Floyd, Virginia Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview

Short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Floyd, Virginia, both at the county level and within the Town of Floyd. Floyd County requires registration with the Commissioner of the Revenue and collection of a 5% transient occupancy tax, while the Town of Floyd zoning regulations specifically recognize and regulate both "homestay" operations and bed & breakfast establishments as permitted or conditional uses within various zoning districts.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Floyd?

Floyd hosts earn a median $21,605/year with $139 ADR and 49% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $31,072+ per year.

See the full Floyd market breakdown

Starting a Short-Term Rental Business

County Registration Requirements (Floyd County)

Initial Registration: Prior to offering any property for short-term rental, register with the Floyd County Commissioner of the Revenue
Registration Fee: $50 initial fee (unless acceptable license or registration is provided)
Registration Form: Complete registration using the official form provided by the Commissioner
Penalties: Failure to register results in $500 penalty for each occurrence

Tax Obligations

Transient Occupancy Tax: Collect 5% tax on all rentals
Remittance Schedule: Monthly payments due by the 20th day of the month following collection
Payment Processing: Required payment vouchers provided upon registration
Zero-Reporting: Submit completed voucher even if gross receipts are zero

Platform Considerations

If listing through accommodations intermediaries (Airbnb, VRBO, Evolve, etc.), they may remit transient occupancy taxes on your behalf
Continue remitting taxes for direct booking transactions not processed through intermediaries

Required Documents and Permits

County-Level Requirements

Transient Occupancy Registration (Commissioner of Revenue)
Transient Occupancy Tax Payment Vouchers (monthly)
Property Registration Form (PDF format available)

Municipal Requirements (Town of Floyd)

Based on zoning ordinance analysis:

Zoning Permit (if operating within Town of Floyd limits)
Bed & Breakfast License (if serving 2-10 guests with meals)
Homestay Authorization (if operating in primary residence)
Building Permits (if any construction or alterations required)
Certificate of Occupancy (for new establishments)

Zoning Regulations

Town of Floyd Zoning Districts

Agricultural/Residential District (AR-1)

Homestay: Permitted as accessory use (Section 11.9 compliance required)
Bed & Breakfast: Conditional use with Town Council approval
Accessory Dwelling Unit: Conditional use for STR purposes

Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3)

Homestay: Permitted as accessory use
Bed & Breakfast: Typically conditional use requiring special approval

Business Districts (B-1, B-2)

Hotel: Permitted in certain business districts
Bed & Breakfast: Generally permitted with appropriate zoning compliance

Key Definitions

Homestay: "An accessory use to a dwelling where the host occupant offers their primary residence or a portion thereof to a guest party for short-term occupancy for compensation in accordance with Sec. 11.9"
Primary Residence: "A person's principal home and domicile. If a person maintains more than one residence, their primary residence, for the purpose of Sec 11.9 'Homestay', shall be the residence where they live for more than half of the calendar year"
Bed and Breakfast: "A building or part thereof, other than a hotel, motel, or restaurant, where meals and lodging are provided for compensation for two (2) to ten (10) unrelated persons, where no cooking or dining facilities are provided in individual rooms, and in which the length of stay is usually less than one week in duration"

State-Level Regulations (Virginia)

Uniform Statewide Building Code

All short-term rental properties must comply with Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code requirements for residential occupancy and safety standards.

Virginia Tax Code

State sales tax may apply to certain accommodations
Local transient occupancy taxes (5% in Floyd County) must be collected and remitted
Federal income tax reporting requirements for rental income

Contact Information

Floyd County Commissioner of Revenue

Address: 201 E Main Street, Suite 3, PO Box 777, Floyd, Virginia 24091
Phone: (540) 745-9345
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Email: lbaker@floydcova.gov (Commissioner), jbutterworth@floydcova.gov (Chief Deputy)

Staff Contacts

Lisa D. Baker, Commissioner of Revenue: lbaker@floydcova.gov
Janine Butterworth, Chief Deputy: jbutterworth@floydcova.gov
Barbara Turner, Deputy II: bwturner@floydcova.gov
Katelyn K. Caldwell, Deputy I: kcaldwell@floydcova.gov

Town of Floyd Planning/Zoning

Address: 201 E Main Street, Floyd, VA 24091
Phone: (540) 745-9300
Email: info@floydcova.gov

Important Dates and Compliance Timeline

Registration and Tax Deadlines

Initial Registration: Before first rental transaction
Monthly Tax Remittance: Due by 20th of each month
Personal Property Listing: May 1st annually (for business equipment)
Business Personal Property Listing: May 1st annually

Application Deadlines

Land Use Applications: October 1st - December 31st annually
Elderly/Disabled Tax Relief: January 1st - April 1st annually

Additional Resources

Online Resources

Floyd County Website: www.floydcova.gov/
Real Estate Tax Assessment: floyd.cama.concisesystems.com/
GIS Mapping: floyd.interactivegis.com/
Virginia Department of Taxation: www.tax.virginia.gov
Virginia Department of Planning and Community Development

Forms and Downloads

Transient Occupancy Registration Form: Available through Commissioner of Revenue
Payment Vouchers: Provided upon registration or downloadable
Zoning Applications: Available through Town Hall

Compliance and Enforcement

County Penalties

Unregistered Operations: $500 per occurrence
Tax Non-Compliance: Additional penalties as determined by Commissioner
Late Tax Payments: Interest and penalties may apply

Municipal Enforcement

Zoning violations addressed through standard enforcement procedures
Building code violations enforced through Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code processes
Certificate of Occupancy required for new operations

Sources: Floyd County Commissioner of Revenue official website and Town of Floyd Zoning Ordinance (2020)

Next step

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Ask the AI Advisor about Floyd

Floyd is a small town in Floyd County, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia. With a population of roughly 430 residents, the town has cultivated an outsized reputation as a hub for Appalachian music and small-town mountain culture. Travelers are drawn to its compact, walkable downtown, its historic music venues, and the rolling scenery of the surrounding highlands. Floyd sits approximately 40 miles southwest of Roanoke, the nearest major city, and serves as a popular gateway to the Blue Ridge Parkway and to Virginia's Heritage Music Trail, known as the Crooked Road.

The Blue Ridge Parkway threads along the ridgeline just above Floyd, with several scenic overlooks and trailheads within a short drive of the town. Rocky Knob, one of the parkway's most popular recreation areas, lies about 12 miles west of downtown and offers miles of hiking trails, picnic areas, and panoramic views across the surrounding valleys. The parkway itself draws leaf-peepers in autumn and remains a year-round destination for cyclists, motorcyclists, and road-trippers traveling the scenic route through the Blue Ridge.

The Floyd Country Store anchors the town's musical identity. The restored country store hosts the weekly Friday Night Jamboree, a long-running gathering where local and visiting musicians play old-time and bluegrass on the front porch and adjoining dance floor. The store, a recognized stop on the Crooked Road, draws seasoned players and curious visitors who want to experience Appalachian music in an informal, community-driven setting, and the surrounding streets often fill with dancers and onlookers during summer evenings.

Just up the mountain, Chateau Morrisette Winery sits along the Blue Ridge Parkway roughly 15 miles from Floyd, offering tastings of Virginia wines and a mountaintop restaurant with sweeping views of the surrounding ridges. The winery is part of the region's growing wine and craft beverage scene and pairs naturally with a parkway drive, drawing weekend visitors who combine a tasting with a scenic loop through Floyd County.

Floyd's blend of mountain scenery, a recognized music and arts identity, and proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway gives it a distinctive appeal as a travel base. Short-term rentals in and around the town attract festival-goers, music enthusiasts, hikers, and couples seeking a quiet Blue Ridge getaway, with the small-town cultural scene and outdoor recreation offering a memorable alternative to Virginia's more conventional tourist corridors.

Floyd, Virginia

Generally Investor Friendly

STR Regulations for Floyd, Virginia