Yes—short‑term rentals (STRs) are allowed in the Town of Romney, WV. The Town has a mandatory Rental Registry Program that applies to “all rental properties within the town limits,” which includes short‑term rentals. Registration is free, but properties not registered by the end of the grace period are subject to a $100 per‑unit penalty beginning June 1, 2024.

How to Start a Short‑Term Rental Business in Romney, WV

• Confirm the property is within the Town of Romney limits.
• Prepare to list your STR on platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, etc., and to collect guests for stays typically under 30 days.
• Register the rental property with the Town of Romney using the official webform.
• Monitor Town Ordinances and Code Enforcement updates for any future STR‑specific rules (e.g., safety, parking, occupancy caps) that may be adopted.
• For West Virginia state tax compliance (lodging sales tax and business registration), coordinate with the WV State Tax Division and the WV Secretary of State’s office; confirm requirements directly with those authorities if you plan to collect state occupancy taxes and obtain a business registration certificate.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

• Town of Romney Rental Property Registry (no fee). Owner/agent name, parcel/address, unit details (e.g., number of bedrooms/bathrooms), and contact information are typically required. The Town states you can complete registration online via the “Rental Registry” webform under Resources → Forms & Applications.
• If the STR operates as a business subject to West Virginia lodging taxes and business registration, obtain a State Business Registration Certificate and comply with WV sales tax rules for lodging. Direct confirmations should be obtained from the WV State Tax Division and the Secretary of State.
• Follow any building, fire, and life‑safety codes applicable to lodging uses. The Town has Code Enforcement and building‑permit references on its site; consult them if you alter the property or have safety concerns.
• Display any required occupancy and safety information as required by local/state codes once published by the Town.

Specific Regulations (Town, County, and State)

Town of Romney

• Mandatory Rental Registry Program for all rental properties within town limits; no registration fee during the grace period. After the grace period (through May 31, 2024), a $100 per‑unit penalty applies beginning June 1, 2024.
• The Town may adopt STR‑specific requirements via ordinances in the future; owners should monitor “Town Ordinances” and “Code Enforcement” updates.
• Enforcement contact: Code Enforcement; note the general contact information for the Town.

Hampshire County

• No county‑specific STR regulations were identified in the provided sources.

West Virginia (State)

• West Virginia generally taxes lodging/transient accommodations via the consumers sales and service tax and lodging tax; businesses collect and remit these taxes. Confirm applicability and registration requirements directly with the WV State Tax Division and obtain a State Business Registration Certificate from the Secretary of State if required.

Contact Information (Local Authority)

Town of Romney (general contacts)

• Phone: (304) 822‑5118
• Email: info@townofromney.org
• Address: 340 East Main Street, Romney, WV 26757
• Rental Registry webform: Access via the Town’s website under Resources → Forms & Applications → Rental Registry

Code Enforcement

• Listed as a department on the Town website; use the general contact above to route inquiries or visit the site’s Departments section for Code Enforcement.

State‑Level (confirm directly)

• WV State Tax Division (lodging taxes, business registration, sales tax permits)
• WV Secretary of State (business registration)
• Contact details not present in the provided sources; obtain directly from state websites.

Links to Source Pages (where available)

• Rental Property Registry announcement (Town of Romney): www.townofromney.com/news/rental-property-registry
• Town Ordinances, Code Enforcement, and Forms & Applications (for ongoing STR updates and registration link): www.townofromney.com/town-ordinances; www.townofromney.com/code-enforcement; www.townofromney.com/forms-applications
• WV State Tax Division and WV Secretary of State (for state lodging tax and business registration; direct links not provided here—confirm on official state sites).

Notes and Best Practices

• Although STRs are allowed and covered by the Town’s rental registry, explicit STR operational rules (e.g., maximum nights, occupancy caps, parking, or safety standards) were not identified in the provided content. Watch the Town Ordinances and Code Enforcement pages for future updates.
• If you intend to collect lodging taxes and comply with state tax and business registration rules, confirm the exact requirements with the WV State Tax Division and Secretary of State before listing.