approval in R-1 is at Council's discretion.^1,7
Transfer: The permit stays with the property and cannot move to another address.³

Lodging taxes

Tax	Rate	Filed with	When	Airbnb and VRBO collect it?
Town of Front Royal lodging tax^5,6,8Inside town limits. The county's 5% does not also apply.	6%	Town Treasurer	Monthly, by the 20th. Collectors keep a 4% commission when they file on time.	Yes, on their bookings

What sinks applications here

Out-of-date guides

Older guides cite section 175-151, a $400 fee, and a driveway-parking rule. All three were replaced on 9-22-2025.

R-1 votes

Approval in single-family neighborhoods is discretionary. Expect questions about who manages the home and how guests park.

Earn while you wait

Stays of 30 days or more: Outside the short-term rental definition, and exempt from the town lodging tax.^2,5 A furnished mid-term lease can carry the home while the permit is pending. How mid-term rentals work.

Management pricing

Short-term (under 30 days)

20%

Of nightly accommodation revenue. Guest cleaning fees are not included in the fee. Sign up online

Mid-term (30 days or more)

15%

Of rent collected, including stays while your permit is pending. Mid-term rentals

Long-term (12-month leases)

7% to 10%

Of rent collected: 10% for one to four doors, down to 7% at twenty-five or more. Long-term rentals

Questions owners ask

01Do I pay the county lodging tax too?
No. Inside town limits the Town of Front Royal's 6% lodging tax applies, and the county's 5% applies only outside the town.
02Do I have to live in the home?
No. The town has no owner-occupancy requirement, and Council has approved second homes.

Sources

1.Town of Front Royal Code, Short-Term Rentals, 175-114 (Amended 9-22-2025; codified through 7-26-2026 (Supp. 3, Update 2)). Retrieved 2026-09-23.
2.Town of Front Royal Code, Zoning definitions, 175-3. Retrieved 2026-09-23.
3.Town of Front Royal Code, Special Use Permits, 175-136. Retrieved 2026-09-23.
4.Town of Front Royal Code, Zoning fee schedule, 175-137. Retrieved 2026-09-23.
5.Town of Front Royal Code, Transient Occupancy Tax, 75-33 to 75-42 (Amended 8-28-2023). Retrieved 2026-09-23.
6.Town of Front Royal Tax and Fee Schedule. Retrieved 2026-09-23.
7.Front Royal Town Council minutes, May 26, 2026. Retrieved 2026-09-23.
8.Code of Virginia 58.1-3819 (county lodging tax inside towns). Retrieved 2026-09-23.

Local rules change. We recheck these sources on a schedule and before every filing; if you spot a change, tell us at info@propmanageplus.com. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Questions about a property in Front Royal? Call 540-218-8969 or send us the address.