Frequently Asked Questions

Review the Quick Guide to STRs to determine whether you can short-term rent your property and what approvals are required.

After June 15, 2022, you are no longer required to renew your VHR permit annually. Instead, you will need to obtain and annually renew an STR License. As long as you maintain an annual STR License, your VHR permit will continue to be valid and will transfer with the sale of your property.

Properties with valid VHR permits (in any STR Overlay Zone) do not need to apply for legal nonconforming registration.

Short-Term Rental
A short-term rental is defined as a dwelling unit offered, provided, used, or operated as a lodging accommodation to guests in exchange for remuneration or other consideration for a period of less than 30 consecutive days while the owner or other permanent resident does not reside in the dwelling unit. The term short-term rental shall only apply to periods of time when the owner or other permanent resident is not residing in the dwelling unit.

Hosted Short-Term Rental
A hosted short-term rental is defined as the use of one guestroom (maximum 400 square feet) located within a dwelling unit offered, provided, used, or operated as a lodging accommodation to guests in exchange for remuneration or other consideration for a period of less than 30 consecutive days while the owner or other permanent resident is residing and present in the dwelling unit.

Temporary Short-Term Rental
A temporary short-term rental is defined as a primary residence that is offered, provided, used, or operated on a temporary and limited basis (maximum of 2 occurrences and 30 cumulative days per calendar year) as a lodging accommodation to guests in exchange for remuneration or other consideration for a period of less than 30 consecutive days while the owner or other permanent resident is not present in the dwelling unit. The term temporary short-term rental shall only apply to periods of time when the dwelling unit is being used as a lodging accommodation.

A primary residence is defined as a dwelling unit that is the place in which a person’s habitation is fixed for the term of a temporary short-term rental license and is the person’s usual place of return. A person can have only one primary residence.

When applying for a Temporary STR License, proof of primary residence is required, including:

1. Driver's license or other government issued identification
2. AND at least two of the following:

• Proof of voter registration
• Valid motor vehicle registration
• Federal or state tax return

No, STR Licenses do not transfer with the sale of property. New property owners must apply for and obtain a STR License in their name prior to operating a short-term rental. If the property is owned by a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity and an ownership or beneficial interest in the business entity is transferred to a person who does not hold such an interest, the business entity shall be required to apply for a new license.

The following are the only circumstances where reissuance of an STR License due to a transfer or change of ownership is allowed:

1. From the owner to a trust established by the owner for the benefit of the owner as a named beneficiary of the trust.
2. From the owner to a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or business entity, so long as the owner has a controlling interest in the business entity.
3. Between the same parties creating or terminating a joint tenancy.
4. Due to death, pursuant to a will, the law of descent and distribution or otherwise.
5. As ordered by a court under bankruptcy code or in equity receivership proceeding.
6. Without consideration for the purpose of confirming, correcting, modifying or supplementing a transfer previously recorded; making minor boundary adjustments; removing clouds of titles; or granting rights-of-way, easements or licenses.
7. Pursuant to any decree or order of a court of record quieting, determining, or vesting title, including a final order awarding title pursuant to a condemnation proceeding.
8. Between spouses or former spouses made pursuant to a separation agreement or as otherwise ordered by a court in proceedings for the dissolution of a marriage.

Changes of ownership that meet one of the above circumstances are eligible for reissuance of an existing STR License to reflect changed ownership. To request reissuance, complete a License Transfer Request Form and upload with all required documentation to your existing license application through the CityView Portal. Please also email staff that you are requesting a reissuance. Forms and staff contacts can be found on the Licensing page.

Yes, legal nonconforming status transfers with the sale of property. New property owners do not need to apply for legal nonconforming registration if the property has already been registered. However, upon obtaining or renewing an STR License, property owners with legal nonconforming status will need to demonstrate that the STR use has not been abandoned within the prior 12 months. Proof that the STR use has not been abandoned includes documentation of STR bookings and collection/remittance of applicable taxes.