In Progress: Short-term rental Q&A with Director of Community Development

Photo courtesy of Lake Retreat Properties of "Mountain Majesty" Home at Smith Mountain Lake

Bedford County’s new short-term rental ordinance went into full effect November 1, 2023.

In August 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved several amendments to the Bedford County Zoning Ordinance regarding short-term rentals.

The updated ordinance requires all operators to submit a management plan with the County. The amendments also address other issues such as parking and signage.

Director of Community Development Jordan Mitchell answers a few questions about how the transition to the new ordinance is going.

Jordan, you all updated Bedford County’s short-term rental ordinance to better enforce occupancy limits and some other issues such as parking. How has the transition been so far?

It’s been a learning experience for us as well as the operators. We frequently receive questions and hold meetings to make sure that operators and staff are on the same page with what is expected with the submittal of registration or management plan review for this first yearly permit cycle.

What kind of feedback are you hearing about the changes?

With any ordinance revision, there is a learning period for citizens to comply. We have not had as much negative feedback from operators that I had expected, and the rental companies have also been supportive of the ordinance amendments.

There have been a few small amendments to the ordinance since it was passed. Do you expect to make any more adjustments moving forward?

A review of the current ordinance requirements is anticipated in mid-to-late 2024. By that point, we will have nearly finished the first year of the new permitting cycle and have enough feedback to provide the Board of Supervisors with recommended amendments, if any.

Approximately how many short-term rentals are currently registered in Bedford County?

Since the ordinance amendments, we have received and issued nearly 43 short-term rental registrations and 84 management plans. All short-term rentals will need to register or have a management plan review in this first yearly cycle since the ordinance change. However, it is estimated that we have somewhere between 500-700 dwellings that are renting short-term.

How much do you expect that number to change as your staff focuses on this issue?

I expect that we could see things remain the same or see a reduction in short-term rentals in the County. This is due to the requirements not making the rentals as profitable as they were before the ordinance change as homes will no longer be allowed to advertise for occupancy that exceeds the septic system bedroom capacity.

Learn more at www.bedfordcountyva.gov/STR.